Our board has responsibility for the overall management and strategic development of the organisation. The values of the board reflect those of the organisation: people focused, quality and excellence and innovation. In line with these values, the organisation’s code of conduct guides the actions and decisions of the board.
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Commercial Law and Information Management Systems), Member Institute of Chartered Accountants
Steven commenced on the Board in February 2017. He is a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, Strategic Issues & Innovation Committee and Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
Steven has a background in financial management, corporate services and governance. He is General Manager People and Business Services at Wannon Water and is an active member of the Corporation’s Executive team.
Steven is Wannon Water’s Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for leading the financial, people, safety, risk, and internal audit functions of the Corporation. Steven is Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of the Warrnambool Racing Club, holding those offices since 2016 and 2009 respectively. He is a previous Board Member of the South West Academy of Sport.
Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Certificate A Teaching (4thYear)
Brian commenced on the Board in December 2017. He is a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, Infrastructure Committee and Strategic Issues Committee.
Brian has a wealth of experience in education and local government. His teaching experiences involved one teacher primary to inner suburban Melbourne schools. He was responsible for an alternative school program in Colac for 7 years, and was seconded to introduce VCAL into Colac secondary schools in 2005. Brian served on Colac Otway Shire for over 15 years including two terms as Mayor in 2009 and 2011.
His interests include football, cricket, horse racing and politics.
Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), Honours (Communication)
Kirsten commenced on the board in January 2021. She is a member of the Strategic Issues & Innovation Committee and the Nominations & Remuneration Committee. Kirsten brings 15 years of experience in Communication, having previously worked as a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as well as in marketing, content creation and public relations for various companies and organisations.
Kirsten also teaches journalism at Deakin University, including as a mentor for cadet journalists t regional newspapers. She is passionate about rural and regional Australia; living on a mixed farm in south-west Victoria and being involved in a dairy business.
Kirsten is also President of the Woodhouse-Nareeb Hall.
Kirsten is currently completing the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
PhD, MBA, Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
Eva is an organisational ethics and governance expert who has been researching, educating and advising on ethics and governance for over two decades. She has worked in the public, private and not for profit sectors and held executive roles in Australian and European universities.
She is the Deputy President of the Professional Standards Division of the Police Registration and Services Board, a Board Member of Language Loop and a member of academic journal editorial boards.
Eva commenced on the board in January 2021 and is a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
Kerry Nelson has been on the South West TAFE Board since July 2022. Kerry is a member of the Strategic Issues & Innovation Committee and the Nominations & Remuneration Committee.
Kerry has management and governance qualifications, including over 30 years of executive leadership roles in the Community sector in Southwest local government, health and not-for-profit organisations. Kerry has 16 years of Director experience in public & not for profit sectors including disability, aged care and health industries.
For 12 years Kerry was on the Victorian state committee member National Disability Services (NDS) peak body, Chair at Lyndoch Living between 2015 and 2020 and the Clinical Governance sub-committee from 2019 to current. Kerry was an invited member to the Skills Commissioners Round Table on skills demand in the southwest in 2019. Kerry chaired the Project Control Group of the Regional Partnership ‘Great South Coast Regional Disability Sector Needs Analysis and Action Plan’ between 2020-21. The Project saw the collaboration of several agencies including South West TAFE and Deakin University, maximising the impact of the recommendations of the Round Table.
Kerry was the CEO of Mpower, a not-for-profit Non-Government Organisation, providing disability, family and carer services in Warrnambool and the Southwest, overseeing sustainable and targeted growth of the organisation between 2001-2021. Kerry has strong leadership, change management, finance and business management, and corporate governance skills.
Kerry is a Member and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Aged Services Management and Diploma Welfare.
Post Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing, National Diploma Forestry (South Africa), Certificate III in Public Participation - IAP2® (Australasia)
Roland commenced on the board in January 2023. He is a member of the audit, risk and compliance committee and strategic issues and innovation committee. Roland brings 25 years of experience in forestry, commercial business management and stakeholder engagement.
Roland is the general manager at South West Fibre, responsible for the strategic and operational management of the business. He is also an executive member of the committee for Portland (since 2014) and an active committee member of the Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards.
Tiana commenced on the South West TAFE board in October 2023 and is a member of the Strategic Issues and Innovation Committee and the Infrastructure Committee.
Tiana has a range of experience working in education and youth services as well previously working in community journalism. Tiana works for the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network as a Pathways Broker working with secondary students across the region to explore career opportunities and build aspirations for post-secondary employment and training.
Tiana brings expertise from the youth and community sector, where she also volunteers with Live4Life Glenelg as Youth Mental Health First Aid licensed facilitator.
Chris commenced on the South West TAFE board in July 2019 for a three-year term as the staff-elected director and was reappointed to the role in April 2023.
Chris is a co-ordinator, trainer and assessor of auspicing to several secondary schools in the region, VETDSS in building and construction, pre-apprentices, apprentices and Certificate IV to qualified tradespeople who want to become registered builders.
Day-to-day management of the organisation continued to be delegated to the CEO and the Executive Team. The CEO and the Executive Team operate under a reporting and accountability framework.
Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Diploma of Frontline Management, Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
Mark has been the CEO of South West TAFE since early 2015. Mark initially joined the organisation as Finance Manager in 2003. He was appointed to the role of Executive Manager of Corporate Services in 2005, incorporating the role of Chief Finance Officer and appointed as the organisation Board Secretary in 2013.
As CEO, Mark is responsible for implementing the strategic direction of the organisation and ensuring efficiency across the organisation to meet the requirements of Government, enterprises and individuals.
Prior to joining South West TAFE, Mark gained experience as a financial manager in a range of sectors in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Mark is the Chair of the South West Local Learning and Employment Network and represents South West TAFE on several other like-minded community Boards.
Bachelor of Training and Development, Program, Diploma of Management, Diploma of VET, Certificate IV in TAE, Certificate IV in Wool Classing, Graduate of the Australian Women’s Business Program, Graduate of the Marcus Oldham Leadership Program.
Louise Commenced as Executive Manager for Education in June 2019, bringing 16 years of experience from the VET-sector and Higher Education. Louise is very passionate about providing pathways of opportunities for young people through Vocational Training to gain employment outcomes.
Louise’s portfolio includes VCAL, Foundation Skills, and teaching areas of Business, Design, Personal Services, Health and Community Services.
Masters of Education, Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Teaching
Susan commenced with South West TAFE in 1998 and began the role of Executive Manager of Student Experience in December 2022. Susan began her career at SWTAFE as a teacher and has held a Management position for the past 10 years including the Schools, Jobs and Pathways portfolio. Susan has experience managing large industry projects and is passionate about providing educational opportunities for her local community.
Susan’s portfolio includes the management of the Portland, Hamilton and Colac campuses and is responsible for Student Enquiries and Enrolment, Student Engagement and Support, Reconnect, Apprenticeship support and Disability support teams. The portfolio is accountable for the end-to-end student lifecycle from student recruitment, school engagement, enrolment and pathway to employment. It has a strong student focus that aligns with industry needs and community expectations.
