GSEM Jobs and Skills Summit program

The GSEM Jobs and Skills Summit will be held at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren, Melbourne, on Friday 3 May 2024 from 9:00am to 4.00pm.

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Program

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Registration and Networking  

  • Participants arrive, check-in, and network  

9:00 am - 9:45 am: Opening Remarks  

  • Welcome to Country – Bunurong Land Council  

  • Welcome from MC - Noelene Duff, Chair Administrator, City of Casey  

  • Introduction to the summit's objectives and goals by Bruce Dobson – CEO, City of Knox and Chair of the GSEM Jobs and Skills Working Groups

9:45 am - 10:00 am: Plenary Session 1 – Federal vision for skills  

  • Jodie Belyea MP, Member for Dunkley, representing Minister Brendan O’Connor 

10:00 am – 10:15am Plenary Session 2 – Victorian Government perspective 

  • The Hon Natalie Hutchins MP

    Minister for Jobs and Industry

    Minister for Treaty and First Peoples

    Minister for Women

    Member for Sydenham 

10:15 am - 10:45 am: Morning Tea  

  • Participants have the opportunity to grab beverage and network

10:45am – 11:45am: Breakout Sessions (Parallel Sessions)  

Session 1: Understanding regional trends   

Topic: Exploring the skills trends and data for the region. What does the data tell us about the region? What is happening across education and industry? What further information do we need to understand the trends and demands across the region? 

Facilitators: Bruce Dobson – CEO, City of Knox with Glenn Patterson – CEO, City of Casey  

Speakers: 

  • Katrina Currie – Director of Engagement, Victorian Skills Authority 

  • Professor Duncan Bentley – Vice-Chancellor and President, Federation University

  • Cr Simon Brooks, Mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire

Session 2: Creating  Pathways 

Topic: Support professional Jobseekers with Overseas qualifications

Exploration of the issues facing overseas, professionally qualified jobseekers in their path towards employment in their chosen field. What can be done to better assist these jobseekers navigate the Australian job market?

Facilitator: Sean Teer Workforce Australia 

Presenters: 

  • Dr Karen Dunwoodie – CEO Deakin CREATE program

  • Mohita Roman – Community Engagement Manager Settlement Services International (SSI) 

  • Peter Harrison – Acting CEO AMES

 Lived experience panel 

  • Dr Adiba Babak – Previous obstetrician in Afghanistan for approximately 10 years whilst also acting in the role of Technical Advisor Afghan Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGSOG) 2015-2021.  Dr Babk is currently working on a casual basis as a bi-cultural worker and interpreter with Southern Migrant Resource Centre.  

  • Samira Salari - Ph.D. in Mycology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Samira was granted an Australian Global Talent visa in 2022 based on providing evidence of international recognition using outstanding achievements, being prominent in her field of expertise, and international publications.  

  • Pooya Almani - Lecturer in biomedical science and lecturer / Researcher, Department of Medical Parasitology from 2009-2022. Possesses a Ph.D. in Medical Parasitology and a Masters in Medical Parasitology (both qualifications are recognized by the Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) and are equivalent to the Masters degrees in Australian).  

Session 3: Planning for our future workforce  

Topic: Understanding what our future workforce needs are, understanding supply and demand in greater South East Melbourne.  

Facilitator: Sandra George OAM – South East Business Network (SEBN) 

Speakers: 

  • Dr Martin Schlegel – Principal, Chemneera Pty Ltd and Executive Chair of the ASTN – Australian Sports Technologies Network 

  • Professor Danny Samson – Department of Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne  

  • Julie Stevens – Partner Engagement & Activation Lead, Cremorne Digital Hub  

  • Jana Perera, Director Commercial and Business Development | Future Skills at Monash College

  

11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Lunch – networking  


12:45pm – 1:00pm: Mr John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition in Victoria

 

1pm - 2:00pm: Plenary Session 3 - Exploring the Future Opportunity 

Panel discussion on how the southeast can be innovative and capitalise on the emerging opportunities like the transition to net zero economy.  


Moderator: Michael Rowland, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Speakers:

  • Simon McKeon AO – GSEM Chair and Monash University Chancellor

  • Emma Dawson – Executive Director, Per Capita

  • Honi Walker – CEO, South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA)

2:00pm - 3:00 pm: Breakout Sessions (parallel sessions) 

Session 4: Manufacturing Skill Demands and Trends  – STUDIO

Topic: A deep dive into skill demands and trends in manufacturing  

Facilitator: Honi Walker – CEO, South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) 


Speakers:  

  • Todd Hartley, Managing Director, Hilton Manufacturing Pty Ltd 

  • Couteney Munn, Project Officer – Women in Manufacturing, AMWU Victorian Branch

  • Hacia Atherton, Founder & CEO, Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT)

  • Daniel Prins, Chisholm, Project Manager – Jobs Victoria Engineering Project

Session 5: Barriers to work – FUNCTION CENTRE (right hand room)

Topic: Exploring barriers to work and how we can connect with young people, women and culturally diverse communities.  

Facilitator: Kit McMahon – CEO, Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) 

Speakers:  

  • Mel Godinho Flores – Foundation Coordinator MEGT Australia ltd – lived experience of family violence and AOD 

  • Rebecca Packer – Bachelor of Social Work student – lives with a disability 

  • Nathan Carolus – Youth Adviser at Brotherhood of St Laurence 

  • Nikita Rodgers – Holmesglen student with lived experience of Autism

Session 6: Education and Industry – FUNCTION CENTRE (left hand room)

Topic: Understanding the education and skills investments needed to meet the industry demand.  

Facilitator: Andrew Simmons – CEO, South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN)

Speakers:  

  • Conor Mullan, Chief of Education, Chisholm Institute 

  • Ian Burrage - Regional Director, South Eastern Victoria Region Department of Education 

  • Professor Iven Mareels – Executive Dean of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University

  • Simon Sherlock – Principal at Hallam Secondary College and CEO of Hallam Secondary College RTO 

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Closing remarks  

  • Summary of key insights from the day and provide information on post-summit actions by Bruce Dobson – CEO, City of Knox

3:30 pm – 4.00 pm: Networking  

  • Participants can network, have tea/coffee, and engage in informal discussions

     

    4:00pm: End.  

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