15 Facts About Sally McManus

Sally McManus was born on 31 July 1971 and is an Australian trade unionist, feminist and political activist who has served as the Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions since 2017.

Sally McManus is the first woman to hold the position of Secretary in the ACTU's 90-year history.

At the age of 16, Sally McManus was first involved in union activity when she joined with other students supporting a teachers' strike protest against mass teacher lay-offs by the Greiner Liberal state government in 1988.

Sally McManus went to Carlingford High School and studied for a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at Macquarie University.

At 19, Sally McManus was elected president of the Macquarie University Union.

Sally McManus instituted a ban on smoking in the university bar and banned single-use plastics on campus.

Sally McManus started work when she was 14 and worked as a shop assistant, Pizza Hut driver, cleaner and call centre worker prior to joining the ACTU's Trainee Organisers Program in 1994, its first year.

In 2012, Sally McManus founded the Destroy The Joint campaign formed in response to radio broadcaster Alan Jones' criticism of then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other prominent women.

Sally McManus's activism was recognised in 2015 when she received an Edna Ryan Award in the Grand Stirrer category.

In 2015, Sally McManus moved to the ACTU as Vice-President and Campaigns Director and was ultimately elected ACTU Secretary two years later.

Sally McManus has a third share in UComms, a market research and opinion polling company, being a non-beneficiary shareholder of the company on behalf of the union.

Sally McManus is an enthusiastic player of computer games, and describes herself as "the definition of a total gamer", who has been playing since the DOS era.

Sally McManus particularly enjoys Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation, and says her favourite of all is Civilization.

Sally McManus is a foundation member of both the Western Sydney Wanderers and Greater Western Sydney Giants as well as being a long-term supporter of the Parramatta Eels.

Sally McManus's portrait titled McManusstan by Joanna Braithwaite was a finalist in the 2022 Archibald Prize.