Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox has paid tribute to Head of Corporate Affairs Tony Melville, who leaves today after 21 years.
One of the true stalwarts of Ai Group, Mr Melville has made a tremendous contribution to our organisation since joining in May 2003.
Mr Willox led staff tributes, saying: "Tony and I have been through a huge amount together.
"I have known and worked with him since his days in Foreign Affairs and Trade and as a diplomat in the early '90s and during his time in the office of Prime Minister Paul Keating.
"Tony worked initially in Canberra under Ai Group Chief Executive Bob Herbert then Heather Ridout AO and, finally, me.
"We have had half a dozen Ai Group National Presidents during his time with us. He pulled together more than 80 National Executive/Advisory Council meetings (he only missed one) and attended too many state council meetings to count.
"He joined us in our Canberra office when John Howard was Prime Minister and during his time with us, we have had eight prime ministers, if you count Kevin Rudd twice.
Ai Group's Tony Melville with former Chief Executive Heather Ridout and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at Ai Group’s Annual National Dinner at Parliament House Canberra on August 17, 2009.
"He has dealt with countless ministers, Opposition figures and cross-benchers, gaining universal admiration for his trustworthiness, energy and knowledge.
"Tony’s specialty has been immigration policy. His understanding of visa types and access to government, as well as establishing clear links to practical advice to navigate the system, has been invaluable to Ai Group members.
"He and I worked extremely closely during the Covid years, making Ai Group arguably the strongest employer advocate for commonsense during that difficult period.
"His role on the National Press Club of Australia Board and deep connection with the media from the most senior correspondents to new starters has been invaluable to me and my predecessors.
"Tony’s service was acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2021 when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) with his citation reading: 'For significant service to corporate and government'."
As Ai Group farewells Mr Melville, we welcome Gemma Daley as Head of Media and Government Affairs.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
