Ash van Dijk named new ACT Labor secretary

Mr van Dijk was elected unopposed to the role.

"I'm incredibly honoured to be appointed ACT Labor secretary. The ACT is the most progressive jurisdiction in the country and ACT Labor has led the way in delivering this outcome," he said.

"Our members are passionate, engaged and diverse and I'm looking forward to working with them to build our membership and continue to drive positive change in our community."

Mr van Dijk is also a former ACT regional secretary of the Community and Public Service Sector Union.

He will be the second person to make the leap to the secretary role from Ms Stephen-Smith's office.

Outgoing secretary Mel James previously served as the chief of staff to the health minister.

Ms James quit to take up a position as chief of staff to Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White. She took on the role in late 2019 and steered ACT Labor to its 2020 election win.

ACT Labor president Brooke Muscat announced Mr van Dijk's appointment on Friday.

"Mr van Dijk brings strong leadership skills and a driving commitment to the Labor Party to the important position," she said.

"His experience in building positive organisational culture and leading a membership-driven organisation hold him in great stead for the new role."

Chief Minister Andrew Barr praised Mr van Dijk's appointment.

"I'm delighted that Ash has taken on this new role," he said.

"He is highly regarded across the ACT branch and brings passion, empathy and considerable organisational, campaign and political experience to the job. I know he will strongly support the work of Labor parliamentarians at both the territory and federal level."

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