A long-time friend of ULIO and former President of the ULIO executive, Commissioner Walkaden was appointed to the Fair Work Commission on 24 March 2025.

 Before his appointment, he served as National Legal Director of the Mining and Energy Union (2022–2025), and prior to that as National Legal Officer of the then Mining and Energy Division of the CFMMEU (2013–2022) and as a Legal Officer at the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (2007–2013).