Jess Walsh

Biography

Jessica Cecille Walsh is an Australian politician and trade unionist who currently serves as a Senator for Victoria. She was born on 16 May 1971 in Melbourne and grew up in North Balwyn. Walsh holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Arts from the University of Southern California, and a Doctor of Philosophy in labour studies from the University of Melbourne.

Prior to entering politics, Walsh worked as a research fellow at two progressive think tanks in the United States from 1998 to 2000. She then worked for the Victorian branch of United Voice as a researcher and organiser from 2002 to 2006, before serving as assistant state secretary from 2006 to 2007 and as state secretary from 2007 to 2019.

In 2018, Walsh won ALP preselection for the Senate in second position on the party’s ticket in Victoria. She was elected to the Senate at the 2019 federal election, with incumbent senator Gavin Marshall losing his seat. Walsh is a member of the Australian Labor Party and the left faction, and she currently serves as a Senator for Victoria.

Walsh is also one of eleven MPs in the 46th Parliament of Australia who possesses a PhD. Her doctoral thesis was titled “Organising the low-wage service sector: labour, community and urban politics in the United States”.