Our board
Nicky Firth
Board Chair (Director, Human Aspect Pty Ltd)
Nicky has more than 25 years of leadership experience including as the Chair of our previous organisation, Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance (AUSMESA) and its predecessor the Mining Skills Organisational Pilot (MSOP). Nicky previously held the position of Vice President Human Resources Rio Tinto Iron Ore.
Vincent Cosgrove
Board Member (General Manager, Culture & External Affairs Sime Darby Industrial)
Vincent leads Sime Darby Industrial’s human resources management; talent retention, attraction and development; employee experience and external affairs across 17 countries, 11,000 employees, five Caterpillar Dealerships and various allied brands. Vincent has more than 30 years’ experience in the resources and industrial sectors. He previously held senior global leadership roles with BHP and Shell in Australia, the UK, and Singapore.
Richard Delplace
Board Member (Director Emerging Technologies, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries)
Richard oversees the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ approach to new vehicle technologies. He also represents Australian automotive manufacturers and suppliers of passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles on various matters, including vehicle safety and environmental performance. Richard has more than 20 years’ experience in deployment, operations and policy development of transport technology across public and private sectors.
Brad Gandy
Board Member (State Secretary, Australian Workers’ Union - WA Branch)
Brad has represented workers for more than two decades, working his way from the shop floor to organiser, then to secretariat. Brad believes in fairness and safety in the workplace and proudly represents the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) in Western Australia. The AWU has a strong history of representing workers across a wide range of industries for more than 135 years.
Christine Gibbs Stewart
Board Member (Chief Executive Officer, Austmine Limited)
In addition to being a valued AUSMASA board member, Christine (Chris) is the CEO of Austmine, the leading industry body representing the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector. Her organisation champions the Australian METS sector to promote the global advancement of mining innovation and technology. Chris has some 30 years of experience in international business, industry development and general management.
Matthew Hobbs
Board Member (CEO, Motor Trades Association of Australia - MTAA)
Matt is the CEO of the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA). He leads efforts to support low-emission transport and workforce development in the automotive retail industry. With senior experience at GM, Nissan, and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Matt excels in strategic planning, industry development, governance, and product strategy. He is skilled at addressing complex industry challenges and driving innovation.
John Levis
Board Member (Business Consultant and Managing Director, Australian Commercial Marketing)
John is a business consultant and Managing Director of Australian Commercial Marketing with 36 years of experience. He specialises in corporate strategy and planning and offers market research, commercial analysis, and risk management services. John has worked with diverse clients, focusing on financial services, health and wellbeing, vocational training and manufacturing in Australia and Southeast Asia. He has also held various directorships.
Tony Maher
Board Member (General President, Mining and Energy Union)
Tony Maher first started work in the resources industry in 1979 at Rio Tinto’s silver lead zinc mine in Broken Hill. Tony has been General President of the Mining and Energy Union since August 1998. Prior to that, he held various positions in the MEU’s predecessor union, the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association (FEDFA).
Sidney Marris
Board Member (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia)
Sid has over a decade of experience working with the Minerals Council of Australia and is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the organisation. 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 has lent his expertise on the AUSMASA board since 2021.
Board committees
Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
Our Finance, Audit and Risk Committee assists the Board with its responsibilities for financial management, performance reporting, risk and control frameworks, and external financial reporting responsibilities.
Sidney Marris – Chair
Christine Gibbs Stewart
Richard Delplace
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Our Nomination and Remuneration Committee monitors CEO performance, succession planning, director selection and development and provides recommendations to the Board about remuneration policy, annual salary increases and incentives paid to the AUSMASA CEO and employees.
Vincent Cosgrove – Chair
Nicky Firth
Brad Gandy
Our leadership team
Dr Gavin Lind
Chief Executive Officer
Gavin began his career as a Mining Engineer and has more than 20 years of industry experience. He established the Earth Resource Regulation branch at WorkSafe Victoria and led the Australian Government’s Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP). Gavin was also Executive Director of the Minerals Tertiary Education Council. In 2013, he was awarded the LH Martin Award for Excellence in Higher Education Leadership.
Helen Tinney
Executive Director Policy and Training Products
Helen is an experienced executive and has extensive knowledge and understanding of the VET system gathered while working in TAFE NSW and within the TAFE sector in Victoria. As Executive Director of Policy and Training Products, Helen is driven to create innovative, student-centred learning that delivers high-quality education and training programs that make a difference to learners and create an empowered workforce.
Kristian Rough
Executive Director Operations
Kristian is an Australian Legal Practitioner and has comprehensive experience in both state and federal government, as a former federal ministerial policy adviser specialising in complex policy and legislative reforms; and as a Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, establishing an integrity law enforcement agency for the Victorian Government and spearheading the state's response to COVID-19 industry challenges.
Emily Flores
Executive Director, Industry Engagement and Communications
An experienced executive with over 20 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, marketing, and communications in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, Emily leads workforce planning, industry stewardship, and communications at AUSMASA. In doing so, she is passionate about facilitating collaboration between industry and training providers, to ultimately deliver strong outcomes for learners and employers.
Our values
Our people-focused values guide our actions, and our actions guide our outcomes. We strive to create an inclusive culture that encourages honest communication, participation, and innovation while setting ambitious goals and celebrating our successes.
Work with us
Learn about our careers, contracting and consulting opportunities.
Authenticity
- We walk the talk
- We always do what we say we’ll do
- We have the courage to share our thoughts and accept the thoughts of others
- We have the safety to fully express who we are
Collaboration
- We communicate, listen and work together with a focus on a common goal
- We achieve great outcomes together
- We embrace the knowledge and expertise of others
- We seek out diverse views
Empathy
- We show care and consideration for our colleagues
- We understand that what other people feel is okay and that everyone is different and has different perspectives
- We understand our stakeholders and are considerate of them
- We create a safe and respectful environment to share ideas
Fairness
- We listen to and respect all views, treating everyone equally and acting with integrity in every situation
- We promote a positive culture and a supportive team environment, learning from the mistakes we make
- We feel safe at work, personally and professionally
- We recognise effort and show appreciation
Purpose
- We commit to achieving our goals, applying our knowledge, and delivering outcomes efficiently
- We embrace challenges to build a better future for our stakeholders
- We have a clear and shared understanding of our direction and personally align with our strategic objectives
- We know how our contribution impacts our goals
