Confirmed Presenters
When: Monday 24th November & Tuesday 25th November 2014
Where: Dubbo RSL Club, Dubbo NSW
The following speakers have confirmed that they will be presenting at the Conference:
Damian Griffis
- Executive Director of First Peoples Disability Network
Damian is a leading advocate for the human rights of Aboriginal people with disability. In 2004/05 Damian undertook a major consultative project visiting Aboriginal communities across the state of New South Wales discussing the unmet needs of Aboriginal people with disability, directly with Aboriginal people with disability and their carers, culminating in the report entitled Telling It Like It Is.
Damian has been a central figure in the establishment of both the Aboriginal Disability Network NSW and the national peak organisation the First Peoples Disability Network (Australia).
Damian continues to represent the views of Aboriginal people with disability and their families in a range of forums at a regional, national and international level.
Rod McShannon
- General Manager of Strategic Development at BUSY.
Rod is a leader in developing and building business relationships in the training and employment industry. He has a proven track record in establishing successful business partnerships within the private sector, state and federal government.
Rod has an automotive trade background and holds diplomas in both business management and training. Rod’s passion and experience in the training industry has continued throughout his long standing career. Before joining BUSY, Rod worked within a Group Training Organisation and Registered Training Organisation and has now been with BUSY for over 5 years as General Manager within the Apprenticeships division.
Rod’s wealth of experience and knowledge provides invaluable insight into the training industry. His ability to overcome challenges and develop workable solutions for employers and jobseekers can be attributed to his hands on approach and strategic execution.
As part of BUSY’s strategic development to provide the best fit for new entries into the workforce and employers, Rod is responsible for BUSY’s innovative career development projects. They include the Career Hunter App, Harrison Career Assessment tool and the Apprenticeship Central website.
Leon Drury
- Executive Officer at Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA NSW ITAB)
- Deputy Chairman at Sydney Aerospace and Defence Interest Group Skills Sub Committee
- Chairperson at South Western Sydney Manufacturing & Engineering Task Force
Leon was appointed to the position of Executive Officer at MSA in July 2010 after working in Industrial Relations, vocational training and assessment in the metals industry nationally.
Prior to that Leon spent 10 years in the Aerospace industry, manufacturing aircraft components in advanced composites following his service with the Royal Australian Navy.
Leon holds qualifications in Aerospace, Training & Assessment, Occupational Health & Safety and Human Resources Management.
Specialties: compliance, organisational development (OD), learning and development (L&D), policy development, vocational education and training (VET), start up roles, industry engagement and industrial relations (IR), Workplace Health & Safety (WHS)
Marianne Wehby
- Senior Advisor – Training package reform – Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council
Susan Carey & Andrew Crowley
- Directors of VET Delivery, TAFE NSW Western Institute
Felicity Taylor-Edwards
- Chief Executive Officer Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana
Tony Aumuller
- Regional Manager, Western NSW & Aboriginal Services, State Training Services, NSW Department of Education and Communities
Chris McDonald
- Regional Manager Clontarf Foundation
John Turnbull (or Mark Merchant)
- Manager, Labour Economics, NSW/ACT Office , Department of Employment, Australian Government
Mark Merchant
- Education, Skills and Jobs Coordinator, Central West – New South Wales, Department of Employment, Australian Government
Sandra Fisher
- Program Coordinator, Diploma of General Studies Pathway Program, Office of the Dean of Students, Charles Sturt University
Michael Hyam
- Assistant Director Secondary Education - Senior Pathways Public Schools NSW, NSW Department of Education & Communities
Susan Skidmore
- Account Manager - Education Sector (TVET), Business Capability Unit, TAFE NSW Western Institute
Ana Pateman
- Manager – Western Student Connections
Louise Lawler
- Administrator – The Get Real Program, School of Rural Health
Roger Fletcher
- Managing Director – Fletcher International Exports Pty Ltd
Vocational Learning Team
- Senior Pathways Unit, Public Schools NSW, NSW Department of Education & Communities
Jacquie Smith
- Education Officer TAFE Delivered VET for Schools and School Based Trainees and Apprentices
Karen Pickering
- Senior Pathways Officer, Department of Education & Communities
Patsy Saul
- TVET Campus Co-ordinator North West
Melissa Baxter
- TVET Campus Coordinator Dubbo and Mudgee
Karen Hyland / Liz Shuttle / Katherine Lance
- Head Teachers TAFE Western Institute
Ruth Hodgson
- TVET Client Coordinator Outdoor Recreation
Access Group Training
Western Student Connections
Phone: 02 6885 6144 – Fax: 02 6885 6199 – Email:
Conference webpage: click on the Conference link