.

Alexis Diamond

Alison Anlezark

Alison Anlezark is the National Standards Manager, at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In this role, she is responsible for ensuring NCVER’s products and services keep pace with the changing needs of the VET sector, having oversight of the statistical standards, NCVER’s data quality program and NCVER’s client support team. She has a strong academic background in research, and has a Masters in Public Administration (Policy) from Flinders University (SA).

Allison Miller

Consultant

Allison Miller is a professional learning and business development leader of 25 years. She is the Director and Lead Consultant of Digital Capability, an organisation which specialises in cutting edge online learning and online business solutions. Allison also helps educational organisations ensure that their training and assessment is effective and compliant, especially online. Allison has a Master of Learning and Development (Organisational Development), Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Education (Secondary Business), Diploma of VET, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma of Business. She also leads the ePortfolios Australia professional network and the annual Australian Eportfolio Forum.

Angela McGregor

RTO/Compliance Manager

Angela McGregor is the owner and principal consultant of RTO Consulting who has been offering consulting services throughout Australia, providing guidance, coaching and assistance to businesses wanting to become a RTO, existing RTOs and businesses wanting to develop nationally accredited courses and those looking to establish systems and processes to ensure compliance. 

As a practitioner dedicated to sharing knowledge, Angela has consulted through many forums pertaining to compliance issues and improvement strategies for training and assessment services. Angela is known for her current industry, knowledge and success in developing accredited courses and track record in setting up RTOs and assisting RTOs with compliance against the VET Quality Framework.

Anita Roberts

Compliance Manager

Anita Roberts has contributed to strategic projects focused on the importance of foundation skills in VET over the last 20 years. She has authored landmark reports and publications and co-ordinated significant LLN projects, including the development of the Foundation Skills Training Package and associated resources. Anita co-ordinated the National Foundation Skills Strategy Project and, in this role, facilitated a national community of practice focused on building the capacity of the VET and LLN workforces to address foundation skills. Through recent work under the National Foundation Skills Strategy project she has worked with Louise Wignall to develop a Foundation Skills Professional Standards Framework and associated implementation tools.

Karen Andrews

Bill Galvin

Other

Carol Hautot

CEO/RTO Owner

I worked in Hotel Management before moving into the world of vocational training. I have since had over 20 years experience as a workplace trainer for industry, and private, government and non-profit RTO's. I joined ActionCoach and was a business coach for 10 years and won an excellence award in 2012 for client results. In 2013 I established my own company, Dynamic Conversations, where I could utilise the talents of professional actors to educate and entertain, especially in the area of EQ and Interpersonal skills. This allows me to offer powerful ah-ha moments that have a big impact on the audience. I am currently working as a Compliance Manager for a QLD RTO whilst building online courses and developing my exciting live events.

Carol Hunter

Consultant

Carol Hunter has spent over twenty years working in both operational and strategic roles in VET.  She is the Principal of RTO Services and Consulting.  She has held positions as Director Training Quality and Regulation, Department of Education and Training ; Manager, Audit Services, Training Quality and Regulation, Department of Education and Training (Queensland); Manager, Training Secretariat to Training and Employment Recognition Council and Training Employment Board ; Faculty Director Logan TAFE  and various other VET positions in apprenticeships, curriculum, teaching etc.

Carol has used her experience in assisting a range of stakeholders develop contextually appropriate best practice applications and solutions in a variety of VET domains. She has also worked in operational roles in both public and private RTOs, in policy and curriculum development; and as a secondary school teacher.

Chemène Sinson & Ann Leske

Chemène Sinson
Chemène Sinson is a learning and development consultant. She designs, develops, delivers and assesses TAE and various other non-accredited programs for private, community, government and industry-based clients. More than 100 RTOs have purchased training and assessment materials designed by Chemène.

Ann Leske
Ann Leske is an LLN teacher and consultant with a passion for enabling learners to successfully build foundation skills. Ann shares insight and strategies through consultation and presentations with the VET and LLN sector, to enable workplaces, RTOs, and trainers to obtain LLN insight to confidently approach LLN delivery.

Ann and Chemène united to form the LLN and VET meeting place, a website to support LLN and VET trainers to meet, ask questions, pose challenges, and share ideas aimed at effectively supporting LLN skill development through vocational education and training.

Chris Riddell

Other

Chris Riddell is a Global Futurist, having spoken to well over 1800,000 delegates around the planet, bringing unparalleled insights into the big trends that are impacting us at work and home.

Chris is a trusted and regular commentator in mainstream media with over 150 appearances on television covering topics such as future of work, elections, consumer technology, and real-time trends on news.

You can view Chris’s YouTube channel with a few of his recent segments here http://www.chrisriddell.com/youtube

Chris’s keynotes are meticulously designed to take delegates on an immersive journey through the crafted art of storytelling. With an extraordinary blend of video and bespoke graphic animations, Chris’s sessions are renowned for their ability to inspire and inform audiences of all sizes, shapes and backgrounds.

Daniel Kelty, Tyrone Pynor, Jessica Baczynski and Isabel Osuna-Gatty

Danny Loh (Do not email)

Darrel Vecchio

CEO/RTO Owner

Darrel Vecchio has been self-employed for the past 35 years. During this period he has been the Managing Director of national multi-trade service company which completed over 110,000 service and installation jobs for commercial food equipment industries and energy sectors for gas and electrical. Clients across the globe were serviced with a 50 plus team. The slogan was not just good service but great service.

Darrel has a fear of working for a single boss or a corporate company and has a passion for seeing people learn from experience. He is qualified and licenced as an Electrician special class, Gas fitter Type A, Type B industrial gas, Gas approval authority, Gas certifier and a qualified educator. Darrel has several diplomas in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and a Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) where he had a light bulb moment on professional development.

Having run a major service company for many years, the biggest challenge was the need for technical training and customer service training and education. In 2007, Darrel decided to focus on education and this started Bizmatrix and is currently the owner CEO of Bizmatrix Group which encompasses Bizmatrix Pty Ltd a small Queensland based RTO which specialises in high risk licence training, technical education and training for the energy sector mainly gas and electrical throughout Australia. Bizenergy Pty Ltd – Gas approvals and technical consultancy for Type A and Type B gas appliances.

Darrel is heavily engaged with the industry and the technical regulators where he assists both with breaking down the complexity of licencing outcomes and is the current President of the Queensland Gas Association Inc, Past President Catering Trade Fair Association QLD and National Association Foodservice Equipment Service Companies – NAFESCO.

David Cunning

Other

David Cunning is the General Manager of The Learning Resources Group. He has been in the VET sector for 12 years and has spent the best part of the last decade managing the creation of training and assessment resources for over 300 units of competency. He was the driving force behind the LLN Robot System of assessing and supporting vocational education students across the country.

Dave has invested himself in understanding the industry by attaining his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and also a Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and a Diploma in Training Design and Development. 

Prior to working in the VET sector, Dave was a psychology graduate and a graphic artist who ran his own independent publishing house.

Outside of TLRG office, Dave was voted the world's greatest dad by a 2/3 majority of his 3 sons. He is an amateur e-sports participator, avid motorcycle accumulator and aspires to be the single largest consumer of 2-minute noodles in the southern hemisphere.

David Fintan

David Garner

Consultant

David Garner is the Principal Consultant at [consult dg] and provides advice, development and research to the VET sector. He has worked in a variety of compliance related roles for over 15 years.

Most recently, as the General Manager Regulatory Operations for the Australian Skills Quality Authority, David was responsible for implementing ASQA’s regulatory strategy nationally, including monitoring compliance of both training providers, and intending providers, against the VET Quality Framework and Educational Services for Overseas Students Act.

David was also Director, Training Quality, in the Queensland Department of Education and Training. Prior to joining the Queensland department in 2005, David worked in and managed training providers for many years. David has been active in sports administration for over 30 years and sat for many years on the board of the Queensland Fitness, Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance.

David Garner, Gayatri Mahesh, Jane Connors, Margaret Foran & Nadine Khoury

David Garner

David Garner is the Regional Manager Compliance in the Australian Skills Quality Authority, leading a Brisbane-based team that has responsibility for monitoring compliance of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and intending RTOs with the VET Quality Framework, ESOS requirements and the ELICOS standards.

Prior to Queensland’s referral of powers that brought Queensland RTOs under ASQA’s jurisdiction, David was Director, Training Quality, in the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment.

Prior to joining the Queensland department in 2005, David worked in and managed RTOs for many years. Since 2002, David has been a board member of the Queensland Fitness, Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance and has been an active volunteer in sports administration since 1982.

Gayatri Mahesh

As Manager Regulatory Operations with the Australian Skills Quality Authority, Gayatri is responsible for leading and managing the implementation of regulatory strategy, and risk mitigation projects in accordance with national standards.  Gayatri leads and manages a team of regulatory operations officers in responding to a wide range of regulatory matters. 

Gayatri has extensive experience in the education sector both in Vocational Education and Higher Education.  Prior to joining ASQA, Gayatri worked in management roles with large scale RTO’s and Universities both in Sydney and in New York.

Jane Connors

As a Principal Regulatory Officer in the Sydney team of the Australian Skills Quality Authority, Jane ensures that the nationally approved standards are met through the application of a risk-intelligence focused approach to regulation. Jane leads complex and contentious regulatory matters as well as supervising a team of regulatory operations officers.

Prior to joining the ASQA Sydney office in June 2011, Jane worked as a Compliance Officer in NSW VETAB. Jane also had an extensive teaching career including working for TAFE NSW where she delivered training and managed teaching sections.

Margaret Foran

Margaret Foran is a Principal Regulatory Operations Officer in the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Margaret has worked with ASQA since its commencement on 1 July 2011. Margaret works on high profile, high risk matters and conducts complex and contentious audits for registered training organisations (RTOs) and CRICOS providers.     

Prior to joining ASQA Margaret worked with the NSW state regulator, VETAB, and before that was, for many years, a manager of a large public RTO

Nadine Khoury

As Principal Regulatory Operations Officer in the Australian Skills Quality Authority, Nadine undertakes a variety of regulatory activities. This includes the conduct of complex audits to monitor compliance of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) against the VET Quality Framework as well as the ESOS Framework, along with training and mentoring of audit staff. 

Nadine has long-standing experience within the education and training sector, having commenced her career as a teacher, and then moving on to management and consultancy roles.  Prior to joining ASQA in 2011, Nadine worked for the then state regulator, VETAB. Over the years she has developed and conducted a number of training programs to assist employers, RTOs and others in understanding competency-based training and assessment, as well as registration requirements, including for delivery of training to international students. Nadine brings a wealth of knowledge to auditing, having worked in similar roles within the aged care and finance industries.

David Lang

CEO/RTO Owner

For over 30 years David has been involved in the Hospitality, Tourism & Training industries throughout Australia with experience consulting in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Europe.

His professional background is with 5 Star and fine dining / silver service based restaurants and he has experience in franchise development, vocational education & training, operational systems development and quality assurance / compliance auditing, audio and video production, online learning systems design.

Dave Tout

Consultant

Dave Tout is a Senior Research Fellow in the Tertiary and Vocational Assessment Services unit at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). He has over 40 years’ experience, mainly in the VET sector, working across schools, TAFEs, ACE providers, university, and industry.

Dave has extensive experience in developing literacy and numeracy assessments for school students, youth, and adults for a range of clients, including Australian and New Zealand governments, across the Pacific Islands and for the OECD, and has run test development workshops for a range of organisations across different countries. Dave has been involved in various international numeracy and maths assessments including PIAAC and PISA. In 2018, Dave was appointed by the OECD as Chair of the Numeracy Expert Group for the second cycle of the International Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC).

Dimity Redcliffe

Dimity Redcliffe is the Marketing, Conference and Events Manager at Velg Training. Dimity has worked for Velg Training since December 2008 and has recently completed her Bachelor of Business Management (Human Resources & Marketing). Dimity is responsible for overseeing the five Social Media channels at Velg Training; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Wordpress. Dimity is a keen ‘Twitterbird’ and lives and breathes Social Media in her working and personal life. Dimity is also the Treasurer of the Vocational Education & Training Industry Group (VETIG).

Gayatri Mahesh & Margaret Foran

As the national regulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) seeks to make sure that the sector's quality is maintained through the effective regulation of:

• vocational education and training providers
• accredited vocational education and training courses, and
• Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) providers including those delivering English Language Intensive Courses to Overseas Students (ELICOS).

Australia is fortunate to have a world-leading vocational education and training system. This crucial sector provides training in the skills Australians need for employment, and injects billions of dollars of export income into the economy each year.

ASQA makes sure that the quality and reputation of Australia's VET system is maintained through effective national regulation.

Gayatri Mahesh & Nadine Khoury

As Manager Regulatory Operations with the Australian Skills Quality Authority, Gayatri is responsible for leading and managing the implementation of regulatory strategy, and risk mitigation projects in accordance with national standards.  Gayatri leads and manages a team of regulatory operations officers in responding to a wide range of regulatory matters. 

Gayatri has extensive experience in the education sector both in Vocational Education and Higher Education.  Prior to joining ASQA, Gayatri worked in management roles with large scale RTO’s and Universities both in Sydney and in New York.

Geoff Oliver

Consultant

Geoff has over 40 years’ experience in the Film & TV Industry and over 16 years in training and the VET sector.

Since 1987 Geoff has operated his own production companies both in Australia and in Singapore, filming throughout Australia, Southeast Asia and other parts of the globe. This experience brings a fresh approach to training, assessing and compliance.

Geoff is also currently a member of the board for Montessori World Educational Institute (Australia), an independent higher education provider, training Montessori Teachers.

Geoff was instrumental in the development of the Certificate III through to Advanced Diploma course in Film and Television in Perth and has assisted in the development of other accredited courses. Geoff is a qualified lead auditor and provides audit and consultancy services to RTOs. Geoff combines his experience in film and TV with his auditing skills to provide a practical approach to all facets of RTO operations.

Gerry Gannon

RTO/Compliance Manager

Gerry Gannon has been a journalist, broadcaster, MC and media trainer in Australia for the last 30 years and is now one of the best known speakers and facilitators in Australia. A specialist conference MC, facilitator and media expert, Gerry is renowned for his wit, passion, easy-going nature and commitment to those he works with. He has worked extensively in both Australia and overseas and provides media skills training to government, not-for-profit organisations and industry entities, as well as conducting speech and presentation training courses. Gerry’s real passion is people; whether it is helping them reach their potential through training and support, MC at an event or providing valuable perspective and advice, Gerry’s easy humour and experience provides a refreshing opportunity for growth and knowledge for everyone he meets.

Graham Rodgers

Graham Rodgers has owned and operated eLearning Australia since 2008, developing cutting edge digital solutions for the training sector, including Hutchinson Builders, Construction Skills Queensland, Industry Skills Councils as well as private & public training organisations.

With 10 years’ experience in the training industry, he has a thorough understanding of training packages and the vocational training industry in Australia and is passionate about facilitating the process of competency based training.

Graham comes from a trade background, with management experience including apprentice management for a large employer. His strengths are in analysing customer needs, strategising with them and developing innovative systems to deliver the desired outcomes.

Ian Barr

Director - Vocational Pathways Team

Isabel Gatty

Isabel was initially involved in adult literacy provision in her native Venezuela and went on to teach in various language, literacy and numeracy programs shortly after arriving in Australia in 2001. After five years’ volunteering in remote Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, she accepted a teaching role with the Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and is now a Senior Lecturer in Foundation Skills. While she is on a mission for attitudinal and cultural change, Isabel also wants to use her award to heighten awareness and appreciation of the value of apprenticeships. “An apprenticeship is not a second choice, it’s an equal choice. A lot of people don’t appreciate that it’s taken four years of very hard work for their plumber or electrician to train and qualify. The Australian Training Awards showcase the benefits of doing an apprenticeship and it’s especially important for young people to know how inspiring and empowering a VET career can be.”

Jason Ash

RTO/Compliance Manager

Jason has more than 15 years of training and assessment experience, gained predominantly in corporate environments. He has specialised in delivering training in sales, coaching, business communication and management and has received international acclaim for his work in Learning and Development. Jason was the winner of the Platinum Award for “Best Young Learning Leader” at the 2011 LearnX Asia-Pacific Awards and was named a young trainer to watch by US Training Magazine in 2012.

Jason is a two-time MRWED Trainer of the year and is one of only three trainers in Australia certified to deliver Bob Pike’s Train-the-Trainer Boot Camp, the world’s most well-respected trainer training program. A strong advocate for the participant-centred approach to training, Jason has spoken on the topic of Creative Training Techniques at conferences all over Australia and at multiple events in the United States.

Jennine Cochrane

Consultant

Jenny Field

Jenny Field is the General Manager of Training for MAX Solutions, a national RTO focusing on the needs of the most disadvantaged learners. Joining MAX in 2016 with over 25 years’ experience in the VET sector, Jenny’s passionate about building training systems that have the student at the core of the education model, and for many years has been an active contributor to the industry through involvement with ACPET, VETIG, and iVETA. Focusing on the practical aspects of delivery and believing that every student must have access to quality education keeps Jenny vocal and active in the sector. Jenny has presented both nationally and internationally on many VET topics including using data effectively to measure quality, the value of workplace learning, and growing effective VET practitioners.

Joe Newbery

CEO/RTO Owner

Joe Newbery served in the Australian Army for over 20 years. His time in Defence was influenced by his appointment in training roles including recruit training, trade training and finally in training design and compliance. Joe departed Defence and established Newbery Consulting in 2005. He has extensive experience and is recognised for his work in course design, job analysis and VET quality auditing. Over the period 2007 – 2014, Joe provided Lead Auditor services on behalf of the VET regulators including the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA), the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Today Joe leads a small team at Newbery Consulting to support his clients throughout Australia with a broad offering of VET products and services.

John Dwyer

Consultant

John Dwyer is a national VQF/AQTF trainer/assessor and consultant with experience in education and training spanning more than 60 years. He brings extensive Registered Training Organisation (RTO) experience and has a comprehensive history in developing and delivering a range of workshops and webinars on assessment, compliance, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), moderation and validation processes relating to VQF/AQTF compliance.

John Price

Consultant

John Price has been an educator and trainer for over 40 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development.

John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.

He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations (versions 2012 and 2015); Australian Quality Training Framework standards (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with these organisations in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies.

John Price, Carol Hunter, John Dwyer & Kerrie-Anne Sommerfeld

John Price (Facilitator)
John has been an educator and trainer for over 37 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development.

John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.

He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for RTOs 2015, Standards for Registered Training Organisations; Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with them in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies for both human and physical resource development.

Carol Hunter
Carol is the Principal of RTO Services and Consulting. Her experience in management in the VET sector includes Director, Training Quality and Regulation; Manager, Audit Services; and Manager, Training Secretariat to Training and Employment Recognition Council and Training Employment Board (Queensland) within the Department of Education and Training (Queensland).

Carol has worked in operational roles in both public and private RTOs, in policy and curriculum development, and as a secondary teacher.

John Dwyer
John is a national AQTF/VET Quality Framework trainer and consultant with experience in education spanning more than 50 years. He brings extensive Registered Training Organisation (RTO) experience, having a comprehensive history in developing and delivering a range of workshops on assessment tools, recognition of prior learning (RPL), moderation and validation processes relating to RTO compliance.

John is currently working at Velg Training as a trainer/consultant for the VET sector. Previously, he was the Manager of the Competency Assessment and Development Services of the Global Institute for Learning and Development (gild). John has been a pre-qualified AQTF consultant registered with Queensland’s Department of Education and Training (DET), and has also been employed on a contract basis through DET as the TAA/TAE Technical Advisor for Audits.

Kerrie-Anne Sommerfeld
Kerrie-Anne is a training, assessment and curriculum specialist for the VET sector. With a firm belief that growth follows quality, Kerrie-Anne works with organisations to enhance their training and assessment practices.

This includes working with trainers/teachers to develop quality assessments and learning programs to providing high level advice to RTO management and leaders. She is passionate about helping training organisations be the best they can be.

Having helped hundreds of teachers plan, develop and validate their assessments, Kerrie-Anne brings a working knowledge and practical approach to her work.

John Price, Kerri Buttery, Robert Lowe & Raymond Simpson

John Price
John has been an educator and trainer for over 37 years and in that time has worked as a Head of Department at TAFE, mentor, facilitator of national workshops covering delivery and assessment, risk management, auditing, leadership and interpersonal skill development.

John has been a keynote speaker at conventions and conferences, and maintained a grass roots level approach to dealing with people at all levels of the organisation.
He has also assisted over 300 organisations in Australia to achieve quality certification to the range of National Training Standards including: Standards for RTOs 2015, Standards for Registered Training Organisations; Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF from 2001 – 2010) Australian and International ISO9001 standards (AS/NZS and ISO from 1987 – 2008) and worked with them in establishing continuous improvement systems and strategies for both human and physical resource development.

Kerri Buttery
Kerri Buttery has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector for almost two decades as a Trainer/Assessor, RTO Manager and also as a Senior Lead Auditor. Kerri has worked as a consultant for a range of organisations in the areas of establishing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), conducting internal audits, consulting on VQF compliance, developing a number of accredited courses, convening state and national conferences, developing training and assessment materials, conducting professional development workshops and conducting Certificate IV in Training and Assessment workshops. She has authored several textbooks and has experience lecturing and tutoring at university. Kerri is currently employed by Velg Training as the Director of VET Content Development.

Robert Lowe
Robert Lowe is a trade qualification electrician and has gone on to complete a Diploma in Industrial Electronics. His industry experience includes being manager within a leading sign company with clients such as Shell, BP, Mobil. Robert trained apprentices in the workplace as well as with the Army Reserve Royal Australian Artillery (8 years’ service).

Later, Rob changed careers into programing web applications and developing databases as National Information Technology Manager in a leading pharmaceutical publishing company before starting his own IT company developing bespoke web applications for paperless business systems.

After many years in IT Robert has returned to the electrical trade and now teaches at Charles Darwin University while studying a Bachelor of Engineering Honours at CDU.

Raymond Simpson
Ray Simpson has a varied and an extensive business background where he has been the proprietor/licensee of three plumbing businesses in Victoria, NSW and Queensland respectively, as well as owning a project marketing company (14 years). Ray has been a lecturer/workplace assessor in Plumbing at the Casuarina Campus at Charles Darwin University (CDU) since August 2008. He has taught up to Diploma level, including TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Ray in on two Northern Territory Government Boards; the “Plumbers Drainers Licensing Board” and the “Transitional Advisory Board” to the Minister. Ray is keen to focus efforts into promoting and developing his fellow VET employees to their true, full potential through innovative, fun development programs that will assist in engaging the learners.

Jonathan Chew

Consultant

Jonathan's expertise is in policy design, market analysis and evaluation with a focus on the VET and higher education sectors.

As Director at the Nous Group and Principal of The 5Rs Partnership, Jon works extensively with governments, universities and training organisations to understand and meet student, community and industry expectations, both in Australia and overseas. Jon has worked with a large number of tertiary education and training providers to investigate levels of unmet demand for education and training, benchmark delivery profiles, review market strategies, and identify opportunities for expansion and growth.

Jon’s particular area of expertise is in the design and economics of government funding and finance across the tertiary education sector. Jon has led the research, analysis, modelling and consultation components on a number of projects for government focussed on tertiary funding and financing, policy analysis and program design. Jon was recently a co-author of Funding an Expanded Tertiary System: Designing a coherent financing architecture, published in Visions for Australian Tertiary Education by the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne.

Jon is a director of Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Julian Ridden

RTO Owner

Julian is an avid technologist, and is passionate about open source, open education and methodologies to create more dynamic learning environments. An expert in engaging content design, he firmly believes in innovation and ensuring that technology is implemented in a way that supports teaching and learning while also making teachers’ lives easier.

Julian works closely with academic staff at a large number of educational institutions across Asia Pacific, constantly helping them to get the most of their Learning Management System. Currently working at Instructure, creating great things within Canvas LMS, Julian has over 15 years’ experience in education (specifically in online eLearning), with a wide range of both corporate clients and educational institutions as well as experience in project management, systems implementation, networking, support and training.

Kathryn McGilvray

CEO/RTO Owner

Kathryn is the Managing Director of eLearning Educational Solutions Pty Ltd.

Kathryn and her company develop customised eLearning and Educational Videos for the VET sector. (eles.com.au). You will often find her as a presenter at Industry conferences and she is passionate about Vocational Training. As a Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer, she delivers Google Training and short courses on all things related to education technology. Her courses explore trends, insights and practical solutions for integrating emerging technology into training. Having worked in schools, TAFE and with Private RTOs she brings her strong educational experience and enthusiasm for learning into every conversation.

She loves working with trainers and educators to develop learning that is engaging for students yet still meets the needs of industry for audit and training. If you are not afraid to think outside the box or are somewhat curious about emerging technologies then come and have a chat with her to explore the possibilities.

Find her on LinkedIn or Twitter: @kathmcg1 Her favourite twitter chats are; #edchat, #edtech #aussieED. Founder #ChippychatED

Kerri Buttery

Consultant

Digital Literacy Licence (DLL) is the brainchild of Kerri Buttery, who founded the company in 2021 after a rewarding, decades-long career in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

Kerri's first foray into education saw her delivering VET in Schools (VETiS) programs in Queensland as a qualified secondary school teacher. This evolved into working as an auditor in the VET sector, then as a consultant assisting RTOs in maintaining compliance and delivering quality eLearning solutions

Kerri is also the founder of VETNexus. An Organisation that works alongside education providers to strengthen the relationship between compliance, technology and innovation.

Kerrie-Anne Sommerfeld

Consultant

Kerrie-Anne Sommerfeld is a training, assessment and curriculum specialist for the VET sector. With a firm belief that growth follows quality, Kerrie-Anne works with organisations to enhance their training and assessment practices.

This includes working with trainers/teachers to develop quality assessments and learning programs to providing high level advice to RTO management and leaders. She is passionate about helping training organisations be the best they can be.

Having helped hundreds of teachers plan, develop and validate their assessments, Kerrie-Anne brings a working knowledge and practical approach to her work.

Lauren Hollows

CEO/RTO Owner

Lauren Hollows is the Founder and Managing Director of Understand TAE, a RTO support service which offers systematic solutions for managing and supporting Trainer PD through the VET Practitioner Assessment and UTAE Trainer Development System TM. With ten years’ experience running RTOs as a CEO, Quality Manager and various other positions, Lauren is a passionate advocator of the VET sector and specialises in staff development, systems and RTO management.

Laurie Kelly

Private individual

Laurie Kelly has been opening up the “mysteries of the mind” to trainers and educators from all walks of life around the world for most of his working life. He is a specialist in Brain-Friendly Training and Delivery Skills that engage. This has been his passion for over 30 years and his passion is drawn from his wealth of experience, his love for his subject and his ability to rekindle enthusiasm and passion in even the most tired Educator.

Recognised as a National and International Educator of Educators, he communicates his teachings to everyone at all levels, from CEO’s to the people on the ground, whilst making it captivating, engaging, relevant and instantly transferable back into the workplace. Laurie is driven to improve the learning experience from a learner’s perspective by making trainers more effective and impactful via enhanced & engaging delivery skills.

Laurie speaks both nationally and internationally on current knowledge of how the learning brain works to maximize the impact of teaching, and to create an openness factor in our approach to change and new learning. His experience in improving trainers’ skills in engagement is vast – he is one of the most sought-after presenters in his field.

Lee Katauskas & Angela Notaras

Marc Ratcliffe

CEO/RTO Owner

Marc Ratcliffe is a multi-award-winning trainer, author and education entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of MRWED Training and Assessment, a private RTO that specialises in Trainer Training. He is a strong advocate for "edu-tainment" and believes that learner involvement and fun are integral to student success.  He has delivered over 300 training and assessment courses since 2000 and continues to be an in-demand conference speaker and workshop facilitator, having presented at more than 50 conferences in a dozen countries in the past decade and was recently named as the winner of the “Best Training and Development Leadership” Award for 2017 at the World Training and Development Congress in Mumbai.

Marina Tomasevic

CEO/RTO Owner

Over more than 20 years in the vocational and higher education environment Marina Tomasevic has successfully held numerous work positions including Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Head of Faculty, Directors’ roles and an Acting Executive Director’s post. Over that time, Marina has built her professional life by successfully combining training provision and a small psychotherapy practice. Marina obtained her Masters Degree in Social Psychiatry which has allowed her to research, analyse and implement best practice in all work domains.  

Marina is a leader with fluid and transferable skills who is capable motivating and engaging students, industry and her clients.  

Mark Hodgson

Consultant

Mark Hodgson comes from a successful corporate background and has held senior leadership roles in Australasia, UK, Central Europe and Russia. Mark draws on a powerful track record backed by a depth of learning across multiple disciplines. He has inspired large teams across a range of commercial and not-for-profit businesses. He is a leader of the About My Brain Institute, which puts neuroscience at the heart of effective personal leadership development. Mark is also a faculty member for the Thought Leaders Business School, helping experts positioning themselves as leading influencers. He is an expert in leading change and holds an MBA level qualification from the AGSM. Mark is the creator of the Blog or Die! Content creation program and authors the acclaimed business blog, Pinch of Thought. His book, ‘Time to Shine: Adapting who you are and what you know to succeed in the ideas economy’ expands on this thinking.

Mary Brooke

Trainer/Assessor

The Hon Michael Lavarch AO

Other

The Hon Michael Lavarch AO has extensive experience in Higher Education and the public policy process. He is a former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Queensland University of Technology and Secretary-General of the Law Council of Australia. From 1987 to 1996, Mr Lavarch was a Member of the Australian Parliament, and he served as Attorney-General from 1993 to 1996. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012 for his contribution to the law, education and human rights.

Michael Lavarch commenced as a Commissioner of ASQA on 16 April 2012.

Neil Von Heupt

Administrator

Neil Von Heupt is one of Australia's top learning designers. He's worked on award-winning vocational education projects, is a conference and event speaker, podcast guest, and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Training and Development, and the Institute of Learning Professionals Asia Pacific. He's a blogger and an experienced social media user across multiple platforms since their earliest days. And he has an awesome kombi!

Neil designs learning to deliver performance and business outcomes. Nothing boring, no ‘click next’ snooze-fests – purposeful, engaging, collaborative, practical experiences that deliver results.

Neil has led organisations through the transition from face-to-face to live online, and brings a wealth of facilitation and training experience.

Nick McEwan-Hall & Marie Vassallo

Nick McEwan-Hall
Nick has been a longstanding and robust contributor to the Australian Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector for over 17 years. A qualified VET practitioner, DISC facilitator, trainer, workplace and business coach, his knowledge of the training and education system is highly acclaimed Australia wide.

Starting his career in Secondary Schools and transitioning to VET, his breadth of experience spans training & assessment, operations, strategic management, client relationship management, quality, data management and instructional design. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the Victorian Training Guarantee and has led small to multi-national RTOs and NPOs through external audits.

Nick has a unique ability to break down the ever changing complexities within the VET sector in a practical way which enables organisations to ‘simply get on with their core activities’ with confidence and efficiency.

A committed advocate for equality and vocational opportunities, Nick has worked with many RTOs in the Non For Profit sector including the Brotherhood of St Laurence. His focus and determination for helping others achieve and flourish has resulted in many NFPs not only remaining operable, but commercially sustainable in their provision of training for the unemployed and marginalised.

Volunteering for many years on the Board of Governance at the Fitzroy Learning Network, Nick was a key driver of new program initiatives and fundraising activities to alleviate major learning gaps and lack of opportunities to disadvantaged residents.

In 2012 Nick was a recipient of the ‘Whitelion Chairperson's Award for Employment’. He led his team across a joint partnership with Telstra to deliver programs to unemployed youth which resulted in an unprecedented number of permanent job offers within Telstra call centres.

Nick currently manages an independent RTO, ‘The Open Door Coaching Group’, along with steering his own consulting and coaching practices, ‘Latitude Coaching’ and ‘AVETMESS’. An active presenter at conferences around Australia, he runs training workshops & coaching sessions to a broad range of education and business groups. He speaks on a variety of subjects including change management, workplace values, team building and a wide scope of VET related topics.

When not working, you will find Nick indulging his fascination with Asian art and artefacts, exploring art exhibitions, enjoying an espresso coffee with friends over a joke or two and getting out of the city to wind down and relax.

A fun and straightforward presenter Nick has a knack for striking the elusive balance between theory, practicality, humour and meaningful activity. Participants of Nick’s sessions will leave feeling relaxed and empowered to make a real difference.

Marie Vassallo
Marie has been involved in the Vocational Education and Training Sector (VET) for over 15 years and worked in the Higher Education Sector for 4 years prior to that.  She has strong experience in the developments of education programs and policy within a broad range of industries.

Marie held a contract with Skills Victoria (now known as Higher Education and Skills Group) from 2009-2011, undertaking Compliance audits in the area of Government Funded Training (GFTP and VTG), under both the User Choice and Victorian Training Guarantee policy frameworks. She has a strong consulting background working with a number of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) throughout the country in the areas of business operations, compliance and policy development.  

A commercially savvy business leader having held Executive Management posts within the VET sector, Marie is able to quickly identify drivers, markets and risks; a strong financial manager with budget responsibility up to $10M; robust strategic planning; experience in business improvement spans both cost reduction and increasing profitability through systems / process upgrades and effective external relationship management.

Phill Bevan

Consultant

As an experienced VET executive & advisor, Phill offers a wealth of practical understanding, knowledge and expertise across key business operating requirements. With real world application of all aspects of business, including strategic & business planning, marketing & development, technology implementation, risk management and WHS, Phill has demonstrated success in senior management roles across a range of business types and projects. As a qualified auditor, Phill has leveraged these skills in numerous enterprises to support issue identification and robust business improvement projects.

As a HRM, systems and technologies professional, Phill has extensive experience in a diverse range of industry areas in start-up, high growth and established companies across the small business, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Having established, grown and successfully exited a number of businesses, including a national education sector BRW Fast 100 start-up, in recent years Phill has consulted on numerous national projects with well-known brands and ASX Top 100 companies, as well as providing support for local VET providers in all aspects of managing and growing their businesses.

Saloni Sharan & Alison Anlezark

Alison Anlezark is the National Standards Manager, at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In this role, she is responsible for ensuring NCVER’s products and services keep pace with the changing needs of the VET sector, having oversight of the statistical standards, NCVER’s data quality program and NCVER’s client support team. She has a strong academic background in research, and has a Masters in Public Administration (Policy) from Flinders University (SA).

Sarah Phillips

Consultant

Shane Palmada

Other

Shane is a currently a Manager in EY’s People Advisory Services practice. Shane is market focused, and has demonstrated experience working in multidisciplinary teams, providing insights and recommendations to deliver performance improvements. 

He has extensive knowledge of education frameworks and regulations, with over 19 years of front line and executive experience providing education services to a variety of stakeholders. Shane previously founded and managed an EdTech company providing customised SaaS solutions for a global open source Learning Management System. 

He has worked as COO for a national training company (which was also an RTO), delivering services to the Banking, FMCG, Education, Telecommunications, Hospitality, Retail and Government sectors, focussing on organisational strategy, performance improvement, leadership development and capability uplift. Shane has held a strategic role in a well-known VET consulting firm, and has also worked across QLD primary/ secondary schools as a teacher, Head of Department and Director. 

Shane holds a number of qualifications in addition to his TAE certification, including a Master of Business Administration, Master of Learning Innovation and Post Graduate Diploma in Education.

Tamara Simon (Do not email)

Business Owner – not an RTO

Tania Gomez

Trainer/Assessor

Tania founded Strawberry Solutions after twelve years in various leadership roles in RTOs. Strawberry Solutions assists RTOs to improve the student experience by assisting with LMS and SMS implementation and integration as well as e-learning design and development. 

Tania has a wealth of knowledge and extensive network that makes her an asset to any education provider. Tania routinely assists RTOs and NDIS providers with business planning, compliance and technology solutions.

Tania’s passion for innovation and technology has also led her to become heavily involved with the development and implementation of online learning. Tania’s unique understanding of all aspects of learning makes her the perfect candidate to manage large and complex projects in the education sector.

Tim Rawlings & David Tout

Tim Rawlings
Tim Rawlings is the Head of Training Product Development at PwC's Skills for Australia. Tim's team is responsible for updating the Foundation Skills Training Package in 2017. Tim has 12 years' experience working in government and the private sector developing public policy, regulation and legislation including in VET, schools and early childhood.

David Tout
Dave is an experienced foundation skills educator who specialises in numeracy and mathematics education for adults and youth, and is well known for his hands on and practical workshops. He has worked in a range of programs in schools, TAFEs, community providers, universities, AMES and industry. He has written a number of teaching, VET training, curriculum, assessment and PD materials, and has presented on a wide range of topics related to foundation skills and assessment at numerous local, regional, national and international conferences and events. Dave was one of the writers of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). Over the last eighteen years Dave has been involved in the development and implementation of the numeracy components of international assessments of adults and youth including ALLS, PIAAC and PISA. Dave joined ACER in 2008 and has worked on a range of projects including the development of online literacy and numeracy assessments for both disengaged young people and adults, alongside other research, assessment and training related projects. Prior to joining ACER, Dave was the Manager, Education Quality and Compliance at the Centre for Adult Education (CAE), Melbourne.

Uncle Allan Madden

WorldSkills Australia

WorldSkills Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that provides young Australians aged 23 and under the opportunity to gain new skills, compete against their peers in their chosen trade and fast track their skills and career development.  Established in 1981, their purpose is to promote and build a skills respect culture by celebrating skills excellence, inspiring young people and providing them with an opportunity to showcase their trade and skill talent.  This is achieved through competitions held on a regional, national and international level.  WorldSkills Australia is a member of WorldSkills International – the global network of over 70 countries who participate in skills competitions.

Peter Steinweiss

Peter Steinweiss has experienced the thrills and excitement of being an international representative when he was a Skillaroo in 2009 competing in Canada. He’s also been a National Judge since 2010.

When he is not volunteering his time for WorldSkills and mentoring Skillaroo Brayden Gauci, Peter works for ParexGroup Australia Australia’s market leader in the development and manufacture of tile installation products where he gets to combine his skills as a Tiler with business.

Emilia Montague

Emilia was inspired by her Nonna to follow the restaurant path as she imbued her with a passion and appreciation of food and the restaurant industry.

Her win at the National Competition in 2016 was a highlight and she looks forward to continuing to build her skills and meeting new people through WorldSkills and in particular being a member of the 2017 Skillaroos.

In the future, Emilia would love to work in a chain of hotels in the USA, Italy, the UK or France.

Emilia is supported on her WorldSkills journey by Didasko Learning Resources.

Jarrad Langdon

After completing several TAFE courses Jarrad’s talents have resulted in success both locally and internationally. The pinnacle of this success was his gold medal in Website Design at the WorldSkills International Competition, Helsinki 2005.

In 2007, Jarrad established Jala Design Pty Ltd – an Australian design agency with a passion for website design / development, eCommerce and brand development. Jarrad is now passing on his talents to future web developers by teaching his skills at TAFE NSW.

Jarrad was the International Chief Expert for web design and trained the international bronze medallist in 2009, along with the silver medallist in 2015. He continues his involvement with WorldSkills Australia as a regional/national judge, regional/national project designer and current Board member.

Brigitte Collins

A passionate supporter of vocational education and training, Brigitte is a hospitality superstar whose dedication to nurturing the next generation of talent is apparent through almost two decades of involvement with WorldSkills Australia.

Having volunteered as a trainer and mentor for many years, she is now Technical Delegate for Australia which means she oversees International competitions, sharing ideas and experiences that can, in turn, be bought back and shared in the workplace.