2024 AEN Mid-Year Conference

Speakers for this event

• Alison Wall

  Alison Wall

  Future Skills Organisation

  Future Skills Organisation

  Alison has
  over twenty years of experience in the VET sector. Through her work with
  numerous RTOs and government agencies, she has gained significant expertise in
  design and delivery of training and assessment and program implementation.

   
  

  Committed to building skills
  within industry, she has also led state and national initiatives to increase
  capability and address workforce shortages, at both NBN Co and Major Road
  Projects Victoria.

   
  

  Alison served as a member and
  deputy-chair of the ICT Industry Reference Committee, responsible for advising
  the Australian Industry Skills Committee on the skill requirements for various
  sectors of the ICT industry and ensuring the incorporation of industry skill
  into national training packages.

   
  

  As Chief
  of Staff at the Future Skills Organisation, Alison has led the FSO’s transition
  to become one of ten national Jobs and Skills Councils and integrates the work
  of the FSO to advance transferable and industry-specific skills in the finance,
  technology and business sectors.

  Future Skills Organisation

• Andrew Shea

  Andrew Shea

  Tesserent Academy

  Andrew is an award-winning vocational education management and
  risk and compliance professional with a passion for helping people reach their
  potential. Andrew oversees one of the best-known cyber security training
  providers in the country, sits on the executive of one of Australia’s largest
  cyber security solution providers in Tesserent and is the Chair of the Future
  Skills Organisation’s Cyber Security Technical Committee.

  Tesserent Academy

• Chris Ingham

  Chris Ingham

  VRQA

  Deputy CEO, Training and Skills, VRQA

  Chris Ingham is Deputy CEO, Training and Skills at Victorian
  Registration and Qualifications Authority, Victoria’s education sector regulator.
  

  Since joining the VRQA in 2012, Chris’ regulatory
  responsibilities have covered the apprenticeship and traineeship sector,
  schools, registered training organisations, child safe standards, and home
  schooling. 

  Chris is currently the Delegate under the Education and Training
  Reform Act 2006 (‘the Act’), responsible for apprenticeship and traineeship
  regulation and regulation of some registered training organisations. Chris also
  manages the VRQA’s communications.

  Although group training is not specifically referenced in the
  Act, Chris also looks after group training registration and assessment against
  the national standards.

  Before life as a regulator, Chris was a policy executive in
  the (former) Department of Education and Training, covering vocational
  education and training and youth transitions. Chris also spent three years at
  the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra, covering education,
  immigration, border protection and multiculturalism.  He is an ANZSOG (Australia and New Zealand School of
  Government) Executive Fellow (2016).

  Chris enjoys
  writing in his spare time and has released 6 self-published novels on Amazon.

  VRQA

• Dugald Murray

  Dugald Murray

  Victorian TAFE Association

  Victorian TAFE Association

• Emma King OAM

  Emma King OAM

  HumanAbility

  Emma King OAM
  was appointed HumanAbility’s inaugural Chief Executive Officer in September
  2023 bringing to the role extensive experience in workforce and education.
  Prior to this, Emma served as the CEO of the Victorian Council of Social
  Service, where she played an instrumental role in advocating for social justice
  and equality.

  HumanAbility

• Jacqui Dunbar

  Jacqui Dunbar

  Employment Facilitator

  WorkForce Australia

  Jacqueline Dunbar is the Employment Facilitator (EF) for the Inner Metropolitan Melbourne Employment Region.

   

  Jacqueline brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the EF role. With a background in tertiary and employment services, she has held key roles in both public and private sectors.

  Employment Facilitator

• James Montgomery

  James Montgomery

  Apprenticeships Victoria

  James Montgomery was appointed as Executive
  Director of Apprenticeships Victoria in August 2023. 

  Prior to that he was the
  CEO of a National GTO and RTO for over 10 years, previously having held
  Victorian Government Executive positions in Sport and Recreation and Youth
  Affairs.

  Apprenticeships Victoria

• Janet Lui

  Janet Lui

  DEWR

  State Manager, Victoria Office, Workforce Australia Provider Division

  Janet
  Lui is an Assistant Secretary, State Manager at Department of Employment and
  Workplace Relations (DEWR), tasked with the role of leading the Victoria office
  to oversee the service delivery of skills and employment programs by provider
  organisations to support Australian apprentices and trainees and participants
  that are looking for secure employment. She engages and partners with
  stakeholders across Victoria to address skills shortages and workforce needs in
  Victoria including all levels of government, industry peaks and employers,
  not-for-profits, and social enterprises.

   

  With
  over a decade of experience within the Department, Janet’s expertise in skills
  and employment programs has aided the Local Recovery Fund program, creating new
  training, pre-employment, and employment opportunities for Workforce Australia
  participants in Victoria. Janet has been recognised for her exemplary service
  by the Department’s Secretary for her contributions to procurement and
  contracting of Workforce Australia services. Janet remains dedicated to
  uplifting staff by fostering a diverse, inclusive work culture and serves as
  DEWR’s Co-Champion of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Network,
  and the Australian Public Service Senior Executive Staff Interagency CALD
  Champion Network.

  DEWR

• Jarrod Cartwright

  Jarrod Cartwright

  Apprenticeship Support Australia

  Manager, Contract Operations (VIC)

  Jarrod has
  worked with Apprenticeship Support Australia for over 15 years across various
  field, compliance and operational leadership roles. For the last seven years,
  Jarrod has been in the role of Manager, Contract Operations which oversee the
  compliance and contract management of Apprenticeship Support Australia’s
  Victorian operations as well as the management across the client services
  centre which includes claims and contract processing.

   

  Jarrod’s
  experience includes working within field operations and support services across
  both Metro Melbourne and the regional network, together with business
  development and management of key national accounts.

  Apprenticeship Support Australia

• John Atar

  John Atar

  Kowanj Australasia

  John is a former refugee from South Sudan who has lived and studied in Australia since the age

  4. John, a footy player featured in the Herald Sun for his achievement of being a prominent

  player in the WFNL Division 1 season of 2024, has also played a pivotal role in being a cultural

  bridge for young Africans to play Aussie Rules.

  In the present day, John has become a business professional with a rich background in

  administration, leadership, and management. He has collaborated with notable organisations,

  including Bupa, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education, showcasing his

  versatility and expertise in various sectors. Through his journey from being a young refugee to

  becoming an accomplished professional, John’s story highlights the power of determination,

  seizing opportunities, and making a meaningful impact in the face of challenges.

  Kowanj Australasia

• Linda Li

  Linda Li

  Tesserent Academy

  Linda Li is a seasoned cyber security and IT professional with
  over 15 years of experience in the ever-evolving tech industry. She has worked
  in senior roles across Tesserent over the preivous 7 years including her
  current role heading Partnerships for Tesserent Academy (inclusive of ALC
  Training), a leading cyber security training company.

  Tesserent Academy

• Martin Collins

  Martin Collins

  Victorian Skills Authority

  Martin Collins is the Team Leader for industry and
  community engagement for North and West Victoria within the Victorian Skills
  Authority. With extensive experience in education, skills and economic
  development, Martin has led transformative initiatives across government and
  non-profit sectors in both Australia and the UK. This includes leading the
  development of the Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy and Social Procurement
  Framework in the Victorian Government as well as initiating a range of place-based
  projects focused on improving outcomes for young people, both in State and
  local government.  In Scotland, Martin
  led employment and skills related reform across all Glasgow schools, as well as
  managing the City’s largest vocational school for young people with additional
  social, emotional and behavioural needs.

  Victorian Skills Authority

• Peta Skujins

  Peta Skujins

  GAN Australia

  Senior Policy and Insights Manager

  Dr Peta Skujins is the Senior Policy and Insights manager at
  the Apprenticeship Employment Network in Victoria, Australia, and works on the
  implementation of GAN Australia. In this role she the conducts research and
  analysis of trends and best practice in VET and Australian Apprenticeships, and
  develops policy briefs and reports.

  Before joining AEN, Peta was the Director of the Australian
  Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service, a government funded
  organisation that supported the skills sector as a hub of apprenticeships
  information. She has a background in research, with a PhD in psychology and
  experience with the National Centre of Vocational Education Research. Her
  interests include transitions between compulsory education and employment
  including career decision-making, and understanding the ways in which employers
  make hiring decisions.

  GAN Australia

• Stephen Levickis

  Stephen Levickis

  Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry

  Stephen is the
  General Manager of Membership and International Services at the Victorian
  Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His teams work with businesses every day to
  help them with services tools and growth opportunities.

  Prior to joining
  VCCI, Stephen came from an events and hospitality background having had event
  sales and management roles across the MCG, Marvel Stadium and Accor Hotels.

  Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry