About Us/old
Driving Workforce CapabilityHISTORY OF MSOP
The Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP) was born out of a 2019 Australian Government initiative led by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Skills Organisations were created to explore opportunities to strengthen engagement with the VET sector.
In partnership with the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the MSOP was created with the goal of supporting the minerals and resources industries in developing relationships with the VET sector, leading to increased engagement, and understanding of challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders.
Australia’s future workforce will be more geographically distributed and digitally connected than ever before, requiring skills that are adaptable, transferable, and applicable to future needs.
Extensive national industry consultation across 2019 and 2020 led to the MSOP forming four initial project hubs, based on the industry’s immediate need to increase both the capacity and capability of its workforce.
APPRENTICESHIPS
ATTRACTION AND RETENTION
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
QUALIFICATION REFORM TRIALS
These projects seek to improve opportunities and therefore access to long term careers in the minerals and energy sectors. This applies equally for people already working within the industry, and those in other industries who may be considering a move into the resources sectors.
The projects are testing concepts and new ways of doing things equally applicable to the energy sector.
AUSMESA
In late 2021, responsibility for the delivery of the Mining Skills Organisation Pilot moved from the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) to the stand-alone entity known as the Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance Limited (AUSMESA).
While work continues on our initial core projects, this next phase brings exciting new opportunities for us to progress important outcomes for the resources and energy sectors.
We look forward to new conversations and collaborations, new projects and progress, and we look forward to sharing this new adventure with our industry and VET partners through 2022 and beyond.
Our Mission
To build a robust, agile and sustainable workforce for Australian’s mining, resources and energy sectors.
We are creating conversation and connection across the Australian mining, energy, and resource sectors to improve the accessibility, quality and efficiency of training for these industries.
Our project hubs are developing solutions to address workforce planning challenges across the Australian resource sectors by testing new ideas that focus on building sustainable practices to meet future opportunities.
We’re supporting Vocational Education and Training providers to offer strengthened training outcomes for learners, and deliver enhanced workforce capabilities for employers.
Our initiatives will support the necessary growth needed for change by ensuring that employers in the sectors have access to workers with the right skills, at the right time.
As Australia transitions to the workforce of the future, the AUSMESA community will lead, enable, and empower establishing successful and sustainable community focused industries for generations to come.
Our Vision
Driving workforce capability for all stakeholders, now and into the future.
Goals
Identify and facilitate action to address emerging issues that impact the sector’s future workforce capacity
Facilitate initiatives that optimise attraction, entry, advancement and retention of the sector’s workforce
Ensure workforce capability development remains relevant and adapts to meet sector’s future requirements
Establish regionally relevant national standards for the sector
Build AUSMESA’s sustainability to ensure its ongoing viability
Our Core Values
At AUSMESA, we believe that our values guide our actions, and that our actions guide our outcomes.
Our values are people-focused. We strive to create an inclusive culture that encourages honest communication, participation, and innovation.
We set ambitious goals and celebrate our successes.
Leadership
Integrity
Progressive
Community
LEADERSHIP
We lead by empowering others with courage, agility, and empathy.
INTEGRITY
We act with honesty, transparency, and commitment.
PROGRESSIVE
We look forward and take strategic action that inspires confidence in others.
COMMUNITY
We enable conversation, inclusion, and connection by elevating the voices of all stakeholders.
Our People
Board Members
Nicky Firth (Chair)
Director, Human Aspect Pty Ltd
Nicky is a strategic, innovative and practically minded HR Executive with a proven track record for leading and delivering people and organisational change in complex and challenging business environments. Nicky previously held the position of Vice President Human Resources Rio Tinto iron Ore. Nicky is based in Perth.
Christine Gibbs Stewart
Chief Executive Officer, Austmine Limited
Chris is the CEO of Austmine, the leading industry body representing the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector. She has some 30 years of experience in international business, industry development and general management. Chris is based in Sydney.
Sid Marris
MCA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia
Sid has over a decade of experience working with the Minerals Council of Australia. He has held various roles in the media and public affairs, as well as an advisory role with the Office of the Prime Minister of Australia. Sid is based in Canberra.
Our People
Staff
Dr Gavin Lind
Chief Executive Officer
Gavin is an accomplished academic and minerals industry executive.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Gavin spent more than a decade in a leadership role in minerals policy and advocacy with the Minerals Council of Australia.
Gavin has worked professionally for industry, government, and academia in both South Africa and Australia.
In 2013, Gavin received the LH Martin Award for Excellence in Higher Education Leadership for his work promoting minerals education in Australia.
Gavin is based in Melbourne.
Helen Tinney
General Manager Policy & Training Products
Helen is an experienced executive and has extensive knowledge and understanding of the vocational education and training sector gathered while working in TAFE NSW and within the TAFE sector in Victoria.
Helen is driven to create innovative, student-centred learning that delivers high-quality education and training programs and products that make a difference to learners and an empowered workforce.
Sarah Owen
General Manager Operations & Member Services
Sarah Owen is an accomplished operational leader with extensive leadership and management experience in data, finance, and IT across the public and private sectors, including in large VET and Higher Education training providers.
Darrell Cox
General Manager Collaboration & Partnerships
Darrell has extensive experience in training and development working around the world in industry including mining and services organisations, and for Registered Training Providers (RTOs) as a trade teacher and as a TAFE executive.
Darrell is a member of a variety of minerals industry advisory groups nationally, is an innovator, and has been awarded for establishing and delivering training and development programs providing excellent outcomes for organisations and learners alike.
Donna Dejkovski
Manager Training Products
Donna has worked across the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), TAFEs, industry and regulators, to develop vocationally oriented training packages and related training products.
An advocate for education that leads to personal and professional fulfilment, Donna understands the impact high-quality training products play in supporting positive vocational learning outcomes.
Kathy Uhlik
Manager Organisational Development, Executive Assistant to the CEO & Board
Kathy has worked across different industries and sectors, including member associations, engineering consultancies, not-for-profit organisations, print media, government bodies and finance.
Kathy has operated at the C-Suite level for two decades supporting Chief Executives, Chairs, and Board and Managing Directors, and working closely with both state and federal governments including at the Ministerial level. Kathy is experienced in major organisational change and the facilitation of high-performing teams.
Jane Grljusich
Manager Communications & Partnerships
With an extensive career as a journalist across print, radio and television news, as well as in public relations and corporate affairs, Jane is an experienced, innovative and results-driven communications and engagement specialist.
For more than two decades Jane has worked across the country in media, in federal and state government departments including at the Ministerial level, and for a wide variety of organisations, industries and sectors, developing and delivering high-level media and communications strategy, advice and content.
Andres Lopez
Project Administrator
Andres has worked across the construction, landscaping and land management sectors; with extensive experience in projects with the ability to provide daily support to Project Managers and stakeholders.
Jo Lea
Administration Assistant
Jo is a talented young Administration Assistant with a Diploma of Media and Communications and a Certificate III in Business.
Her contributions extend across the AUSMESA team with a focus on Organisational Development and Communications and Partnerships.
Jillian Carney
Project Manager
Jillian has extensive experience in operations and project management across property, construction, engineering and not-for-profit organisations.
Over a 20-year career she has demonstrated success in strategy and implementation, client relations, policy and legislation, and project delivery.