The voice of apprentices and workers will help guide skills policy in the State, with a student and employee representative included for the first time on the NSW Skills Board.
The NSW Government has appointed eight members to the refreshed board, which is tasked with providing independent, strategic advice to the Minister about addressing critical shortages and preparing for the workforce of the future.
The new members bring with them a wide range of expertise across industry, education, vocational education and training, skills, economics and local, state and federal government.
Dr Michele Bruniges AO brings extensive experience to the position of board chair, having completed the NSW Review of Vocational Education and Training from 2023 to 2024 and more recently a review of the Jobs and Skills Australia Act for the Federal Government.
The members are:
- Chair: Dr Michele Bruniges AO, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership chair, former NSW Department of Education and Communities director-general and former federal Department of Education and Training secretary.
- Deputy Chair: Daniel Hunter, Business NSW chief executive officer.
- Employee representative: Thomas Costa, Unions NSW assistant secretary and State Super SAS Trustee Corporation board non-executive director.
- Student representative: Bridie Searle, former Australian Trainee of the Year and NSW Trainee of the Year; Thales Australia facilities assets and maintenance coordinator and training and capability coordinator.
- Member: Annabel Crookes, Laing O’Rourke Australia director of legal and risk, Australian Constructors Association president.
- Member: Justin Brooker, Woomera Group managing director.
- Member: Nicki Hutley, independent consulting economist, Climate Council councillor, Customer-Owned Banking Association chief economic advisor.
- Member: Jeff Whitton, OCTEC Limited chair, Marathon Health founding director, Yirigaa Pty Ltd and Yirigaa Pathways Limited co-founder and director.
Announced during National Skills Week, which started on August 24, the NSW Skills Board is responsible for advising the government on how to meet the skills and training needs of individuals, industry, regions and the economy through the vocational education and training system.
It provides expert, coordinated, strategic advice on workforce challenges and keeps the state’s skills system fit for purpose.
The board members started in their roles on August 1 and will focus on ensuring skills and tertiary education is innovative, adaptive and responsive to changing economic, regional and workforce needs.
The new appointments follow an extensive review of the board in late 2025 in response to the NSW Skills Plan’s advice to enhance skills and industry governance by providing expert, representative advice on emerging workforce challenges.
The review recommended that the board’s focus areas be refined and new board members appointed. These members more accurately reflect the diversity of NSW and those that take part in the vocational education and training system.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
“The best skills policies are built with the people who use the system every day, and that’s why student and employee voices will have a seat at the NSW Skills Board table for the first time.
“This refreshed board will help us deliver the skills that work, practical training that leads to jobs and a workforce that’s future-ready.
“I look forward to working with the board, which will be a voice for all stakeholders, as it continues to provide independent advice to help meet the skills and training needs of our economy, industries and communities.”
NSW Skills Board chair Michele Bruniges said:
“It’s an honour and privilege to be appointed chair of the NSW Skills Board.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues and using our expertise to advise the government on how we can better support learners, industry and the workforce.
“Strengthening the vocational education and training system and ensuring the workforce is prepared for the future is critical to driving the NSW economy forward.”
Deputy Secretary for Education and Skills Reform Jeremy Kurucz said:
“We welcome the eight members of the new NSW Skills Board, which will be responsible for providing independent, strategic advice to the government about the NSW skills system.
“It is great to see a student and employee representative join this year, ensuring that their voices are reflected in the Board’s advice to government.
“The board members have been selected through a rigorous external recruitment process and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.
“They will be part of important conversations as we invest in the people of NSW by fostering a more skilled workforce, leading to greater productivity, innovation and social inclusion.”
