2022 National ACE Summit

The Hon Fiona Nash

Australian Government Regional Education Commissioner, and former Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Regional Communications and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education

Having grown up in Sydney, Fiona has spent the last couple of decades living and working in regional Australia. For many years she was involved in a farming enterprise in the central west of NSW, which her sons Will and Henry are now running. She spent twelve years in the federal parliament as a Senator for NSW and also held ministerial positions including Rural Health, and in Cabinet the positions of Regional Development, Regional Communications and Local Government and Territories. She also held the position of Deputy Leader of the Nationals. From 2018 – 2021 Fiona was the Strategic Adviser, Regional Engagement and Government Relations for Charles Sturt University. Fiona was appointed by the Australian Government as the Regional Education Commissioner in December 2021.

Frier Bentley

Director, Amalgamate Communications & Advisory, Summit Facilitator

An outcomes driven public affairs executive and leader with more than 20 years experience in corporate affairs, program management and sustainability. Frier’s approach is to partner with business leaders and their teams to achieve their goals. Frier has worked in government, listed companies and not-for-profit sectors and brings a broad perspective to the scope and possibility of ESG programs for commercial benefits that make a difference for the environment and society. She has driven the development of many ESG programs including AGL’s Energy for Life, major infrastructure community engagement programs and Coca-Cola Amatil’s sugar reduction, remote indigenous communities and plastic recycling programs.

Theresa Collignon

Deputy Chair, Community Education Australia and CEO, Macquarie Community College

Theresa Collignon has been CEO of Macquarie Community College, since February 2015, bringing more than 20 years of local and international not-for-profit education experience. Prior roles include Executive Director of TAFE National Scholarships Foundation; NSW Regional Manager, The Smith Family; Chief Executive, AFS Student Exchange Australia; Vice President, AFS-USA; Manager, Training Division and GM, NSW Division of the Securities Institute of Australia; and Associate Director, MBA Program, Australian Graduate School of Management. In addition to her CEA Board work her extensive Governance experience includes 12 years as a Director of SDN Children’s Services, including two years as Board Chair. Theresa is a member of the Boards of Macquarie Community College and MCC Child and Family Services. A Graduate of the AICD Company Director’s Course, her qualifications also include an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and a Diploma in Financial Markets.

Dr Cassandra Goldie

CEO, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and Adjunct Professor, UNSW Sydney

Cassandra Goldie is CEO of ACOSS and Adjunct Professor with UNSW Sydney. With public policy expertise in economic, social and environmental issues, civil society, social justice and human rights, Cassandra has represented the interests of people who are disadvantaged, and civil society generally, in major national and international processes as well as in grassroots communities. Prior to joining ACOSS, Cassandra held senior roles in both the NFP and public sectors, including with the Australian Human Rights Commission, Darwin Community Legal Service and Senior Executive with Legal Aid in Western Australia.

Cassandra has a PhD from UNSW Sydney and a Masters of Law from University College London. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on the UNSW Law Advisory Committee, the Australian Climate Roundtable and the Energy Charter Independent Accountability Panel. Cassandra is Co-Chair of the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney Poverty and Inequality Partnership and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Cassandra has been recognised as one of the Inaugural Westpac Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence. She has been voted one of the Impact 25 Most Influential People in the Social Economy, most recently in 2021. In 2018, Cassandra was recognised as one of Australia’s top 50 Outstanding LGBTI Executives by Deloitte and, in 2021, she received the 2021 UNSW Alumni Award for Social Impact and Service.

Alister Henskens SC MP

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.

Jo Medlin

President, Australian Council for Adult Literacy

Jo Medlin has been involved in adult literacy and numeracy for almost 30 years. She describes herself as “a serial volunteer”: currently President of the Australian Council of Adult Literacy (ACAL), rural representative of the NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council (NSWALNC), and a member of the national DESE Foundation Skills Advisory Committee, the Reading Writing Hotline Steering Committee, and the national Education IRC.

Her passion is teaching adult literacy and numeracy, but she has also taught the Graduate Diploma in Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Teaching, Academic Foundation Skills, and a range of PD and courses for VET practitioners and volunteers to develop LLN knowledge. She has coordinated the LLN mapping of training packages and delivered and assessed TAELLN411.

Her areas of interest include curriculum writing, designing resources for students at pre-level ACSF to 3, youth at risk, and online learners. She holds a Masters Degree in Adult Education and was a finalist in the 2013 Australian Training Awards – Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award. She also has a qualification in archaeology and one day hopes to use it! Meanwhile, she 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 our stresses for a while.

Vanessa Iles

Manager, 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.

Dave Tout

Senior Research Fellow, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

Dave Tout is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). He has over 40 years’ experience working in schools, TAFEs, community providers, universities, industry and state and national educational organisations. Dave has a national and international reputation in adult and youth literacy and numeracy education and assessment, with a focus on developing conceptual frameworks and assessments, professional development, and writing curriculum and teaching materials. Dave has been involved in the development and writing of the numeracy assessments in two of the OECD’s international assessment programs (PISA and PIAAC) and is currently the Chair of the Numeracy Expert Group for the second cycle of PIAAC.

Dr Keiko Yasukawa

University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Dr Keiko Yasukawa is an adult education researcher and teacher educator at the University of Technology Sydney. Keiko’s research and teaching focuses on adult literacy and numeracy, and she is particularly interested in the tensions between policy, pedagogy and practice. Her most recent book is Numeracy as social practice: global and local perspectives (Routledge, 2018), co-edited with Alan Rogers, Kara Jackson and Brian Street. Keiko has also taken leadership roles in the adult literacy and numeracy professional associations, and is currently the president of the NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council.

Angela Angelopoulos

Education & Employment Programs Coordinator, Jesuit Social Services

Angela has a breadth of knowledge and experience in the employment services sector with well over 15 years in Recruitment.

Angela is passionate about upskilling people’s employability skills and helping them to demystify the job search process. Developing confidence in people is an essential part of her experience having supported and assisted people from diverse and multi-cultural backgrounds to perform their best, achieve their goals so that they can become socially and financially independent.

Since 2018, Angela has been the Coordinator of Education and Employment Programs at Jesuit Social Services.  She is responsible for overseeing the Reconnect Program, ensuring Milestone deliverables are achieved and that participants are well supported, as part of their journey, to achieve their career aspirations.

David Mackay

Chair, Community Education Australia and CEO, TLK Community College

David Mackay was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tuggerah Lakes Community College in 2011. David brings to the Board over twenty years experience in education and training management, within a career that has included both the public and private sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science, Graduate Diploma of Management and a Masters in Adult Education, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With a passion for education he has produced various articles, papers and publications.

desh Balasubramaniam

Manager, Learner Pathways Unit, VIC Department of Education and Training

desh is the Manager of the Learner Pathways Unit (LPU) at the Department of Education and Training within the Higher Education and Workforce Development Division. Having worked in this role since January 2018, desh brings wealth of experience working legal, academia, non-profit, international development and government sectors.

The LPU develops, supports and manages the delivery of several state-wide initiatives aimed at improving educational and employment outcomes for Victorians experiencing disadvantage. The LPU also coordinates partnerships between government, community, industry and the education sector to improve cross-sectoral relations and improve systems that are aimed at supporting current and future learners. He was also involved in leading the redesign and implementation of the Reconnect program.

Dr Don Perlgut

CEO, Community Education Australia

As the CEO of Community Colleges Australia (CCA), Dr Don Perlgut has worked to strengthen CCA’s research and advocacy activities. Prior to his commencement as CCA CEO in 2015, he worked as the CEO of three other organisations, including the Rural Health Education Foundation and the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC). Don has also worked in the Community Outreach Program, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); as the Executive Officer of The Bright Alliance, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW; and as a business development manager for both the Australian Institute of Management (NSW/ACT) and a start-up IT company.

As Project Manager, Open Learning and Adult Education for ABC Television, Don had responsibility for the ABC’s partnership with Open Learning Australia (now Open Universities Australia) and 15 Australian universities undertaking distance learning activities. For the ABC, he supervised the development two adult literacy television series with NSW TAFE, for which he received a Commonwealth Literacy Medal for his work during International Literacy Year 1990. He also developed a business management TV series with Holmesglen Institute (VIC), and an AusAID-funded English language teaching series broadcast both in Asia and Australia.

Don has been nominated three years in a row – 2019, 2020 and 2021 – for the Pro Bono Australia “Impact 25” social sector awards. He holds a PhD in communications from Macquarie University and a Master of City Planning (MCP) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jane Ward

Executive Director, Higher Education and Workforce Division, VIC Department of Education and Training

Jane has over 25 years’ experience working across industry, academia and government as a leader with expertise in stakeholder engagement and managing complex partnerships. In recent years, this has incorporated university-industry and social enterprise collaborations, via engagement with government, industry, alumni, philanthropic, indigenous, multicultural and community audiences. She is a passionate believer in the power of education to transform lives and achieve economic prosperity.

Jane is currently the Executive Director of Higher Education and Workforce Division at the Victorian Department of Education and Training, leading a team which focuses on inclusive economic recovery. This includes working proactively with industry to develop training and skills solutions for Victoria’s future workforce, and enabling supportive pathways that assist people experiencing disadvantage to access the education and employment they seek. Jane’s team also drives the Victorian Government’s ambitious agenda to work in partnership with the university sector, including delivery of the $350m Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.

Jane is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has held several non-Executive Director roles on industry association and commercial enterprise boards.

Liz Jones

Director of Partnerships & Growth, Good Things Foundation Australia

Liz has 20 years’ experience working across health, government, community/not for profit and commercial sectors. For more than 10 years Liz held senior roles delivering national digital health programs to improve health outcomes for Australians. Most notably Liz led the engagement for consumer engagement, communications and education to support the expansion of the My Health Record system in 2018/19 to all Australians. Liz joined the Good Things Foundation Australia team in 2020, creating new initiatives and building partnerships that close the digital divide.

Mary Faraone

World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) Board member, Chair of TAFE Directors Australia and CEO of Holmesglen Institute (VIC)

Ms Faraone commenced as Chief Executive of Holmesglen Institute in October 2013.  Mary has had extensive experience in the VET sector, working with industry, RTO’s and TAFE in various roles prior to joining Holmesglen Institute in 2003.  Mary has been particularly instrumental in leading the Institute’s teaching and learning, securing a number of significant national and international projects and the introduction of higher education.

As Chief Executive Mary is keen to further develop the innovation and entrepreneurial culture at the Institute and build on the Institute’s history and reputation as a leading tertiary provider.  Mary is committed to the role public tertiary education plays in supporting social inclusion and social cohesion in the community, and its underlying values of equity and access.  Mary is optimistic for the future of TAFE and VET and looks forward to leading the organisation to ensure it remains at the forefront of tertiary education with pathways and programs at the senior secondary, technical and vocational and higher education sectors. During this time the Institute has won several major awards and the state and national levels, in particular four wins for Industry Collaboration at the Victorian Training Awards, 2017 to 2019 and 2021 and two-time winner of the same category at the Australian Training Awards in 2017 and 2019. The Institute also won the International Training Provider of the Year at the national awards in 2017.

Mary was appointed as the Chair of the TAFE Directors Australia Board in October 2016 for a three year period and reappointed in October 2019 for a further three year period. Mary is a Board member for the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics.

Rae Jamieson

Coordinator Reconnect Programs, Jesuit Community College

Rae has extensive experience in education employment and training. A qualified secondary educator and Trainer, specialising in Physics, Australian Studies and Careers, she moved into the employment sector and has worked in Outplacement, Disability and Mainstream Employment and has also delivered many training programs in RTO’s. Since 2016, Rae has implemented and coordinated the Reconnect program, more recently in  the role of providing Consultancy to the program. Her passion is working with the disadvantaged of all ages and empowering them to take control and move forward in their lives.

Nicole Battle

CEO of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria & President of Australian Neighbourhood House and Centres Association (ANHCA)

Nicole is the CEO of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria and is the current President of the Australian Neighbourhood House and Centres Association (ANHCA).

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Social Work, as well as a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne. She has also recently commenced a PhD at Deakin University, focused on changing trends in community governance.

Nicole has over ten years’ experience working in local government, holding senior roles within Community Development, Youth Services, Emergency Management and Governance. She has also held a number of positions within the not-for-profit sector, as well as teaching politics and gender studies at Melbourne University.

Nicole is passionate about education and, in particular, the important role that it can play in creating a more fair and equitable society.

Kylie Fergusen

CEO, Community Centres SA

Kylie Fergusen is a social researcher, trainer, charity operator, strategic planner, community – centre manager and engagement specialist, author and business entrepreneur. As an academic Kylie immersed herself in social planning education and research for 15 years, including studies in international development at Oxford, UK on a scholarship. Kylie then went on to work for the Federal Government in Indonesia, helping communities after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, and in the Philippines, Cambodia and Fiji. She has worked in private business as an engagement specialist and for State Government where she managed a volume of the State Planning Strategy. Most recently, Kylie managed five community centres for the local government and is now the CEO at Community Centres SA. She is also a crisis support worker with Lifeline. Kylie has a deep commitment to social justice and is passionate about facilitating meaningful relationships between people and the places that they live, work, recreate and connect-up in.

The Hon Gayle Tierney MP

VIC Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education

Gayle has a strong connection with rural and regional communities, having completed primary and secondary education at rural schools.

Apart from being an advocate for regional infrastructure and employment, Gayle is also a strong supporter of environmental sustainability, gender representation, social inclusion and community development.

Gayle studied politics and Asian Studies at Flinders University.

She was the first woman to become a State Secretary of the Vehicle Division of the traditionally male-dominated Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, serving in this role from 1993 to 2006, and also as the Federal President from 2000 to 2006.

Gayle also served on the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) from 2000 to 2006.

In 2006, Gayle was elected to represent Western Victoria in the Legislative Council.

Gayle was appointed as Minister for Training and Skills, and Minister for Corrections in November 2016.

Following the 2018 Victorian State Election, Gayle was appointed as Minister for Training and Skills, and Minister for Higher Education.

In 2020, Gayle was appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Gayle’s interests include reading, film, cooking, travel and helping out in her local community. She is married to Ian, has an adult son and lives in St Leonards.

The Hon Stuart Robert MP

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business

Stuart Robert has been the Federal Member for the northern Gold Coast seat of Fadden since November 2007. He is a passionate advocate for the northern Gold Coast in Canberra, working hard to influence the decisions affecting local residents in the community.

In March 2021, Stuart was appointed Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business. In this role, Stuart is working to continue Australia’s economic recovery through protecting jobs, connecting Australians with work and building a workforce with the right skill set to secure our future prosperity.

He has a particular focus on increasing workforce participation for women, ensuring there is an environment for small and family business to thrive, and building a care workforce to support our veterans, our childcare centres, provide services for people with disability and our aged care sector.

Since entering public life Stuart has held a number of Ministerial appointments, including Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Human Services, Assistant Minister for Defence, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC.

Following the May 2019 election, Stuart took on responsibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and services such as Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support, provided to Australians by Services Australia, the executive agency established under his leadership, formally known as the Department of Human Services.

As Minister for Government Services, Stuart led the Federal Government’s efforts to provide social supports to millions of Australians throughout the Black Summer bushfires, several major flooding events and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of the greatest need of government supports since the Great Depression, Stuart ensured the government services Australians relied upon were provided in a timely and respectful manner. As a result of his leadership, the crisis call wait times reduced, even as demand was at unprecedent levels. Over 3 years’ worth of government supports were processed within five weeks.

As Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Stuart continued the delivery of the most significant social reform since Medicare through rolling-out the NDIS. This included completing the national roll-out and improving scheme delivery, which saw the National Disability Insurance Agency provide supports to NDIS participants faster while also ensuring the scheme expanded to cover over 430,000 Australians – with thousands receiving supports for the very first time. Through his time as Minister, satisfaction with the NDIS remained very-high among NDIS participants.

Prior to this, Stuart served in the Army for 12 years in Infantry and Intelligence Corps units including deploying operationally to Bougainville in 1998 as part of the Peace Monitoring Force.

While serving in the Army, Stuart completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Masters degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology.

In 2000 Stuart left the Army and, together with a colleague, founded an IT services firm that rapidly expanded to become a nationwide business. This business was twice named one of Australia’s fastest growing businesses in the Business Review Weekly Fast 100 list.

Stuart’s military experience and his success in running a small business is advantageous to his roles as a Cabinet Minister and Federal Member of Parliament.

Stuart understands the challenges and pressures of running a small business and raising a family. He is a long-term resident of the Gold Coast and is married with three school-aged sons, who he loves spending time with while enjoying local Gold Coast attractions.