Keynote Speaker
Mark Cully
General Manager
National Centre for
Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
Mark is responsible for the national competitive grants research and evaluation program, the international VET research database, and national research dissemination. Mark also takes joint responsibility for NCVER’s program of in-house research and analytic work, and consultancy and international activities.
Prior to joining NCVER in 2003, Mark was a Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University and editor of the Australian Bulletin of Labour.
Between 1995 and 1999 he was head of research and evaluation on employment relations matters for the UK Government. He has a Masters degree in Industrial Relations from Warwick University and an Honours degree in Economics from Adelaide University, and is the author of two books and several journal articles.
Mark Simpson
Mark Simpson has over 25 years experience in training, including teaching in Aboriginal communities. He was recently responsible for training at Rio Tinto's Pilbara Iron, as well as Indigenous training and employment, and educational development within the Pilbara region. Mr Simpson is currently consulting for the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals as well as Rio Tinto and others. Until recently he was the Chair of Pilbara TAFE, and he still holds a number of other positions, including the Board of Tourism WA and the Western Australian Training Accreditation Council.
Plenary Speakers
THURSDAY 23 |
|
10.45am – 11.30pm |
Bernie Ingle – TAFE NSW: Gwydir Learning Region – A Case Study of Trust, Collaboration and Cooperation |
| 11.30am – 12.15pm | Linda Brown - Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE: Small Business Solutions |
1.30pm – 2.15pm |
Adrian "Red' Hendry - Tiwi Islands Training and Employment Board: VET in remote communities - investing in individuals or ACH? |
2.15pm – 3.00pm |
Sophie Ehrenburg – Kimberley TAFE: Jigsaw of Solutions – Collaborative Alliances and Links for Indigenous Training in the Kimberley, WA |
| 4.45pm - 5.15pm | Maree Gerke – TAFE Tasmania: Workplace Coaches Network: Building Capacity From Within Enterprises |
| FRIDAY 24 | |
| 3.55pm - 4.15pm | Gina Gunn - Federal Group Australian Flexible Learning Industry Engagement Project - 2007 Industry e-learning Demonstration |
| 4.15pm - 4.45pm | Dr Jim Mullaney - Future PD |
Bernie Ingle has lived in rural and regional Australia for most of his life and enjoys the social and professional opportunites in that environment. Qualified in Rural Science, Adult Education and Business Management and experienced as a researcher, teacher, in industry and in TAFE management. Bernie's work during the last 14 years has focused on 'blurring boundaries' around community, industry and educational organisation. He is currently the Assistant Director (Educational Operations) for his TAFE Institute in rural NSW.
Linda Brown, Director of Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE (MSIT), oversees the operations of the recently merged institute which boasts a $70 million turnover, employs 1000 staff and delivers over 400 programs to 40 000 clients.
Prior to moving to Australia in November 2005, Linda was heavily involved in both commerce and education sectors in varying capacities, including running small family businesses, stock-broking and working in several large corporate organisations as Managing Director. Whilst in the UK, Linda became part of an emergency team commissioned to turn around failing colleges; initiating and managing substantial change, increasing student enrolments and achieving significantly higher than average national benchmarks for students’ accomplishments and retentions.
Linda is now also responsible for the development and leadership of a state-wide strategic government model to ensure small business and training priorities are met to address the economic priorities of Queensland through the establishment and successful implementation of Small Business Solutions.
Adrian ‘Red’ Hendry is a 36 year old white male currently living on the Tiwi Islands in the NT. He has worked in a variety of jobs prior to becoming a VET trainer. His previous employment has included; VET Lecturer at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, a Team Leader for Conservation Volunteers Australia as well as a variety of construction, farm hand and mechanical jobs which gave him the practical skills and experience to become a VET trainer.
‘Red’ has traveled extensively in outback Australia and would like to deliver training to remote communities overseas in an international aid context, as well as aspiring to complete his science degree before he reaches 40
Sophie Ehrenburg MEd (Adult Education and Training) BEd. Sophie is currently the Director Training, Kimberley TAFE having worked in the TAFE sector in NSW, QLD and WA since 1996. Previously, Sophie had 25 years workng in senior management in the tourism and hospitality industry, specialising in five star hotels management, both in Australia and internationally. Sophie also wrote the NSW State Government's 'Smart Start - Getting Started in Tourism Guide'. Sophie is passionate about building organisations through promoting collaborative partnerships and quality industry alliances that are customer service focused. Sophie is also committed to improving social and economic outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Maree Gerke (B Ad Voc Ed) is currently Team Leader for Children’s Services North at TAFE Tasmania. Over the past few years she has led the development of learning materials and systems that support flexible learning, particularly making use of the workplace as a context for learning. She strongly believes that learning should be collaborative and should make use of participants experience and knowledge. Successful learning programs are built on strong relationships and supported by effective networks. Children’s Services Online and the Workplace Coaches Network are two initiatives that are a result of the commitment that Children’s Services North has in the provision of engaging and innovative learning options for clients.
Dr Jim Mullaney has worked for the last 7 years as a Consultant in education, firstly with the Catholic Education Office and then running his own consultancy - FuturePD. Before that he worked as a Science and Computing teacher and was responsible for setting up the Middle School Learning Teams at Mandurah Catholic College.
He has spent time in the corporate world - as a technical specialist in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industries and in a previous life worked as a research scientist. At present he is involved in a variety of projects including implementation of the AISWA LearningNet, a federal government PD initiative, a cooperative learning project with the Moorditj Noongar Community College. He consults widely in industry for companies like Microsoft and Computelec and has been involved in developing and delivering courseware for Edith Cowan University. Jim enjoys golf, sailing, flying, singing, music and does all of them badly.
