Our People
“It is our people who drive our firm, and who enhance our clients’ success”
Paul Houlihan
Director & Principal
First IR has a history of engaging and fostering intelligent and committed individuals. People who are solution oriented, can respond quickly and accurately, are capable of understanding the complexities of the employment relationship, and have a thorough knowledge and application of the employment legislation its instruments and institutions.
Paul X. Houlihan
Director & Principal Advisor
Paul Houlihan founded First IR in 1988. Today Paul retains his position as Director and Principal Advisor of First IR.
Paul has over 40 years experience in industrial relations that encompasses State Secretary of the Federated Clerks Union, IR Director of the National Federated Farmers and Principal of First IR. His strengths are in strategic thinking, creative solutions and access to a vast array of prominent business leaders, politicians, union officials and media contacts throughout Australia.
Paul has long been an advocate for less regulation in the workplace and where there is regulation for it to be relevant and fair at the enterprise level. He works with employers and employees across many industries to achieve these goals, focussing on productivity and genuine flexibilities that benefit both sides.
Paul’s track record in achieving results is impressive. He has earned a reputation for tackling the toughest of workplace relations issues. These include change on the waterfront, innovation in the shearing industry and reform in the meat industry. The latter presaged enterprise bargaining itself, and Paul’s pivotal role in this important micro-economic reform was recognised by the federal government in 1996 when Paul was invited to draft the federal legislation.
Despite his notable skills and long string of success in the industry obtaining successful outcomes in the national arena, Paul is equally at home negotiating an agreement for a small trucking operation in rural Victoria.
Paul is a director of companies in agriculture, property, welfare and service sectors, adding to his portfolio of interests which also includes theatre, travel, wine and indulging his grandchildren.
Daniel Houlihan
Principal Advisor
M. OH&SM; B. Arts; J.P.
Dan is a Principal of First IR. He has developed a strong and loyal client base with particular expertise in Road Transport, Security, Building, Rail, Aviation, Pastoral and Cleaning Industries following some 15 years with First IR.
Dan has considerable proven ability in achieving solutions in difficult areas. He has a practical hands-on approach and is able to provide Award and Act interpretation advice directly. He has extensive knowledge in employment and an impressive understanding of numerous industries. Dan has negotiated, drafted and advocated a number of important firsts. He designed the first day rates agreement in the pastoral industry, the first non-union common enterprise agreement, and the first agreement in the railway industry that provided for triangulation of work. Dan has been active in the Award modernisation process and successfully advocated for the travelling shows industry to be removed from the Amusement Events and Recreation Modern Award.
Dan is involved in all facets of industrial relations, ranging from the design and negotiation of enterprise agreements, providing written employment advice, industrial dispute resolution, union negotiations, providing Advocacy before the Tribunals and Courts, dealing with all forms of claims such as General Protections (Adverse Actions), Good Faith Bargaining, Take Home Pay Orders and Terminations.
Dan has a Masters in Occupational Health & Safety Management – UTS; Bachelor of Arts – ANU; and is currently completing a Juris Doctor with UTS. He is also a Justice of the Peace. Dan is a motorcyclist and active bushwalker.
Megan Sprague
Workplace Advisor
MASS; B.B; BVA (Honours);
Megan works as a Workplace Relations Adviser. As a Workplace Advisor Megan’s role includes drafting of enterprise agreements, common law contracts, service agreements, provision of written employment advice, award and wages advice, negotiating disputes and claims (including Adverse Actions, Underpayment of Wages, Unfair Dismissals and Agreement negotiations). Megan also specialises in providing education and advice on human resource matters including performance management, termination of employment, providing workplace investigations, provision of HR Manuals, Policies and Procedures and other employment documents. Megan also provides training seminars on current employment matters.
Megan has a background in the Maritime Industry where she was an Employment Relations manager for an international Marine Services provider. Megan’s experience encompasses assisting employers who work in highly unionised environments and the challenges this presents to effective management. Megan is well versed on a number of awards, as related the Pastoral Industry, the Meat Industry through to the Road Transport Awards, and Clerical and Retail Awards. Megan also works directly with the members of AEPMA and the Pest Control Industry Award.
Megan is currently undertaking a Master of Applied Social Sciences (Management). Previous formal education includes a Bachelor of Management (Industrial Relations & Human Resources) - Canberra University; Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) - Sydney University, and individual Postgraduate units including Operations Management and Strategic Human Resource Management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM). Megan was the recipient of the Deans Medal from the University of Western Sydney, and awarded academic recognition from the Mechanics School of Arts for theoretical studies in 2007. Megan has a keen interest in Australian Contemporary Arts.
Shayne Coyne
Workplace Advisor
Shane Coyne is an independent workplace advisor who has had a close association with First IR for 20 years. His experience includes the full range of workplace relations issues and activities, with a particular emphasis on enterprise agreements. Shane has had considerable success with introducing greatly increased flexibility into workplaces and has tackled penalty rates issues with equal success. His industrial philosophy is to look for the minimalist, or lightest touch regulation, leaving as much of the workplace rules as possible to the directly affected parties.
Since commencing his career in the early 1980s Shane has conducted his practice nation-wide, across most industries and occupations, sometimes assisting both the employer and employees to reach lasting settlements. He maintains cordial relationships with unions and industry/employer associations and the tribunals. His document drafting and report writing abilities are formidable. Shane’s advocacy skills on behalf of employers are significant, having successfully prosecuted some of the more demanding cases, including award wage rate reductions.