2022 CEA Annual Conference: Rebuilding Community

Stephen

Managing Director, TAFE NSW

Stephen Brady joined TAFE NSW as Managing Director in December 2021. Steve has more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership in private and public sectors, including across a diverse range of NSW government agencies.

Prior to joining TAFE NSW, Steve held Deputy Secretary roles in NSW Treasury, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Revenue NSW, and most recently, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the NSW Department of Customer Service.

The hallmarks of Steve’s senior executive career include driving public sector innovation through a focus on customer and community, working with industry to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, enhancing the economic contribution of agencies and delivering strong financial stewardship.

In his current role as Managing Director, Steve is responsible for ensuring TAFE NSW is the leading provider of vocational training supporting the evolving needs of industry and learners in a rapidly changing economy.

Dr Simone

Senior Advisor – Employment, ACOSS

Simone Casey joined ACOSS in April 2021 as Senior Policy Advisor – Employment, and previously held a variety of roles in policy advocacy, research and communications where in the employment services and welfare sectors. Simone holds a PhD in employment services is an expert on marketisation, welfare conditionality, labour market program design,  unemployment and related social security topics.    Her campaigns and reports are underwritten by rigorous analysis and the use of up-to-date evidence and arguments.  She has designed and contributed to many academic and normative research projects involving quantitative and qualitative research methods, where the publication outputs have been both scholarly and/or policy focused. Simone contributes lived experienced to the role of Senior Advisor and is passionate about amplifying citizen perspectives in policy development.

Simone Casey joined ACOSS in April 2021 as Senior Policy Advisor – Employment, and previously held a variety of roles in policy advocacy, research and communications where in the employment services and welfare sectors. Simone holds a PhD in employment services is an expert on marketisation, welfare conditionality, labour market program design,  unemployment and related social security topics.    Her campaigns and reports are underwritten by rigorous analysis and the use of up-to-date evidence and arguments.  She has designed and contributed to many academic and normative research projects involving quantitative and qualitative research methods, where the publication outputs have been both scholarly and/or policy focused. Simone contributes lived experienced to the role of Senior Advisor and is passionate about amplifying citizen perspectives in policy development.

Dr Casey will explain the new Commonwealth employment services model and Workforce Australia.

Sonia

Director, Future of Work, PwC Australia

Sonia Clarke is one of the Future of Work leaders at PwC Australia. With a diverse background in strategic communications, collaboration design and facilitation, she works with executive teams to shape and articulate what their organisations will look like in the future.  Sonia holds an MA in Modern History and Politics from the University of Oxford. Her presentation will highlight key aspects of the PwC Future of Work series, with particular reference to The New Equation in hybrid working: how organisations can strike the right balance of time in the office and working remotely.

Kira

Senior Research Fellow, Youth Opportunity Team, Social Policy and Research Centre, Brotherhood of St Laurence

Kira Clarke is a Senior Research Fellow in Youth Opportunity in the Social Policy and Research Centre (SPaRC) at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL). She currently leads SPaRC’s skills and training policy and research stream and co-leads evaluations of the national systemic change youth employment initiative – the National Youth Employment Body (NYEB). Prior to joining BSL in February 2020, Kira was a Lecturer in Education Policy within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. As a university researcher (2004–2019), she completed more than 35 grant-funded and commissioned research projects, through which she developed high level technical research skills, and a deep knowledge of education and training policy trends in Australia and internationally. As a national expert in vocational education and training policy, particularly as it relates to youth transitions and young people, Kira led the widely cited Entry to Vocations study of VET in Schools (2012–14) for NCVER. She completed two research studies (2014–15 & 2015–17) funded through the competitive National Vocational Education and Training Research (NVETR) program and in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, examining the role of the vocational education for early school leavers. Kira is the current President of the Australasian Vocational Education and Research Association (AVETRA) and Victorian co-convener of WAVE (Women in Adult & Vocational Education). She previously presented at CCA’s July 2017 Conference in Melbourne.

Dr Jim

Social Researcher and Employability Specialist

Dr Jim Cloutman is a consultant social researcher and employability specialist. He was previously Director, Strategic Development at Riverina Community College, Wagga Wagga. His research has specialised in employability and in the design of employability-related training resources, with extensive experience in leadership of domestic and international organisations in vocational training and manpower consulting. He holds a PhD in Education from Charles Sturt University, a Master of Education from Southern Cross University, as well as qualifications from Kings College, London and the Institute of Education, University of London. You can download a number of Dr Cloutman’s recent publications and tools through this page.

David

Executive Director, Training Services NSW

David provides strategic leadership and management of the NSW vocational education and training market to meet the skills needs of industry, individuals and the community and drives improved job and skill outcomes through apprenticeships and traineeships.

David has worked across the NSW and Commonwealth government in a range of skills and employment policy, regulatory and program management roles. With the NSW Government David has led the successful transition to Smart and Skilled, implemented a number of Aboriginal programs and provides ongoing leadership for apprenticeships and traineeships as Commissioner for Vocational Training. Under David’s leadership over 200,000 training places have been delivered through JobTrainer to ensure NSW has a skilled workforce.

David delivers statewide programs through a network of regional offices with a budget of around $750 million.

Tim

NSW Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE, and Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education

Tim has represented Newcastle in the NSW Parliament since 2014, first standing in a by-election and re-elected in 2015 and 2019. In 2021 he was elevated to the Shadow Ministry, taking on the portfolios of TAFE, Skills and Education.

Before he was elected Tim worked in disability care, mine safety and adult and community education, including as a clerk at WEA Sydney and teaching a course at Macarthur Community College. He also served on Newcastle council for eight years and has held positions on the boards of Northern Settlement Services and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Tim grew up in Moruya with his two brothers and parents, who were both public school teachers. He first came to Newcastle for university and fell in love with city, later marrying a local and now raising four kids.

When not working you’re most likely to find Tim on a surfboard, being a soccer dad, or getting out and about in the city.

Matthew

Co-Founder & Client Success Officer, Audit Express

Matthew has a wealth of experience working in a range of roles across the Vocational Education and Training Sector, having worked as a former policy advisor to the Victorian Minister of Skills & Training, also as the National GM of Quality & Compliance for a large RTO prior to establishing Audit Express. In addition to his work with Audit Express, Matthew is also the founder of Educonomy, a specialist consultancy firm that engages with the educational sector to define and lead the future of education, with a strong focus on finding innovative solutions for complex problems.

Kevin

Co-Founder and CEO, Audit Express

Kevin is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Lead Auditor at Audit Express. He has extensive experience working in senior management positions across the training and education sector and as a board member on health regulation and community organisations. Having built and managed a registered training organisation, Kevin understands the importance of ensuring there is the right balance between growth and compliance.

Dr Allan

Chair, ACE Community Colleges

Allan’s involvement in various education sectors spans over 50 years and includes primary, secondary, university, TAFE, adult and community education, professional development and online programs. His last full-time position was at Southern Cross University, where he held the position of Associate Professor and Director of Research and Research Training in the School of Commerce and Management. Allan holds four degrees and five post-graduate diplomas in various areas of learning facilitation: School Education, Continuing and Adult Education, Special Education, Distance Education and Professional Education.

In the 1970s, Allan was instrumental in establishing and running the North Regional Evening College, the forerunner of ACE Community Colleges. Currently he is also the Chair of RED Inc, a Lismore-based disability support organisation, and the Chair of a small start-up company pioneering the development of a closed-loop, regenerative agribusiness model to farm and market high-grade Australian Manuka honey. Allan is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

At the Conference: Allan’s interest is in optimising the performance of Boards and Management Committees that operate in the community sector. Good governance is about creating the culture of the organisation, plotting its future (not minding the shop) and ensuring that the organisation complies with its legal and constitutional requirements.

Michael

Integrated Infrastructure Director, PwC Australia

Michael Gibson is an Integrated Infrastructure Director based in Sydney. He has over 16 years of experience, specialising on Social and Higher Education Infrastructure. Prior to joining PwC Australia, Michael was a Senior Advisor within the Strategic Ventures team at Sydney University and led several high-profile capital and portfolio initiatives on behalf of University. He was also the Head of Development & Divestment at TAFE NSW where he focused on new infrastructure projects and private & public partnerships. A Management Consultant by background, Michael utilises his strong Strategy and Finance background, combined with his deep sectoral experience to support Higher Education Institutions through their asset strategy and delivery.

Adam

Integrated Infrastructure Director, PwC Australia

Adam is a Partner in PwC’s Infrastructure practice and has over 15 years’ experience providing commercial and financial advice to clients in structuring property and infrastructure transactions in the higher education, health and social infrastructure sector.
Since 2008, Adam has worked with nearly all Universities across Australia evaluate and structure the funding and development structures for on-campus student accommodation through partnerships with the private sector. Adam’s experience in the sector spans across all types of operating models and provides clients with a independent and comprehensive advice into how greenfield and brownfield student accommodation developments can succeed in todays market.
Adam is based in PwC’s Sydney office. He received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Hugh

Consultant & Honorary Senior Fellow, Centre for Vocational and Educational Policy, Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Hugh Guthrie is a private consultant (Lusid Pty Ltd) and an Honorary Senior Fellow in the Centre for Vocational and Educational Policy in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at University of Melbourne. Now semi-retired, he has worked in the VET sector since 1981, including 25 years at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). His VET experience and expertise is wide-ranging and includes: VET provider and workforce capability, VET teacher preparation and professional development, apprenticeships and apprentice training and VET in schools.

His principal research interests most recently have been VET teaching qualifications; VET workforce and professional development; investigating trades training, especially for women in male dominated trades; and approaches to identifying and measuring the quality of teaching and learning practice by RTOs. He is the co-author (with Melinda Waters) of Unpacking the quality of VET delivery (NCVER, September 2021). He currently undertakes a range of consultancy work and writes articles for the VET Development Centre’s newsletter and authors other publications.

Major reviews in which he has been involved include VET teacher education, reviews of VET in schools in two jurisdictions and of VET’s training package approach. Other reviews in which he has been involved relate to more specific issues, for example the delivery of VET programs to school students in rural and regional Victoria during the pandemic and, most recently, family violence training in response to the Victorian Royal Commission on the topic.

Sean

Director, Program Implementation at the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

As the Director, Program Implementation within the Market Performance and Engagement branch of ASQA, Sean is responsible for leading the:

• the development of a program of work and applying a range of regulatory tools and resources to address ASQA’s Regulatory Risk Priorities
• management of all in-market applications and complaints about registered training organisations
• engagement with states, territories and commonwealth agencies on operational risks.

Sean joined ASQA in February 2021 as Director, Strategic Operations and was responsible for the centralising of a range of functions, as well as implementing new functions from the Rapid Review into ASQA’s Practices and Processes.

Prior to ASQA, Sean held various roles within the South Australian Public Sector including leading the enforcement and compliance area of the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit, supporting the audit and risk management, business planning and performance reporting within the Attorney-General’s Department and leading the corporate and engagement functions at Ombudsman SA. Sean has a Diploma of Leadership and Management.

The Hon Alister

NSW Minister for Skills and Training & Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology

Alister Henskens is the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Minister for Skills and Training in the NSW Government and is the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly. He was elected as the State Member for Ku-ring-gai in 2015.
Alister has served as the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Cabinet Secretary, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and as Chair of several Parliamentary Committees, including the Transport and Infrastructure Committee.
Alister’s family have lived in the Ku-ring-gai area since 1996. He was born, raised and schooled in Newcastle.
Prior to entering politics, Alister was a lawyer for 27 years, first as a solicitor and then as a barrister and was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 2011. Alister worked principally in the areas of general commercial, insolvency, banking, defamation, and building and construction law.
Alister holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the University of Toronto, Canada, where he studied under a Rotary Foundation Scholarship.

Katrina

Chief Operating Officer, Audit Express

Katrina has over 15 years of management experience in vocational education and training sector, including Service Skills Organisations, Industry Associations and multiple industry sectors including hospitality and business. Katrina has worked with both State and Federal Departments managing large scale projects as well as establishing herself a strong reputation within these fields for collaboration, innovation and creativity.

Vanessa

Manager, The Reading Writing Hotline

Vanessa Iles is manager of the ​national Reading Writing Hotline, and an experienced language, literacy and numeracy practitioner.  She coordinates a database of LLN providers and a team of teachers who field enquiries from individuals, organisations, government and industry. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Business and Graduate Diploma of Adult LLN Teaching. She is an executive member of ACAL (Australian Council for Adult Literacy), the NSW Adult Literacy Numeracy Council, and a member of DESE’s Foundation Skills Advisory Committee.

Vanessa is committed to optimising opportunities for adult learners by improving connections between learners, training providers and employers, and highlighting gaps in available provision.

Kerry

CEO, ACE Colleges and CCA Board Treasurer

Kerry Johnson has been the CEO/Principal of ACE Community Colleges since 2006. During her time as CEO she has overseen the  growth of the College expanding into Queensland and opening campuses in Burleigh Heads and Southport on the Gold Coast.

Kerry started her work in the field of education as a primary school teacher in South East Queensland where she taught for 5 years. After leaving teaching she held various positions including  Health Promotions Manager for the Quit and SunSmart programs at the Cancer Council Victoria and as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

In 2003 she took up a role as Executive Director of Recreation Training Queensland, an Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB) for sport, outdoor recreation, fitness, horse racing and gambling which propelled her into the world of VET.

She has an extensive background in the management of not-for-profit organisations and has held positions on the boards of the Australian Coaching Council, North Coast Academy of Sport, Sports Federation Queensland, Community Colleges Australia, and Co-operative Learning Ltd.

Patrick

CEO, Digital Skills Organisation

Patrick commenced in the position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Skills Organisation in October 2020. Prior to his appointment, Patrick worked for Infosys, where he led the program team implementing a large-scale digital transformation program into Services Australia. From November 2016 to October 2020, Patrick was the Chief Executive Officer for the Invictus Games Sydney. Patrick brings significant training expertise to the DSO, following a thirty-year career in the British Army (1985-2005) and the Australian Defence Force (2005-2015).

Lizzie

Lizzie Knight led the project to review Enrolment Practices in VET and is a member of the Program Advisory Group. Lizzie is a disabled, settler researcher working on the Traditional Lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. She works for Victoria University in their Centre for International Research on Education Systems. She enjoys going to the beach and looking after the family’s three dogs. Lizzie worked first as an assistive technology trainer at the Centre for People with Disabilities at the University of Westminster in London in 2001, and for the next five years worked in support for tertiary students with disabilities as Disability Liaison Officer. Then she worked in central student support in London at the teacher training specialist college the Institute of Education, University of London, until she retrained as a Professional Career Practitioner on her return to so-called Australia. A key area of interest is equity of access to and in tertiary education, the provision of institutional information and support for transition into post-school education. In 2017, after six years of part time study interrupted by lots of house moves and the arrival of her daughter, Lizzie completed a PhD at Monash University, investigating equity and access to higher education change in pre-enrolment information between the 1970s and 2010s in Australia and the UK. She acts as the research advisor for the Career Industry Council of Australia, sits on the executive of the Australasian Vocational Education Research Association (AVETRA), is Associate Editor of Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education and Reviews Editor of International Journal for Lifelong Learning.

George

Chair and Founder, Spark Strategy

George has more than 25 years experience in doing this specific type of work and has now run more than 3000 such strategic programs. He is highly sought-after, both nationally and internationally, and one of the few Saxton Speakers Bureau’s exclusive speakers and facilitators. As a serial entrepreneur, he is recognised by business leaders as having a depth of understanding across systems and sectors. This makes him a trusted advisor to the highest levels of Government and Corporates to be called on to facilitate bold, reforming and challenging processes.

George’s expertise and capability is internationally recognised, and he has been invited to facilitate events and deliver keynotes at forums across four continents. Blending strategy, impact, commerciality, and systems thinking, George has helped hundreds of organisations design and execute sustainable and impactful change. George’s portfolio spans local to federal government, and community-based to multinational organisations. Recent examples of George’s work include:

• Facilitating the strategic planning process for Orygen, and working with the executive team to deliver on that strategy. This has reframed and shaped Orygen as a national centre of excellence for youth mental health.
• Facilitating discussions between all Ministers of social policy in the Northern Territory to develop a shared outcomes framework.
• Coordinating the social and environmental management of a multi hundred million dollar bid for Stockland, enabling the redevelopment of a residential site that considered social and environmental impact.
• Leading senior stakeholder engagement and coordination to develop the strategy for a successful Bupa contract bid for the Department of Defence.
• Leading and facilitating sector collaborations to solve complex social problems with innovative models, including the education and community health sectors.
• Facilitating the development of an international mental health strategy, bringing together experts from multiple nations to drive systemic change in mental health policy.

Prior roles have seen George as the National Lead Partner for Transformation at Grant Thornton, Program Director for the Department of Premier and Cabinet as well as Chairman and Non-Executive Director for a number of technology and service businesses. Prior to all this he grew and sold an international manufacturing conglomerate based in Europe, meaning he brings a strong practicality and commerciality to his strategic advice.

After success in private sector service firms and start-ups, he has turned his advisory work towards systems change and a sustainable social sector. He holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and has completed Directors and Chairperson’s courses at the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

At the CCA Conference: Applying his 25 years of experience in the sector, George will talk about current trends community-facing organisations are experiencing and the innovative and strategic changes that they face.

Deb

Professional Development and Learning Facilitator, Q Blue Solutions

Debbie Littlehales is a facilitator with extensive experience in supporting clients in workshops, conferences and coaching environments. She is passionate about bringing people together to find solutions that are locally-led with impactful outcomes. Debbie has many years of experience working with not for profit organisations in professional development and network management, with particular expertise in E-learning solutions. She holds a Master Business Coaching, Certificate IV Training and Assessment, and BA (Hons) Sport Science and Recreational Management.

Dr Robbie

(Voluntary) Board Director of Strategy & Wellbeing MNCCC Ltd; Honorary Research Associate at the Centre for Disability Studies, Sydney University Medical Faculty

Dr Robbie Lloyd is a professional educator, mental health worker and reform agent in community health and education for all ages and stages. He has worked in education for more than 50 years, and in frontline community-based mental health and alcohol and other drugs (MH & AOD) support across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and India for more than 30 years. He has been part of the Global Mental Health movement across Asia Pacific since 2012, with colleagues from the Creating Futures Collaborative for Rural, Remote, Indigenous & Islander Mental Health. This work honours First Nations healers and medicines alongside western ways, in training local people to become the frontline workers in MH & AOD and Trauma Informed Care. Robbie has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for nearly 30 years, and in the adult and community education movement across Australia for the past decade. He is passionate about building programs to support vulnerable community groups, including traumatised young people in Years 7-10 who are study in Special Assistance High Schools after being rejected by mainstream schools, because of their acting out behaviours due to trauma. Person-centred and community-building, not for profit approaches are Robbie’s priorities in both education and health.

Lex Nadine

CEO, Youth Off The Streets

Lex has extensive and diverse experience in the community services sector. Before becoming CEO of Youth Off The Streets, Lex was Deputy CEO and the Director of Sydney Homeless Services. Prior to joining Youth Off The Streets in 2012, Lex worked as a Unit Coordinator for the Department of Juvenile Justice, among other roles. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology and Criminology) and is undertaking an Advanced Diploma of Management.

Elle

Manager, Service Development & Practice, National Youth Employment Body, Brotherhood of St Laurence

Elle McLachlan is the Manager of the Service Development and Practice team of the National Youth Employment Body. Prior to her work at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, she was a Research Fellow in Indigenous Public Health at the University of Melbourne. She has previous experience in social enterprises and state ministerial offices. Elle holds a Masters in International Relations and Bachelor in Media and Communications.

Darlene

Manager, Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET)

Darlene McLennan is the Manager of the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET). ADCET provides national leadership, information and professional development for educators and support staff in the inclusion of people with disability in Australia’s higher education and VET sectors. Darlene has nearly 35 years of experience working in the disability sector, of which 18 years are within the tertiary disability sector. She completed her Master of Business with the University of Tasmania in 2013 and has a post-graduate degree in Careers Education through RMIT.

Gabrielle

Professor, Macquarie University

Gabrielle Meagher is Professor Emerita in the School of Social Sciences at Macquarie University. Gabrielle has longstanding research interests in paid care work and how it is valued and organised in social service systems, industrial relations and society more broadly. In this work, her starting point is that the workforce is a critical social policy issue for publicly funded essential care services such as aged care, child care, child welfare and disability support. Gabrielle has also researched the process and impact of privatisation of social services. She has been an expert witness in several equal pay and work value cases, most recently in the work value case for the aged care industry underway in the Fair Work Commission.

Jo

President, Australian Council for Adult Literacy

Jo Medlin has been involved in adult literacy and numeracy for three decades. She is currently President of the Australian Council of Adult Literacy (ACAL), a member of the Reading Writing Hotline Steering Committee, and the national Education IRC. Her work involves helping adults strengthen their literacy and numeracy, and delivering professional development for people in the community, VET, and in business.

Her current advocacy work involves looking at literacy demands across the community and considering the importance of plain language and reader-friendly approaches to communicating written information. In 2021 Jo consulted and taught on the SBS series Lost for Words, which raised public awareness of adult literacy in Australia. She is looking forward to the launch of series 2 later this year.

Jo loves to read and her passion for adult literacy is based on a belief that the world would be a better place if we could all put up our feet, read a good book, and escape into another world for a while.

Robin

Director, Social Equity Works

Robin is the founder and Director of Social Equity Works. Established in 2021, Social Equity Works conducts social research, evaluation, capacity building and strategy development for government, not-for-profit and for purpose organisations. Robin has special interest in supporting small and medium services NFPs with capacity building. She is a member of the Australasian Evaluation Society. Robin was the Manager of TAFE NSW Women’s Program Unit from 2000 to 2009 and has a strong commitment to improving public education outcomes.

Social Equity Works is currently researching the impact of COVID-19 on staff wellbeing in the community sector for NCOSS and is working with the Reading Writing Hotline on their Community Engagement Strategy. The team have just completed a consultation with Arabic speaking parents of children with asthma for Asthma Australia and are in the final stages of Strategic Planning with the Refugee Welcome Centre in Rozelle.

In 2019 Robin established and still co-coordinates a community choir in Redfern Waterloo and she is the current Chair of the Settlement Neighbourhood Centre Board.

Victoria

CEO & Founder, Hello Coach

Supercoach Victoria Mills is a leading coaching industry pioneer, on “speed dial” with a who’s who of the country’s C-level business figures, celebrities and sports people.

Having coached thousands of people in personal and professional development over 20 years, Victoria’s methods have proved time and again why coaching works. She has built a reputation as Australia’s “go-to” coach for both individuals and organisations, transforming workplace culture, retention, productivity and organisational health.

Victoria’s early childhood experiences became the impetus for a lifelong quest in the personal development arena. Despite facing divorce with a new-born, and surviving a life-threatening illness while maintaining her career, Victoria never gave up. In fact, knowing first-hand the feelings of overwhelming anxiety and being in a precarious position, were the key catalysts for her desire to lead the way towards coaching as a vehicle for transformational change.

Her coaching philosophy, which centres on the importance of whole wellness, is simple. No matter what the challenge, we all have a choice to either be a victim to our circumstance, or to become victorious. Ultimately, it takes bravery, courage and vulnerability to show up for ourselves. Even amidst our most challenging and painful moments, we can create a shift for something extraordinary to happen and to become our best self.

With Victoria at the helm, and with a vision to democratise access to coaching, Hello Coach is built to do exactly that – to match individuals with a curated, global group of expert coaches to support positive change in business, wellbeing and relationships. Hello Coach has scaled the benefits of individual coaching to entire organisations by creating a platform that makes it easy for anyone to find and book experienced, highly qualified coaches.

Collectively, our coaches have championed thousands of entrepreneurs, creatives, business leaders, celebrities, sports people and high-performing teams – empowering them to find their purpose, clarify their “why”, and overcome the personal and professional challenges thrown at them by life and business.

Hello Coach believes that whatever our life’s purpose, whatever our potential, coaching will help identify it, develop a solid foundation from which to create change, and empower us to make strides towards achieving the goals that we set for ourselves.

By doing so, we positively influence those around us – our family and friends, our workplace, our community, society, and the world.

We all need a champion in our corner to be our best selves.

Professor Lidia

Distinguished Professor, QLD University of Technology

Lidia Morawska is Distinguished Professor at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and the Director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at QUT, which is a Collaborating Centre of the WHO. Lidia also holds positions of Vice-Chancellor Fellow, Global Centre for Clean Air Research, University of Surrey, UK and of Adjunct Professor, Institute for Environmental and Climate Research (ECI), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. She conducts fundamental and applied research in the interdisciplinary field of air quality and its impact on human health and the environment, with a focus on science of airborne particulate matter. She is a physicist and received her doctorate at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.  An author of almost one thousand journal papers, book chapters and refereed conference papers, Lidia has been involved at the executive level with a number of relevant national and international professional bodies, is a member of the Australian Academy of Science and a recipient of numerous scientific awards. She was identified as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World in 2021” by Time magazine.

The Hon Brendan

Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Member for Gorton

The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP is the Minister for Skills and Training, a Cabinet position in the Albanese Labor Government. A belief in the benefits of secure employment and quality education and training, as well as a commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, led Mr O’Connor to commence his career in a union. He represented the interests of Victorian workers before becoming Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU).

He was elected to parliament in 2001 and has since headed several portfolios.
As Minister for Employment Participation, he overhauled the employment services system, streamlining the process to provide a personalised service called Job Services Australia. As Minister for Home Affairs, one of his many noteworthy achievements includes reforming Australia’s anti-dumping regime to encourage fairer and equitable business practices.

Mr O’Connor went on to serve as Minister for Small Business at Cabinet level, the first time in over ten years that the portfolio had been elevated to such a level. Mr O’Connor worked to cut red tape and support growth and jobs through tax reform, including the $6500 Instant Asset Write-off to assist Australia’s 2.7 million small businesses to improve their cash flows and the introduction of Australia’s first Small Business Commissioner.
In 2013, Mr O’Connor was elevated to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and finished the term as Minister for Employment, Skills and Training. From 2013 – 2019, Mr O’Connor was appointed Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. In 2019, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Employment and Industry, Science, and Small and Family Business as a member of Anthony Albanese’s Labor frontbench team and served as Shadow Minister for Defence from January 2021 until Labor won the 2022 election. Mr O’Connor has degrees in Arts and Law from Monash University and completed Harvard University’s Trade Union Program.

Ross

Chief Customer Officer, Digital Skills Organisation

Ross Raeburn joined the Digital Skills Organisation in October 2020 as Chief Customer Officer, responsible for orchestrating active communities across industry, training providers, state and commonwealth government. Prior to the DSO, Ross built, led and sold digital businesses in Australia, grappling first hand with the scarcity of digital skills and the challenges of developing a diverse digital workforce.

Saxon

CEO, Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

Saxon Rice has extensive experience across the VET and employment services sectors as well as the public policy process. Ms Rice previously held a range of senior government, VET and management positions. She was Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education in the former Queensland Government from 2012 to 2015, and Chair of the then Ministerial Industry Commission responsible for industry engagement.

Ms Rice is a former Director of Global Business Development for an Australian employment services company and was responsible for significant growth into new countries in the European and Asian markets. Ms Rice has also served in a range of Senate Committee Secretariats, including as Acting Secretary and Principal Research Officer to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. More recently, she was a Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2016 to 2018 and is a Member and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Rice commenced as a Commissioner of ASQA on 16 April 2018, before being appointed as Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (initially Acting) on 7 October 2019. With effect from 1 January 2021, Ms Rice was appointed the National VET Regulator and Chief Executive Officer for a period of five years.

Craig

CEO, Victorian Skills Authority

Craig Robertson commenced as CEO of the Victorian Skills Authority in August 2021.  The authority is tasked by the Victorian Government to plan for post school education and training to help the economy recover from the pandemic and build up industry skills and support more Victorians into mainstream participation in work, further education and enterprise.

Prior to this role Craig was the CEO of TAFE Directors Australia from April 2017, representing TAFEs Australia-wide.

In 2015 and 2016 he was Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education and Training in Victoria and prior to that he had over thirty years in various roles in the Commonwealth Government, focused on schools funding, employment services and vocational education and training.

Craig holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration and Bachelor of Education (Primary).

Jodi

CEO, Human Services Skills Organisation (HSSO)

As CEO, Jodi leads key initiatives to strengthen skills and workforce development in the human services and early childhood education and care sectors.  Through strategic engagement with employers, peak and industry bodies, and all levels of government the Human Services Skills Organisation develops evidence-based solutions to deliver the skilled and adaptable workforce the sector needs.  Jodi has an impressive track record as an executive in both public and private enterprise in Australia and internationally and has been privileged to lead business transformation projects, develop and implement significant government policy, and lead major reforms.

Susan

CEO, Community Services & Health ITAB

Susan Scowcroft assumed the role of Executive Director of the Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Body (CSH ITAB) in 2000. CSH ITAB is an independent, not-for-profit organisation focusing on the development and capacity of the Health and Community Services workforce across NSW.

Community services and health continues to be Australia’s largest and fastest growing employer, and this is reflected across all regions of NSW. In her role, Susan creates and facilitates connections across diverse industry sectors, government agencies, RTOs and key stakeholders. This encourages collaboration with a strong focus on the attraction, retention and development of a skilled, responsive, capable workforce that meets the requirements of employers and their clients.

Clare

First Assistant Secretary, Apprenticeships and Foundation Skills, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR)

As the First Assistant Secretary for Apprenticeships and Foundation Skills in the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR), Clare oversees the design and delivery of Australian Government foundation skills policies and programs. This includes the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, the Foundation Skills for Your Future Program and remote communities pilot. Clare also oversees the Australian Government’s policy response to the recent House of Representatives Inquiry into Adult Literacy and work on the Foundation Skills Framework. Clare commenced in this role in October 2021, after several years working in vocational education funding policy roles.

Clare has more than 15 years’ experience working in, and with, the Australian Government, including several years working on Indigenous economic policy and program delivery and several years as a commercial lawyer. Highlights of Clare’s career have included working closely with Indigenous-led businesses on the design and implementation of the Indigenous Procurement Policy and the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy, as well as more recent work to support reforms to Australia’s apprenticeship incentives system.

Hugh

Group CIO at the Atlantic Group, CEO at LQD Technology, and Founder and Advisor at Oggin

Hugh is a former Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, IT Consultant at EY Advisory and now the Group CIO of the Atlantic Group and CEO of LQD Technology, a Ukrainian Headquartered IT outstaffing company focused on building dedicated teams building software products. Hugh is also the founder of Oggin, a private venture fund investing in property, start-ups, traditional and alternative assets.

For over 20 years, Hugh has been building a technology-enabled career that has included 10 years service as an Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, managing strategic risk for global companies, building (and failing) with his own adtech start-up, launching new and innovative data-driven products for global brands interacting with over 9 million unique users and building businesses with 30%+ year-on-year growth.

On 24 February, whilst Hugh was in Kyiv, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine threatening the lives of over 200 employees and their families. He will speak about his experiences in crisis leadership while living and working in Kiev during the current Ukraine war.

Chemène

Learning Specialist & Conference Chair, Blackwater Projects

Chemène is an industry leader in education and performance, drawing on her broad experience as an Olympic athlete, national-level sports coach and coach mentor, schoolteacher, and adult educator to inform her work. She mentors and supports experienced facilitators and assessors with their ongoing professional development and is a regular speaker at conferences and special events. Chemène specialises in TAE qualifications and has written TAE materials used by organisations throughout Australia.

Indah

Program Manager (Indonesia), Australian Volunteers Program

Indah Susanti has worked with the Australian Volunteers Program since 2020 as Indonesia Country Program Manager. The program works with partner organisations such as government agencies, universities, NGOs, and MSMEs in Indonesia to support their missions and goals through volunteering with volunteers from Australia. Prior to working with the Australian Volunteers Program, Indah worked with the United Nations and its agency in Indonesia, the Netherlands and the United States. She enjoys hiking with her dog, Muay Thai training, and scuba diving during her spare time.

Simon

Measurement Lead, Huber Social

Simon Vaughan is a Measurement Lead at Huber Social where he runs social impact measurement projects across a range of sectors including education. Prior to this, he worked as a fundraiser in international development for over a decade across a broad swathe of fundraising areas, raising millions for the organisations he worked for.

Richard

CEO, Byron Community College

As a life-long and life-wide learner I have a keen desire to pursue meaningful and mutual interaction with my peers and with a diversity of communities of interest. I openly share that passion with others.

I have a professional background in exploration geology, science and maths teaching, acting and directing for the theatre. I also had a stint as a program manager shaping performing arts and community arts policy for The Australia Council.

Since 1990, I have led two award winning adult education centres in NE Victoria and currently as Director of Byron Community College on the far North Coast of NSW.I see adult learning as a vital component in: facing the technological changes affecting the way we live and work; the rising anxiety, stress and mental health issues across society; the empowerment of community development and hope; and the challenge of issues such as nationalism and climate change against finding more sustainable, collaborative, creative ways to live.

Russ

Co-Counder and Director, Latitude Network

Russ is a co-Founder and Director of Latitude Network – a boutique social impact consultancy that works with leading social and community organisations to create high-performance systems and cultures and to deliver impact. Russ has extensive experience across NFP, Government and commercial sectors including having been an adviser to Cabinet Ministers at State and federal levels of Government.  Russ has an MBA from Melbourne Business School and is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Dr Don

University Fellow, Charles Darwin University

Dr Don Zoellner has worked in the school, vocational and higher education sectors in the Northern Territory since 1973. He served as the Executive Director of Centralian College in Alice Springs and Pro Vice-Chancellor VET and Community Engagement at Charles Darwin University. He was a director of the Enterprise and Career Education Foundation, Chairperson of the Australian Principals’ Associations Professional Development Council and a panel member of the Shergold Review of Senior Secondary Pathways in 2019-20. Dr Zoellner has served on numerous advisory committees, reviews and evaluations of education and training at both NT and national levels. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and former board chair of Group Training NT. He currently serves as the independent chair of the Industry Skills Advisory Council Northern Territory board, the NT representative on the Australian Industry and Skills Committee and is a member of the National VET Regulator Advisory Council. Dr Zoellner completed his Doctor of Philosophy in 2013 by describing the development and implementation of VET policy in Australia and continues to research, present and publish in the area.

Dr Zoellner will speak about his new research, “Mature Australian VET markets: a data-driven case study of public policy implementation”, published in Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training.

Helen

CEO, Kiama & Shoalhaven Community Colleges

Helen Zwicker is the CEO of Kiama & Shoalhaven Community Colleges. Helen’s 30 year career has centred around Adult Learning and has spanned public, corporate and community sectors. Helen has a deep sense of privilege for the position that she holds which allows her to work alongside her team to positively impact the lives of many.