Board Of Directors
Chair of WorldSkills Australia
Jeanette Allen - Chief Executive Officer, Service Industry Skills
Jeanette Allen was appointed Chair of the WorldSkills Australia in May 2007 and has been a Director of WorldSkills since 2005. Jeanette is also a Director of DataMaster Australia Pty Ltd.
She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Service Industry Skills Council (2004), responsible for managing and developing training packages and support materials for service and client industries. Jeanette is taking a leadership role in the development of international recognition of a range of vocational qualifications with a number of countries and has achieved international benchmarking of National Qualifications with South Africa, United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and the USA.
Jeanette commenced her working life as a hairdresser and remained in the industry for 22 years. Following the sale of her businesses, Jeanette commenced working as a teacher and continued in a number of roles in TAFE over the next 11 years. Jeanette moved to the private sector in 1998 following her appointment as Executive Director of the Wholesale Retail and Personal Services Industry Training Council in 2004. With the merging of 3 industry training councils, Jeanette was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Services Industries Skills Council.
Jeanette holds a Master of Education (Curriculum Development), a Bachelor of Education (Curriculum Leadership), a Diploma of Teaching (TAFE) and a Certificate in Hairdressing (Sydney Technical College).
Deputy Chair of WorldSkills Australia
Jim Barron - Chief Executive Officer, Group Training Australia
Jim Barron was appointed as Director of WorldSkills Australia in 2002 and elected Deputy Chair in November 2004. Jim is also Chief Executive Officer of Group Training Australia.
Prior to taking his role at GTA in November 2001, Jim Barron spent 14 years in federal politics. Jim held a number of senior positions within the Howard Government, notably Chief of Staff to Dr David Kemp for nearly 4 years; and Chief of Staff to Ministers Ellison and Moylan and State Director of the Queensland Liberal Party from 1994-96.
Jim brings to WorldSkills a wealth of knowledge and experience in the political and social policy areas and a valuable perspective from both sides of the fence.
Directors
Rex Hewett - Director, Business Services Training Australia
Rex Hewett is a qualified electrician, former TAFE teacher and national union official. He has an Economics Degree and Diploma in Education from Sydney University and an Electrical Trades certificate. Rex Hewett has held various positions in the education and training sector at state, national and international levels.
Rex Hewett is currently working as NSW Teacher Federation Industrial Officer and Superannuation Consultant.
Martin Baird - Managing Director of Cap Coatings Pty Ltd
Martin Baird is the Managing Director of Cap Coatings Pty Ltd - a supplier of passive fire protection products. He is a Certified Practicing Accountant, Chartered Company Secretary and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Martin is also a State Councilor of Chartered Secretaries Australia.
Prior to joining Cap Coatings and becoming a WorldSkills board member; he served as an independent member of the WSA Finance and Audit Committee and held senior roles in large private sector and publicly listed companies.
Sharan Burrow- President Australian Council of Trade Unions
Sharan Burrow was appointed as a Director of WorldSkills Australia in 2008.
In May 2000, Sharan Burrow became the second woman to be elected President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). In November 2006, Sharan was elected President of the newly-formed global union body, the International Trade Union Confederation. The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 154 countries and territories and has 307 national affiliates.
Sharan studied at the University of NSW in 1976 and began her teaching career in high schools around country NSW. She became an organiser for the NSW Teachers' Federation, based in Bathurst, and was President of the Bathurst Trades and Labour Council during the 1980s.
Sharan was elected Senior Vice-President of the NSW Teachers' Federation and became President of the Australian Education Union (AEU) in 1992. She represented the AEU on the ACTU Executive through the 1990s. Sharan was previously Vice-President of Education International from 1995 to 2000. Education International is the international organisation of education unions representing 24 million members worldwide.
Steve Ghost - Managing Director, Steve Ghost & Associates
Steve Ghost is the director of Steve Ghost & Associates a boutique consultancy specialising in education and training solutions both in australia and overseas. Current client include ExxonMobil's LNG projects, TAFE, a number of designers and builders constructing Trade Training Centres in Schools and AusAID.
He is also a director of the Motor Trades Association Queensland.
Steve Ghost was previously the Managing Director of SkillsTech Australia and led the establishment of a significant investment program to develop state-of-the-art training facilities in Brisbane and the regions.
Steve Ghost has previously had senior leadership roles within the education and training industry including Director, Yeronga Institute of TAFE and General Manager, Education and Training for the Australian Industry Group. He is a member of a number of national and state boards and committees.
Kevin Harris - Board Member, TAFE Directors Australia
Kevin Harris was appointed Director of WorldSkills Australia in August 2007. He is currently a board member of TAFE Directors Australia and the Institute Director of TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute. He is a member of numerous industry association advisory and management committees including the Australian Information Industries Association of NSW and the Australia Electrical and Electronics Manufactures' Association.
Kevin's diverse career has included roles as a Supervising Project Engineer with Honeywell Australia and various leadership roles in vocational education and training. Following a degree in Mathematics and Physics from Macquarie University, Kevin completed an Electronics Trade Certificate.
Mary Hicks - Director, Education and Training, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Mary Hicks is the Director of Employment, Education and Training for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). In this position Ms Hicks plays a catalytic role in consulting with ACCI business and industry member organisations to develop employment, education and training policy and in representing ACCI views with stakeholders. She provides leadership and support to ACCI member organisations in this process.
Previously Ms Hicks was a senior secondary school teacher and has also worked in Government and business. Ms Hicks has extensive community experience including work with the Alliance Française. She was awarded the National Order of Merit by the President of France for her services to the study of French in 2005.
Ms Hicks has a well-rounded background and an extensive knowledge of the needs of business and industry. She is committed to and passionate about achieving quality outcomes in employment, education and training for the benefit of the Australian community. She is a member of the National Quality Council of the Ministerial Council on Vocational and Technical Education and the Board of World Skills Australia.
Doug Wright - Consultant, Australian Industry Group
Doug Wright was appointed as a Director of WorldSkills Australia in 2009. He is currently working part-time at the Australian Industry Group. Doug has studied at the University of Sydney and Deakin University where he attained a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts.
Doug is also involved as a Director on several other boards and committees including Hunter Valley Training Company, Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board and the TAFE Commission Board.
Aside from his role as a Board Director at various institutions, Doug is a member of the Governing Council of TAFE Higher Education, Construction Industry Long Service Payment Corporation Appeals Commission and the Commonwealth Study Conferences (Australia) Incorporated.
Brian Wexham - Chief Executive Officer, SkillsOne
Brian Wexham was appointed Director of WorldSkills Australia in October 2002. He is currently a director of Life Media Group and the Executive Publishing Network. Brian Wexham was appointed CEO for the Institute of Trade Skills Excellence (ITSE) in 2006.
Brian Wexham holds several non-executive board positions which include Creative Communications, The Rock Eisteddfod Foundation, the New Zealand Stage Challenge (Chairman) and the Be Your Best Foundation, South Africa.
Brian Wexham has an extensive background in media and advertising spanning over 30 years. He spent 10 years in London with The Times and Sunday Times in various executive roles. In 1986 he joined The Observer as a director and was also on the main board of The Today newspaper. He is the author of several books including Shipwrecks and author of an international cartoon strip. Brian has had international success involving major publishing companies including National Press, South Africa and the International Thompson Organisation. He is the former Chief Executive of Lonrho Media Group PLC East Africa and more recently he was the Chief Executive of APN Educational Media (Australia and New Zealand).
Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills Australia
Mark Callaghan
Mark Callaghan joined WorldSkills Australia (WSA) in October 2005 and was appointed CEO in November 2006.
Mark is committed to continually improving all aspects of WSA's core business - the competition process - to ensure that the WorldSkills Australia programs continue to be an essential element of skill development and contribute to Australia's economic growth through recognition and promotion of world class skills.
Prior to WSA, Mark had extensive experience in operations and project management and major event operations - including Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Mark has a Bachelor of Construction Management and has 10 years experience as a construction project manager.