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Training together – working together committee members

Ms Jill Abdullah Indigenous Development Manager Western and South Australia, BIS Industrial Logistics	Jill has worked in ABSTUDY and Aboriginal education in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) both in WA and nationally. She has been involved in various committees for Aboriginal education at the school and regional level and was the Chair of the Aboriginal Education Council, EDWA Cannington District 1997-2001. Jill was appointed by the then Minister of Education, Colin Barnett, to the Working Party and Interim Board for Sevenoaks Senior College in 1998-1999 and was a board member of Sevenoaks Senior College in 2001, 2003-2005. Other roles include Postgraduate Co-ordinator, Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University of Technology 1996-2002.
Mr John Alexander Board Member, Fairbridge	John has more than 40 years experience in Indigenous communities at the industrial interface. His grandmother was from the Goreng/Willman language group on the south coast of WA. He is an active Board member of Fairbridge, a major youth charity in WA, a member of South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, and a Director of Brima (Aboriginal) Corporation.
Mr Bert Beevers Managing Director, Central West TAFE	Bert has 30 years experience working within the TAFE system and sits on a number of committees including the Aboriginal Training Strategic Group and the State Training Executive. Currently around 18% of Central West TAFE students are Indigenous. While most Aboriginal people studying at Central West TAFE in Geraldton are integrated with non-Indigenous students to standard delivery programs, the majority of delivery to remote towns and Aboriginal communities is through project based methodologies, agreed to in collaboration with town leaders/community elders. Central West TAFE has developed a number of programs in collaboration with industry and other key partners to deliver work readiness training for Aboriginal people, particularly in the resources sector.
Mr Kevin Brahim State Manager, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	Kevin has more than 20 years experience in the public service and has worked in many roles involving Aboriginal employment and education in Canberra and Perth. These varying roles exposed Kevin to the importance of workable policy and program solutions for Aboriginal communities and individuals. Kevin has held many high level positions within government including acting Deputy Director General of the Business and Trade Services Group of the Department of Industry and Resources and is currently State Manager at DEEWR.
Mr Larry Davies Chief Executive Officer, Directions; Chair, Australian Council for Private Education and Training	Larry’s introduction to the employment and training sector was in the early 1980s in the State Public Service. For seven years he was the Director of Industrial Training in charge of all apprentices and trainees in WA. After leaving the public service he operated as a consultant in the training area and also purchased three training colleges. One of his consulting jobs led to his current position as CEO of Directions. Directions run two education centres, based in Caversham and Northam. In Caversham 70% of students are Indigenous and in Northam 45% fall into this category. Directions offer a wide range of initiatives including Aboriginal school-based training contracts and mainstream apprenticeships. ‘Licensed for success’, a driving course offered by Directions, has 300 participants. Directions also provides training for industry as an Registered Training Organisation.
Ms Vanessa Davies Assistant Director Indigenous and Aboriginal Affairs, Serco Australia	Vanessa began her career as a secondary teacher in Science and Advanced Mathematics. She progressed her career, holding several positions including the CEO of Derbyl Yerrigan Health Service Inc. in Perth. She was appointed Assistant Director Aboriginal and Indigenous Affairs at Acacia Prison (part of the Serco Group) 50km east of Perth in 2006, as part of a drive to provide more effective management of Aboriginal prisoners. Vanessa has spent many years working with various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups throughout WA, SA and the NT particularly during her time at the Department of Indigenous Affairs.
Mr Neil Fernandes Managing Director, Central TAFE	Neil has been the Managing Director at Central TAFE since mid 2005, having previously held a number of senior positions in the training sector. Central TAFE has undertaken a number of innovative practices in Indigenous training including a partnership arrangement with the David Wirrpanda Foundation involving a group of young Indigenous students undertaking business skills courses. The aim is to match skilled Indigenous people with employment opportunities through training and development. Central TAFE has a dedicated Indigenous Unit which provides support to program areas that provide training to Indigenous students.
Mr Wilton Foster Chair, Ngaanyatjarra Council	Wilton is on the Ngaanyatjarra Board of Directors and is a member of the Irrunjtju Council. He was born in the community of Irrunjtju, where he now resides, and has lived and worked throughout his life on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Wilton completed studies in Administration and Management and was also awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1994 for his contributions and work with people of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. He still continues this work today.
Ms Carol Garlett Chair, WA Aboriginal Education and Training Council	Carol has extensive experience in Aboriginal education as an administrator, educator and parent. Prior to her appointment as Chair of the Aboriginal Education and Training Council, Carol was the District Director for government schools in the Kimberley region. She is actively involved in Aboriginal education and training at local, state and national levels. Carol served as a member of the National VET Indigenous Advisory Taskforce. She has taught in schools across Western Australia in the Wheatbelt, Pilbara and metropolitan areas. Several years ago Carol visited Canada where she was able to see first hand some programs for high risk students that continue to influence her work in WA.
Dr Sue Gordon AM Member, State Training Board; Member, Indigenous Implementation Board; Member, Australian Employment Covenant	Susan was the Magistrate of the Children's Court, Western Australia for more than 20 years retiring in 2008 and was the Chair of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Taskforce. Sue is a member of the Western Australia Indigenous Implementation Board, member of various National and State Councils/Boards and is a member of the Australian Employment Covenant Steering Committee.
Mr Glen Kelly Chief Executive Officer, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council	Glen is a Noongar man with14 years experience in Indigenous affairs, with a focus in native title and Indigenous land related issues. He has held a number of senior positions in Indigenous organisations, both as a manager and as an advocate of Indigenous interests, as well as positions within government agencies. Glen sits on a number of high level committees and statutory authorities at a State and Australian Government level that relate to Indigenous land interests. He is a keen advocate of Noongar interests and in his role as CEO he seeks to ensure that South West Land and Sea Council is able to provide an efficient and effective service to Noongar people and their native title claims.
Mr Damir Kucan Executive General Manager Human Resources, Burswood Entertainment Complex	Damir Kucan was appointed Executive General Manager, Human Resources, Burswood Entertainment Complex in March 2007. Damir is part of the executive team with responsibilities covering recruitment, learning and development, human resources operations and services, health and safety and workforce planning and scheduling. Prior to joining Burswood Damir was Clough’s Group Manager, Human Resources, Quality and Health, Safety and Environment. He was also General Manager, People in Australia for Readymix which was part of the Rinker Group of companies, one of the largest construction material organisations in the world at the time.
Dr Barry McKnight Managing Director, Pilbara TAFE	Barry has a vast amount of experience within the training environment including his previous position as Institute Director of Barrier Reef TAFE in Queensland and a range of senior positions within the New South Wales TAFE system. He has had significant experience in the implementation of education and training programs for Aboriginal people in three states, including employment outcomes and the transitioning from school to TAFE to higher education. Barry and many of the staff at Pilbara TAFE have ongoing relationships with key Indigenous organisations and communities within the Pilbara region such as Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, Bloodwood Tree Association and Ngarda Civil and Mining.
Mr Kevin McLeish Chief Operating Officer, Argyle Diamond Mine	Kevin joined Argyle Diamond Mine in 2005 as General Manager Operations after working for Rio Tinto in operational management roles in aluminium, iron ore, copper and diamond businesses in both Australia and internationally for more than 15 years. In WA Argyle is one example of a Rio Tinto company providing training to help members of the local community, particularly Indigenous people, take better advantage of the work and career opportunities the mine offers.
Mr Peter Moore Chief Operating Officer, Water Corporation	Peter has more than 35 years experience in the water industry and is on the board of the Australian Water Association. In his current role Peter is responsible for the operating divisions of the organisation which include planning and infrastructure, customer service, asset management, business services and water technologies. He is also responsible for issues management, operational leadership and strategy. In 2008 the Water Corporation entered into a partnership with the Clontarf Foundation designed to attract Indigenous males into traineeships with the company.
Mr Robert Player Acting Director General, Department of Training and Workforce Development	Robert is Acting Director General of the new Department of Training and Workforce Development. The new Department now has a broader responsibility for building, attracting and retaining a skilled workforce to meet the economic needs of Western Australia. Robert has responsibility for divisions including Vocational Education and Training and Career Development, comprising VET Teaching and Learning, Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Career Development Services and VET Policy and Reform Directorates. He is also responsible for Industry and Community Planning, Office of the State Training Board, Commonwealth State Relations and Training Resource Allocation Directorates which form the Planning and Resources division. Robert also has responsibility for Education and Training International and WestOne Services.
Ms Margaret Quartermaine Director, Marr Mooditj Foundation	Marr Mooditj Foundation is the largest Aboriginal health training organisation in Western Australian. The Foundation won WA Small Training Provider of the Year Award in 2006 at the Department of Education and Training’s WA Training Awards. Marr Mooditj offers training to Aboriginal students from across the State and occasionally travels to regional areas to train Indigenous vommunities in first aid and men’s health. Margaret Quartermaine has worked tirelessly to empower Aboriginal people by educating them in health and wellbeing. Marr Mooditj encourages graduates to take that knowledge back to their community and work to reduce the gap in health status between Aboriginal people and the rest of the Australian population.
Mr John Scott Managing Director, C.Y. O’Connor College of TAFE	Prior to taking up his current appointment, John Scott established a national campus for disengaged youth in the United Arab Emirates focussing on training initiatives associated with Indigenous students. In consultation with the Elders of the Narrogin community, C.Y. O’Connor TAFE has set up courses that will lead to employment outcomes for young Indigenous people. A pre-apprenticeship course in plant mechanics, supported by the Farm Machinery Dealers’ Association (WA), will commence in semester two 2009 with both male and female Indigenous students. At the invitation of the Southern Aboriginal Corporation, C. Y O’Connor College of TAFE is partnering with the Corporation to re-activate the former Aboriginal mission facility located near Wandering, as a residential Indigenous Skills Centre.
Mr Keith Spence Chair, State Training Board	As well as being the Chair of the State Training Board Keith is currently on several other boards and committees, including Skills Australia, many of which are directly related to the training sector. Keith is a Non-Executive Director of Clough Ltd, Geodynamics and GESB ML. Until his recent retirement Keith held the position of Executive Vice President Enterprise Capability at Woodside Energy Limited having been with Woodside for fourteen years. Keith brings to the committee extensive knowledge of the resource industry having had 13 years experience in the oil and gas industry.
Mr Ian Trust Director, Kimberley Group Training; Chair, Wunan Foundation	Ian was Chair of the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Wunan Regional Council for three consecutive terms, and was also Zone Commissioner for the Kimberley for the final term of ATSIC. Ian is Chairman and Executive Director of the Wunan Foundation, an East Kimberley Indigenous organisation assisting Indigenous people to help themselves and is a Director of Kimberley Group Training. In addition, Ian is a member of a number of national, state and regional boards including Indigenous Business Australia, Kimberley TAFE, East Kimberley Job Pathways and the WA Aboriginal and Education Training Council.