Senior Skills Adviser

Victorian SKills Authority

Owen has worked in the Vocational Education Sector for over 12 years across a variety of roles including management of Skills and Jobs Centres in Gippsland and Metro Melbourne, business development and contract management. In 2016 he worked on the Hazelwood Power station transition where he worked directly with the workers and business impacted by the closure. Owen is currently the Senior Skills Advisor for South East Metro region at the Victorian Skills Authority where he specialises in engagement with the Clean Economy industry.

Recommendations:

Podcasts: The Great Simplification, Freeing Energy Podcast ,Energy Insiders

Websites: https://reneweconomy.com.au/

https://www.vic.gov.au/employment-forecast-dashboard

Books: Beyond Sticky Notes

Reports: Clean Economy Workforce Development Strategy

CEC – Skilling the Energy Transition

Employment Facilitator

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Luke Arber is the Australian Government Employment Facilitator with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for Gippsland and surrounds, with a focus on Net Zero.

Luke has delivered Federal employment initiatives such as the Local Jobs Program, the Regional Employment Trials Program and Hazelwood Structural Adjustment Program as well as local, place-based projects to create and support co-ordination of opportunities.

With more than 20 years of experience across employment, disability and training, driven and led employment projects, funded and unfunded, to achieve training and employment outcomes specific to Gippsland’s labour markets.

Passionate about his region provides support and assistance to the community as we move from carbon intensive products and resources and shifting to the opportunities that come with new energy sources and different ways of working.

Senior Policy Officer

Clean Energy Council & Australian Hydrogen Council

Julian McCoy is the Senior Policy Officer – Workforce Development, jointly appointed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC). His focus is workforce development in hydrogen and across the supply chain. Before joining the CEC and AHC, Julian was the workforce research lead for the Net Zero Australia project. His professional experience includes ten years in tertiary education, in continuous improvement, data analysis and project management roles. Julian holds a Master of Environment and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

Sustainability Leader

Mount Lilydale Mercy College

Over 30 years as a secondary school educator, current VCE – VM teacher, Sustainability leader and past VET coordinator at Mt Lilydale Mercy College, an early convert to experiential, nature-based learning has had many influencers that have shaped his passion for the natural environment.

Andrew has embedded sustainability into whole school operations via policy initiatives, sequential curriculum and created wider community partnerships working closely with state and local government stakeholders to provide real world learning for students.

Educational outcomes have been achieved through multi faculty classes utilising these real-world challenges through data collection, interpretation and hands on application to remediate issues.

The applied nature of the curriculum is designed to encourage students considering ‘green career’ pathways and options post-secondary schooling.

Recommendations:

Documentary- Kiss the Ground (2024) - Directed by Damon Gameau and narrated by Woody Harrelson

Environmental, Social and Governance Manager

Kapitol Group

Following the completion of a double bachelor degree in Environmental Science and Environment and Society at RMIT University, Tayla has worked as an environmental consultant with major road and rail infrastructure companies, facilitating environmental remediation and environmental compliance. Tayla started at Kapitol Group as the Environment and Sustainability Manager in 2022, driving advancements of their environmental management system and implementing sustainable construction practises. With the growth of the organisation and the HSQ & ESG team, Tayla was promoted to ESG Manager, ensuring that Kapitol implements innovative and practical solutions in our practices today to ensure the organisation is positioned to manage the diverse and increasingly complex range of ESG issues and opportunities of the future.

Recommendations:

Books: We Are The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery. The first book I ever read about climate change which inspired me to follow the path I am on today.

News: Green Review & Sustainability Matters, both report on sustainability focused news articles.

Podcast: Sustainable Transformation by Kiarne Treacy. Covers a range of topics in the sustainability space

Stay up-to-date by following Tayla & Kapitol Group on socials

Executive Director

Management Governance Australia (MGA)

Bernadette is President of the Australian Renewables Academy, Executive Director of Management Governance Australia (MGA) Pty Ltd, CEO of Workforce Plus Inc, Executive Chair DEC Housing and Director Enable Social Enterprises. She holds a range of qualifications including a Masters in Public Policy and Management, Graduate Diploma in Education (Mathematics), Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics), Associate Degree in Amenity Horticulture and Associate Diploma in Therapy Radiography.

Bernadette understands the future challenges facing business and industry as they seek to navigate a rapidly changing economic environment and embrace the opportunities emerging with the new energy and clean economy revolution. She has over 25 years experience as a CEO and brings strong practical approach to engaging with stakeholders.