Membership

The NSW Skills Board is chaired by Steven Worrall, who has extensive knowledge and experience in the technology industry in leadership roles.

Members of the NSW Skills Board are appointed by the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and NSW Cabinet. They have been selected for their sound knowledge of skills and higher education, high-level experience of market operations, and strong understanding of financial, risk and project management.

The current members of the Board are:

• Mr Steven Worrall, Chair, Managing Director – Microsoft Australia
• Ms Robyn Delander, CEO of Health & Safety Advisory Service Pty Ltd.
  
• Ms Jillian Kilby, CEO – The Infrastructure Collaborative
• Mr Alan Lipman – CEO of Romar Engineering
• Ms Annabel Crookes – Executive Board member at Laing O’Rourke Australia
• Mr Arnie Selvarajah – Chartered Accountant, CEO and Executive Director of Bell Direct
• Mr Jordan O’Reilly – CEO and Co-founder of Hireup

Functions

The NSW Skills Board advises the NSW Government on how best to meet the skills and training needs of NSW individuals, industry, regions and the economy. The Board provides independent, high level, strategic advice on the vocational education and training system in NSW.

The functions of the Board, as set out under section 6 of the Skills Board Act 2013 include:

• to provide the Minister with an independent, strategic perspective on the vocational education and training system in New South Wales
• to oversee major reform of the vocational education and training system in New South Wales and its implementation, including reform that maintains the TAFE Commission as the major provider of vocational education and training, accessible across New South Wales
• to monitor and advise the Minister on the performance of the vocational education and training system in New South Wales, including financial performance, fiscal sustainability, levels of training activity and the achievement of State priorities
• to advise the Minister on the allocation of State and Commonwealth vocational education and training funding and the New South Wales vocational education and training budget
• to collect and analyse labour market intelligence, in particular, intelligence on skills shortages and future skills and workforce development needs in New South Wales
• to coordinate the development of strategic skills plans that reflect the priorities and directions of the New South Wales Government regarding vocational education and training
• to oversee quality assurance in the vocational education and training system in New South Wales
• to ensure the availability of accurate consumer information on vocational education and training in New South Wales and appropriate consumer protections
• to commission and conduct inquiries and research into any matter relevant to the functions of the Board
• to advise on strategies for more effective educational pathways between secondary school, vocational training and higher education in New South Wales
• to consult widely with reference groups and other representative bodies and persons in the vocational education and training industry.

Industry engagement

The NSW Skills Board engages with industry to identify issues, concerns and solutions for vocational education and skills needs in NSW. The Board's Industry Engagement Plan outlines a multi-streamed approach to listening to and working with employers and businesses across NSW to provide industry-informed advice to the Minister.

In 2022, industry working groups were established inviting representatives from different industry sectors to collaborate with government to address current and projected workforce shortages, and emerging issues relating to skills training and development.

The first two industry working groups focused on the digital/tech industry and the construction workforce. In early 2023, the Board will convene an aged care and disability support industry working group.

Learn about the work of the NSW Skills Board Digital Industry Working Groups.

Contact us

NSW Skills Board Secretariat

Email: NSWSkillsBoard.Secretariat@det.nsw.edu.au

Address: GPO Box 33, Sydney NSW 2001