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.
Kim Prior
Board Member (Chief Executive Officer, Australia-Latin America Business Council)
Kim has held executive and board positions in major mining projects, and is deeply involved in supporting women in STEM and in international workforce development. This is exemplified by her leadership at the Australia-Latin America Business Council. Kim’s expertise in strategy, governance, stakeholder engagement and workforce diversity will be instrumental in helping AUSMASA lead inclusive, global and future-facing workforce solutions.
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.
Jeff Miller
Board Member (Chief Executive Officer, Australian Drilling Industry Association)
Jeff brings more than a decade of leadership experience in the civil construction and drilling industries. Jeff’s experience spans working with not-for-profits, statutory authorities and industry associations to strengthen training systems and employment outcomes. Jeff brings to the Board deep operational and governance capability, a strong grasp of financial oversight, and a commitment to improving workforce pathways in critical sectors like construction, infrastructure and resources.
Matthew Hobbs
Board Member
Matt Hobbs previously served as CEO of the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), where he played a key role during the Australian Government’s development of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. He brings extensive experience across the automotive and aviation sectors, having held senior executive roles with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, GM Holden, and internationally with General Motors, Nissan Motors and Tiger Airways.
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.
Paul Baxter
Board Member (National Skills and Training Coordinator, Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union)
As National Skills and Training Coordinator, Paul has more than 10 years’ experience representing AMWU on regulatory, training advisory and training package development bodies. With various trade and post-trade industry qualifications, Paul brings a deep understanding of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training sector, assessment, governance and compliance.
Stephen Smyth
Board Member (National Vice President, Mining and Energy Union)
Stephen Smyth has over 30 years of experience in coal mining and surface operations. As a former Mining and Energy Union leader, he improved safety standards and played a pivotal role in addressing the re-emergence of black lung disease in Queensland. His expert testimony in investigations and global advocacy have significantly impacted mineworker safety, ensuring worker welfare remains a top priority for mining companies worldwide.
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.
John Levis
Kim Prior
Jeff Miller
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
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.
Matthew Beachcroft
Executive Director, Workforce Intelligence and Delivery
Matthew has more than 20 years of experience leading data, analytics, and research functions across the engineering, automotive, banking, and health insurance sectors. In strategic roles with Toyota and Engineers Australia, he developed data strategies, research programs and AI solutions to drive workforce intelligence, organisational transformation, and customer experience.
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.
Dr Imogen Garcia Reid
Executive Director, Industry Partnerships and Stewardship
Imogen has more than 20 years of experience in industry policy, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement across government and business sectors. She has held senior roles in trade, education, and international affairs. Imogen holds a PhD in Business and Economics from Monash University and King’s College London, and passionately advocates for gender inclusion.
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
