Dr John Keniry AM

Chair of the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence Board DR Keniry, holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and is currently the Chairman of Ridley Corporation, BioSignal Limited and First Opportunity Fund Limited. In addition to numerous key positions on a number of other corporations and statutory bodies, Dr Keniry is also a past President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a past member of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.

Ms Kate Lamont

Ms Lamont has over twenty years experience in the food and wine industry and is an operating partner in the Lamont family's food and wine business in Western Australia. A successful chef and recipient of numerous awards, Kate is chair Elect of Tourism WA, sits on WA's Skills Formation Taskforce and is Western Australia's representative on the National Wine Tourism Alliance.

Mr Colin Johnsen

Mr Johnsen is the Managing Director of Sydney based FJP Manufacturing Pty Ltd and Director of F.J. Precision Pty Ltd founded by his father in 1961. Colin also sits on various boards as director of several other privately owned businesses in Australia. With a passion for the Sheet metal industry Colin has sat as president of the Sheet metal Industry Association (SIA) from 2000 to 2006, with the emphasis of raising the image of the Sheet metal industry within schools and Government. He has been the chairperson of the Sutherland Business Education Network (Sutherland BEN) since 2003, remaining an advocate for the Sheet metal industry.

Mr Mark Finlay

Mr Finlay is from Wollongong in New South Wales, is head of the business unit of Joy Manufacturing Company (JMC) in Australasia. In his capacity as Managing Director, he is an active member of the Global Executive Policy Committee for Joy Mining Machinery, Chair for the Illawarra and Southern Highlands of NSW industry employer forum (Australian Industry Group), regional representative to the Group's State Steering Committee and industry representative to the Wollongong Economic Development Reference group.

Mr Sam DeLorenzo

Mr Sam DeLorenzo has an extensive background at executive level in building and civil engineering works. He is currently Managing Director of Delorco Pty Ltd, a Building and Construction Management Consultancy and was a founding partner and director of Iqon Pty Ltd from 1986 to 2007. He has also served as Chair of the Commercial Council Master Builders’ Association of the ACT since 1999, is Co-Chair of the NISI Building and Construction Industry Task Force on Training Pathways Building and Construction 2005 and a Board Member of MBA ACT Group Training.

Mr Russell Stuckey

Mr Stuckey joined the family business in 1969 and is now the General Manager of Stuckey Tyre Service, a widely respected Australian authority on racing tyres. He has served as Chairman of the Victorian Tyre Dealers Executive Committee and as President of the ATDRA. In 2002, Russell was elected president of VACC, Victoria's premier automotive industry body representing over 4500 small and medium sized businesses in the motor trade.

Mr Chris Bayliss

Mr Bayliss is the Managing Director of Brevini Australia Pty Ltd, an engineering company producing a complete range of power transmission systems for material handling projects such as conveyors and mineral processing plants throughout Australia, focusing in the mining industry. Chris is currently a director of Australian Business Limited, the State Chamber of Commerce and on the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) advisory panel for the Australian government, and the Science Foundation of Sydney University.

Mr Duncan Fraser

Mr Fraser owns and manages a family pastoral and irrigation property producing wool, sheepmeat, rice and wheat in the Western Riverina of New South Wales. Duncan Fraser is Chair of the National Farmers' Federation Workplace Relations Committee, member of the New South Wales Farmers' Association Executive Council, an active member of the Hay Regional Rural Counselling Service and holds elected positions in a range of agriculture organisations. He was also a member of the Murrimbidgee College of Agriculture Advisory Council till its recent disbandment and is the Vice President and Board Member of the ShearOutback Museum in Hay.

Mr Lester Davis, Manager – Organisational Development and Training

Lester was born and raised in a small farming community in the Mallee District of Victoria.  He was educated at the local Primary and High School gaining a basic but sound education.  He represented his school, community and district in a variety of sports.
Lester has a varied background comprising service in the Postmaster Generals Department as a technician, a Policeman in two Police Forces in both uniform and detectives, the Army Reserve as soldier and officer.  He has been a commander in the Bush Fire Services of NSW commanding large combined fighting forces in some of that states most disastrous fires and other emergencies.
Lester has worked in the Steel, Coal, Iron Ore and  Gold industries through out Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.  He has served on four national and state ITAB’s, two employment advisory bodies and the NR&M Board of Examiners at the State and Federal level.
Lester has held Management roles in Training Development where he had a corporate responsibility for the development of the knowledge and skills necessary to keep that organisation at the leading edge of its varied operations in Mining, Construction, Rail Maintenance, Water, Environmental and Process Engineering.  As part of that role he established an RTO, which was the first of its kind in Australia.
He is regularly sort after as a speaker in a wide range of forums and has presented papers at National and International Management and Education / Training conferences.  He holds a Masters Degree in Education and is co editing a book on developing capable organizations.
He is the Managing Director of his own organisation, called Help at Hand HR Solutions.  In this role he developed a solid client base in Mining, Construction, Waste Management, Government and Academe.  He provided custom-built training and development solutions, assessment processes, development & management coaching, recruitment and training services.
In March of this year he accepted the newly created position of Manager – Organisational Development and Training with Fortescue Metals Group.  He is currently a Director of the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence and Chairman of the Resource Industry Reference Group.

Mr Neville Palmer

Mr Palmer has successfully developed and operated Gordyn and Palmer, a manufacturing business specializing in industrial automation products, for 26 years, while maintaining a strong interest in the development of the electrical industry in Australia. Neville supports the work of the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) through various Board and committee positions.

Mr Michael Grogan

Mr Grogan is the CEO of Sutton Tools Pty Ltd an Engineering Manufacturer producing and exporting a full range of Cutting Tools out of its three Australian offices (Maryborough, Hamilton and Thomastown) as well as one facility in New Zealand. Michael is also a Director of MSA (Manufacturing Industry Skills Council) and is Chair of the Inner Northern LLEN (Local Learning and Employment Network). Michael Chairs the Reference Group and is a member of the Executive Committee of Ntec, which is a centre of excellence for the delivery of VET in schools in the North (attached to Northland Secondary College). Michael is a Toolmaker by trade and spent a number of years teaching part time in the New Zealand TAFE system.