Engagement Network

Meet the industry and education experts who strategically guide our work.

Meet the industry and education experts who strategically guide our work 

We’re driven by a community of industry and education experts who work in or support the finance, technology, and business sectors.  It’s called the FSO Engagement Network.  

Drawing on the best expertise, we bring the right people together to provide strategic guidance, industry insights and advice on workforce-related matters. The engagement network also provides recommendations and assists with co-designing and delivering projects.   

The engagement network includes diverse representation across industry, unions, government and training providers. We will continue to review and evolve the network representatives. If you have feedback or questions, please contact us here.

Taskforces and Committees

Meet the people who share their vast knowledge and experience as part of the FSO Engagement Network. They provide strategic guidance, industry insights and advice on workforce-related matters, as well as recommendations and advice on project priorities.

Meet the Strategic Advisory Committee

Last updated: 27 February January 2026

Terms of Reference

Leaders representing small, medium, and large companies are working with education experts to advise on strategies and programs that will meet the demand for the most important skills.  

Chair: Jodi Phillips, Strategic Advisor Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Sebastian Brash, Policy Manager, Tech Council of Australia (TCA) 

Jo Cantle, Director, APS Professions, Australian Public Service Commission (APSC)

Ross Creelman, Associate Director Digital, Cyber and Energy, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)

Luisa Grant, Industry Skills Advisor to the Queensland Government, Australian Computer Society (ACS)

Josh Griggs, CEO, Australian Computer Society (ACS)

Brett Hall, General Manager – Policy, Research and Projects, Centre for Education and Training (CET), Ai Group

Russ Hawkins, CEO and Executive Principal, Community Education Australia (CEA)  

Kathryn Howard, Executive Manager Reskilling, Commonwealth Bank Australia

Amanda Linton, CEO – The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)

David Masters, Head of Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Atlassian

Scarlett McDermott, Managing Director, Longitude Advisory

Serryn O’Regan, CEO, Equinim College

Teressa Schmidt, Director Policy, Governance and Projects, TAFE Directors Australia

Chris Smith, Head of Strategy & Innovation, ReadyTech

Michael Thomas, Assistant Branch Secretary, Together Queensland     

Ishtar Vij, Director, Eloquium and Convenor, Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance (ADIA)

Dan Walsh, Head of Education – Mortgage and Finance Education Australia (MFAA)

Meet the Large Employer Taskforce

Last updated: 27 February 2026

Terms of Reference

Experts from some of Australia’s biggest business, finance and technology organisations are helping us address the skilling needs of large companies.

Chair: Pip Dexter, Chief People and Purpose Officer, Deloitte Australia

Tricia Andrews, Education Manager, MYOB

Angela Budai, Research and Policy Manager, FSU

Jen Delves, EGM Workforce, Suncorp

Ray Fleming, Founder, innovategpt.ai

Grace Gown, Head of Public Policy, Xero

Kathryn Howard, Product Owner, Community Skilling, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Shane Little, Managing Director, Enterprise Solutions, Hays

Ningning Lyons, Chief Strategy Officer, CareSuper 

Rae Morton, Head of Group Capability Framework, Westpac Bank 

Simone Sporle, Head of Employee Experience, Global Learning and Skills, Fujitsu Ltd  

Anna Stone, Workforce Strategy and Organisational Effectiveness , Telstra

Emma Walker, Regional Manager Cisco Networking Academy ANZ & Pacific, Cisco Systems Inc  

Tiffany Wright, General Manager Customer Success, Microsoft  

Meet the Digital Taskforce

Last updated: 27 February 2026

The taskforce will address digital capability at both generalist and specialist levels, focusing on strategic direction for digital skills, AI, and cyber, with experts who understand the broader need for digital skills across the economy.

Chair: Scarlett McDermott, Managing Director, Longtitude Advisory

Sebastian Brash, Head of Policy, Tech Council of Australia (TCA)  

Gail Bray, Executive Director Digital Transformation, Victoria University

Julia Burns, General Manager Training | Chair TAFEcyber, South Metropolitan TAFE

Ben Campbell, CEO, AITD

Sarah Carney, CTO, Microsoft 

Nick Clare, General Manager, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Ernez Dhondy, Acting CEO, YLab Global  

Cathy Eracleous, Director of Workforce and People Capability, Department of Defence

Martin Frauenfelder, Director Small Business Experience, Australian Tax Office (ATO)

Jacqui Loustau, Executive Director,  Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN)

Tim Marshall, Head of Corporate Affairs, Australia Digital Inclusion Alliance (ADIA)

Terry Patriarca, Manager, VET Engagement & Implementation Service and Creative Skills Australia (SACSA)

Andrew Shea, Managing Partner, Skilled Nation  

Robert Tonkli, Chief of Staff, SDA.org.au

Carolyn Wilcockson, Head of Professional Skills and Practice Enablement, Woolworths Group

Beth Worrall, Manager, Responsible AI Network National Ai Centre (NAIC)

Meet the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Taskforces

Professionals from RTOs across each state and territory are guiding us on ways to transform and fast-track training delivery.  We will continue to review and evolve taskforce representatives. If you have feedback or questions, please contact us here.

 

Terms of Reference

Last updated: 27 February 2026

Richard Abelle, ED – Education Design and Delivery Lead, Canberra Institute of Technology

Janelle Arena, Deputy Chief Industry Engagement and Education Delivery Officer, Kangan Institute

Joshua Cameron, Executive GM – Lumify Learn

Andrew Colquhoun, Head of Department – Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)

Brian Heim, Executive Director, Education and Training, TAFE Queensland South West

Michelle Hoad, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, North Metropolitan TAFE

Ron Maxwell, CEO, VERTO

Bernadette Mills, CEO, St George & Sutherland Community College

Amy Morgan, Director – Institute Applied Technology Digital (IATD), TAFE NSW

Conor Mullan, Chief of Education, Chisholm Institute

Serryn O’Regan, CEO, Equinim College

Nick Patterson, Director of Future Technologies – RMIT University

Last updated: 27 February 2026

Nigel Blake, Educational Manager, TAFE SA

Richard Barrett, Director of Faculty – TAFE Queensland

Aleta Gilmartin, Dean, Centre for Cyber Security and Digital IT, Holmesglen

Sue Jenkins-Jones, Portfolio Director for Business and Entrepreneurship, North Metropolitan TAFE  

Elissa McKenzie, Head of Education Design & Operations, Kangan Institute 

Gena Rattan, Director, Training Services, NIT Australia    

Michelle Saward, Head of Centre, Digital, Business & Pathways, TasTAFE  

Michael Williams, CEO, Academy IT