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SkillsEQuipped is a not-for-profit, industry-led Jobs and Skills Council representing the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality sectors.
As one of the largest Jobs & Skills Councils (JSC) , we collectively represent customer experience industries which are essential drivers of Australia’s economic, employment, social development and wellbeing. Our focus is on bringing together business and industry leaders to identify and address current labour and skills shortages, as well as building skills for the future.
Taking a tripartite approach, we collaborate with a broad range of industry stakeholders, government, and education and training providers to identify, forecast and respond to the current and emerging workforce and skills needs of our unique sectors.
SkillsEQuipped provides industry with a stronger, more strategic voice in shaping the skills of the future. We do this by focussing on the following four key responsibilities:
Workforce Planning
Addressing workforce challenges through strategies to identify, forecast and respond to skills needs across a range of educational pathways including VET and higher education.
Training Product Development
Improving the quality, speed to market and responsiveness of training products.
Implementation, Promotion & Monitoring
Ensuring training delivery meets employer needs, career pathways are mapped and promoted, and that the impact of delivery is monitored.
Industry Stewardship
Acting as a source of intelligence on issues affecting industries and provide advice on VET system policies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose.
Find out more about What We Do
Formed and supported by the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations (DEWR), the Jobs & Skills Councils (JSC) have been created to provide industry with a stronger, more strategic voice in ensuring Australia’s VET sector delivers stronger outcomes for learners and employers.
As a national network of industry-owned and industry-led organisations, Jobs & Skills Councils provide strategic leadership in addressing skills and workforce challenges, aligning efforts across industries to improver system responsiveness, build stakeholder confidence and drive high-quality outcomes for the VET sector, learners and business.
Gary Mortimer is a Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at the Queensland University of Technology.
Prior to joining QUT Professor Mortimer spent over 25 years working with some of Australia’s largest retailers. Professor Mortimer was previously the Chair of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Consumer Research Advisory Committee. As an active researcher, he currently sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and International Journal of Bank Marketing.
Gerard Dwyer is the National Secretary-Treasurer of the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association.
Gerard has been the Secretary-Treasurer of the SDA-NSW Branch (2005-2014), National President of the Union (2008-2014) and SDA National Secretary since 2014. Gerard is currently Senior Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), a member of the ACTU Executive and a member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party.
Paula brings 25 years’ experience in Human Resources with 15 years in senior leadership roles in ASX companies covering the Retail, Property, and FMCG sectors.
Paula has a proven track record of adopting a commercial and pragmatic approach to developing learning and development solutions and advancing people and organisational capability. Paula is tertiary qualified in adult education and psychology and has GAICD Accreditation.
Paula brings 25 years’ experience in Human Resources with 15 years in senior leadership roles in ASX companies covering the Retail, Property, and FMCG sectors.
Paula has a proven track record of adopting a commercial and pragmatic approach to developing learning and development solutions and advancing people and organisational capability. Paula is tertiary qualified in adult education and psychology and has GAICD Accreditation.
Margy Osmond is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum, assuming the role on 1 October 2014.
Margy has extensive experience in policy development and advocacy, politics, membership organisations, management, media and public relations. She is a passionate advocate for the tourism and transport sectors and their importance to Australia’s visitor economy.
Before joining TTF, Margy was the inaugural CEO of ANRA which was established in 2006 as a lobby and research organisation to be the voice of the large national retailers in Australia. Prior to this, Margy was the CEO of the State and Sydney Chambers of Commerce in NSW for five years.
Margy Osmond is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum, assuming the role on 1 October 2014.
Margy has extensive experience in policy development and advocacy, politics, membership organisations, management, media and public relations. She is a passionate advocate for the tourism and transport sectors and their importance to Australia’s visitor economy.
Before joining TTF, Margy was the inaugural CEO of ANRA which was established in 2006 as a lobby and research organisation to be the voice of the large national retailers in Australia. Prior to this, Margy was the CEO of the State and Sydney Chambers of Commerce in NSW for five years.
Robert Tonkli is currently the Director of Mission and Operations at the National Catholic Education Commission.
A solicitor with a background in education and employment relations, he was previously the Assistant Secretary of the New South Wales Branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (the SDA). Robert’s experience includes more than a decade of active participation in NSW WRAPS, the industry advisory training body for retail, wholesale, floristry, hairdressing, and beauty.
Stacey Schinnerl is the Queensland Branch Secretary of The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).
Robert Tonkli is currently the Director of Mission and Operations at the National Catholic Education Commission.
A solicitor with a background in education and employment relations, he was previously the Assistant Secretary of the New South Wales Branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (the SDA). Robert’s experience includes more than a decade of active participation in NSW WRAPS, the industry advisory training body for retail, wholesale, floristry, hairdressing, and beauty.
Stacey Schinnerl is the Queensland Branch Secretary of The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).
Natalie is a passionate leader dedicated to workforce development who started her career as a Trainer at a Hospitality training company in the mid 90’s.
Since then, she’s had 27 years’ experience leading both commercial and not-for-profit organisations in the delivery of government funded Employment, Education and workforce development programs across Australia.
Natalie has experience in various CEO, Chair, Non-Executive Director, Advisory Board Member, Councillor and Government Policy Advisory roles, and Natalie advocates and advises on future focused productivity and workforce development needs across a range of industries.
Natalie’s most recent roles were as Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Page, delivering employment, education, community, Indigenous, family and youth services, Labour Hire and Environmental Social Enterprise from 80 locations across Australia, and as a Board Member of National Employment Services Association.
She is currently Chair of Australian Racing Drivers Club/Sydney Motorsport Park, Board member of Hydrogen House Australia, a State Councillor for Business NSW and Global Advisory Panel Member for Institute on Science for Global Policy – Hydrogen workforce development planning.
In her spare time, Natalie enjoys kayaking, camping and riding her motorcycle, and racing at Sydney Motorsport Park and Mt Panorama in her Datsun 280z V8 Race car and Triumph Daytona track bike.
With over 15 years’ experience in the for-profit and not-for-profit Vocational Education and Training Sector, Aaron has successfully led registered training organisations across various industry sectors.
Kay is an accomplished Marketing Communications Executive with over 20 years’ experience in marketing, communications and community relations within both the commercial and not-for-profit sector.
Working across a wide range of sectors including employment services, education and training, disability services, NDIS, hospital and health, aged care, and family and community services to name but a few, Kay excels at creating marketing and communications strategies that cut through the noise and position brands strategically and successfully in their markets.
Lisa Lillis is an executive leader with over 20 years of experience in senior roles across Training Services, Employment, and Community Programs in both the Public and Private sectors.
She is deeply committed to creating positive change in employment and education outcomes for industries which stems from her extensive knowledge and expertise acquired during her tenure at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and as a leader of an RTO. Lisa’s active participation in multiple Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce Groups for the Federal Government Local Jobs Program has allowed her to drive industry-focused solutions and achieve streamlined employment and education outcomes for industry stakeholders.
Nikki Kelso has 20 years’ senior leadership experience in the for-purpose sector, across all aspects of operations, organisational development and governance.
Nikki has brought her expertise to diverse areas including industry associations, migrants and refugees, and social justice areas. She has extensive voluntary and Board experience on community and human services non-profit Boards, and a passion for supporting growth of organisations contributing to a better society.
Nikki Kelso has 20 years’ senior leadership experience in the for-purpose sector, across all aspects of operations, organisational development and governance.
Nikki has brought her expertise to diverse areas including industry associations, migrants and refugees, and social justice areas. She has extensive voluntary and Board experience on community and human services non-profit Boards, and a passion for supporting growth of organisations contributing to a better society.
Lisa Lillis is an executive leader with over 20 years of experience in senior roles across Training Services, Employment, and Community Programs in both the Public and Private sectors.
She is deeply committed to creating positive change in employment and education outcomes for industries which stems from her extensive knowledge and expertise acquired during her tenure at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and as a leader of an RTO. Lisa’s active participation in multiple Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce Groups for the Federal Government Local Jobs Program has allowed her to drive industry-focused solutions and achieve streamlined employment and education outcomes for industry stakeholders.
SkillsEQuipped is a Jobs and Skills Council funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
SkillsEQuipped acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and the children of today who are the Elders of the future.
SkillsEQuipped is a Jobs and Skills Council funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
SkillsEQuipped acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their elders past and present, and the children of today who are the Elders of the future.