33rd National VET Research Conference 'No Frills' 2024 Program

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training (pre-recorded)

Thursday 11 July 2024 9:30am

The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP is the Minister for Skills and Training, a Cabinet position in the Albanese Labor Government.

A belief in the benefits of secure employment and quality education and training, as well as a commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, led Mr O’Connor to commence his career in a union.

He represented the interests of Victorian workers before becoming Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU).

He was elected to parliament in 2001 and has since headed several portfolios.

As Minister for Employment Participation, he overhauled the employment services system, streamlining the process to provide a personalised service called Job Services Australia.

As Minister for Home Affairs, one of his many noteworthy achievements includes reforming Australia’s anti-dumping regime to encourage fairer and equitable business practices.

Mr O’Connor went on to serve as Minister for Small Business at Cabinet level, the first time in over ten years that the portfolio had been elevated to such a level. Mr O’Connor worked to cut red tape and support growth and jobs through tax reform, including the $6500 Instant Asset Write-off to assist Australia’s 2.7 million small businesses to improve their cash flows and the introduction of Australia’s first Small Business Commissioner.

In 2013, Mr O’Connor was elevated to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and finished the term as Minister for Employment, Skills and Training.

From 2013 – 2019, Mr O’Connor was appointed Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. In 2019, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Employment and Industry, Science, and Small and Family Business as a member of Anthony Albanese’s Labor frontbench team and served as Shadow Minister for Defence from January 2021 until Labor won the 2022 election.

View the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP's keynote address here. (NCVER's YouTube channel)

Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia

Thursday 11 July 2024 9:45am

Professor Barney Glover AO began his five-year term as Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia in 2024.

Professor Glover is a distinguished academic leader, an accomplished mathematician and mathematics educator with significant experience in developing strong relationships with the vocational education sector. He is well respected for his engagement with First Nations Australians and disadvantaged communities.

He was Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University for ten years, from 2014-24, and in 2019 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to tertiary education, professional associations and cultural organisations. In 2015, Professor Glover was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor for his outstanding leadership whilst Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University from 2009 to 2013.

Professor Glover has served on the boards of a diverse range of corporate organisations and several state and national centres covering areas such as health and medical research, energy, mineral exploration, and telecommunications.

View Professor Glover's keynote address here. (NCVER's YouTube channel)

Gihan Perera, Futurist, Fit for the Future

Friday 12 July 2024 11:00am

Has disruption – from employee burnout, hybrid work, AI, global uncertainty, and more – shaken up your world? Are your people looking for clear leadership in this time of massive change? Do you want to be more confident in chaos and uncertainty?

Gihan Perera is a business futurist, conference speaker, AI researcher, and author who shows you how to be fit for the future in a fast-changing world.

For more than 25 years, he has worked with organisations and leaders throughout Australia and the world, helping them to lead in uncertainty, act with clarity and confidence, and thrive in a fast-changing world.

He is the author of Disrupted, Disruption By Design, The Future of Leadership, and ten other books.

Forbes magazine rated him the #5 social media influencer in the world (and #1 in Australia) in his area of expertise.

Dinner Speaker: Catherine MacDougall

Thursday 11 July 2024

Catherine MacDougall is a chef, educator and trainer who co-founded Prepare Produce Provide (PPP), a not-for-profit organisation helping young people pursue careers in education, food and hospitality.

Committed to creating meaningful change, Catherine is adopting a multi-faceted approach in addressing the complex issues facing youth.

The ‘5000Meals’ program addresses wastage and food insecurity by bringing together chefs, students, volunteers and donated food to create nutritious meals for people experiencing homelessness. Since its 2012 inception, it has provided more than 100,000 meals and 45,000 meals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ‘Djinda Ngardak’ culinary program offers Aboriginal students across Western Australia the opportunity to train with top chefs and cultural leaders, inspiring careers in the hospitality and tourism industries. It supported the first two Indigenous youth to participate in Germany’s Culinary Olympics.

Catherine’s efforts are testament to the power of local engagement. Her selfless efforts are fostering community spirit and empowering Indigenous young people.

Moderator: Dr Joy de Leo, Research and data Analytics Manager, NCVER

Joy has worked in education for over 40 years in both public and private sectors, involved in policy, curriculum development, research, management, advocacy, and teaching in the school and tertiary education sector.

She manages a team of NCVER researchers and data analysts to deliver the National VET research and advanced analytics programs, which integrate quantitative with qualitative research with advanced analytics and data linkages with other agencies, to inform policy development for Senior Skills Officials.

Ms Vivienne Scott, Executive Director Product and Quality, North Metropolitan TAFE

Vivienne Scott is the Executive Director Product and Quality at North Metropolitan TAFE (NMTAFE), the largest vocational training provider in Western Australia. With over 30,000 students each year, Vivienne oversees the quality and development of training programs and delivery at NMTAFE’s nine campuses.

With a background in organisational psychology and team development, Vivienne is passionate about quality teaching and learning in the VET Sector and has led policy development and projects to assist the development of dual professionals.

By leading innovation in product design and quality through NMTAFE’s Teaching and Learning Committee and Academic Board, Vivienne also manages the Academic Support and Library teams, helping to transform learning environments, driving experimentation with and access to cutting edge technologies.

Vivienne has led industry partnerships with large private and government organisations ensuring needs of students, industry and community are met and never compromising on quality training delivery and outcomes for all stakeholders.

Mr Jim Walker, Chair WA State Training Board

Jim has over 45 years experience in the resources, construction, transport and agricultural sectors. Jim was previously CEO of WesTrac Pty Ltd, one of the world’s largest Caterpillar dealers.

Jim is currently Chair of the State Training Board WA, Non-Executive Chair RACWA Holdings Pty Ltd, RAC Insurance Pty Ltd, Austin Engineering Ltd and Chair of the Motor Museum of WA and Forum Chair Diggers and Dealers and was formerly National President of Australian Institute of Management and AIM Western Australia.

Jim’s focus on apprentices and training was recognised when he was awarded the GJ Stokes Memorial Award at Diggers and Dealers 2014.

Mr John King, Managing Director, NCVER

John is an accomplished strategist and leader with extensive public sector and skills policy experience, specializing in data analytics, evaluation, and research.

As the new Managing Director of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, John will lead the organisation in providing insights into vocational education and training in Australia.

Over the past six years, John has led the development and use of evidence in social policy. In his role as Chief Data Officer at Seer Data and Analytics, he helped community organisations to access and use administrative data effectively. As Executive Director of Analytics, Evaluation, and Research at the Victorian Departments of Health and Families, Fairness and Housing, he pioneered the use of linked data, advanced analytics, and evaluation in health and human services policy and programs.

John previously spent a decade in the Commonwealth, South Australian, and Victorian public services, with a strong focus on skills policy.

He holds an MPA from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) from the Australian National University.

Facilitator: Mr Gavin Lind, CEO, Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance

Gavin is an accomplished academic and minerals industry executive who has led the evolution of the highly successful Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP) to become the independent Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance (AUSMESA) facilitating greater industry and employer engagement with workforce and skills.

Prior to this, Gavin spent more than a decade in a leadership role in minerals policy and advocacy with the MCA, and had worked professionally for industry, government, and academia in both Australia and South Africa.

In 2013, Gavin received the LH Martin Award for Excellence in Higher Education Leadership for his work promoting minerals education in Australia. Gavin is based in Melbourne.

Mr Steve Hall, General Manager Projects, Powering Skills Organisation

With over 34 years in the electrotechnology industry, Steve’s experiences as an electrician, contractor, business owner and manager across industry and the vocational education and training sector inform his holistic approach to educating the energy workforce.

His current role with the Jobs and Skills Council for the energy sector, Powering Skills Organisation, builds on his work with the Industry Skills Council and Skills Services Organisations. From his lived experience as an apprentice, to his rewarding career in RTO management, his lifelong learning journey is not only something he embraces but drives him to extend those same opportunities to the future generation of energy workers.

Ms Lisa Bale, Director VET and Innovation, Future Skills Organisation

Lisa is a VET professional who has held executive and senior roles in the Australian and International VET sector. Making significant contributions in her roles as a teacher, head teacher, and director of learning, teaching, and quality at TAFE NSW and Federation University Australia. Additionally, Lisa worked for the Human Services Skills Organisation, at a national level as a leading VET specialist, and now leads the VET + Innovation team at the Future Skills Organisation Jobs and Skills Council.

Lisa has submitted a No Frills abstract on generative AI. The FSO recently undertook research with Mandal Partners to examine the impact of GenAI on occupations and subsequent impact on training package qualifications for the finance, technology and business sectors.

Ms Kirsty Waugh, Director of Training and Product Development, Public Skills Australia

Kirsty Waugh is an accomplished education specialist with more than 15 years’ experience leading the design of diverse learning programs within schools and VET. Her experience spans the private, not-for-profit and public safety sectors.

Prior to joining Public Skills Australia, Kirsty worked in the Fire and Emergency Services industry-sector as the Manager Quality and Evaluation at the CFA. In this role, she supervised the design of learning courses and management of the Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Kirsty’s unique blend of project management, stakeholder engagement and learning design set her apart as a dynamic leader in the field of education. She is a driving force behind the innovative solutions that empower learners across Public Skills Australia’s industry-sectors.