The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) has appointed members for its Strategic Workforce Advisory Panels (SWAPs) for the next 2-year term.

SWAPs play a crucial role in providing key industry insights to help guide AUSMASA’s workforce planning, industry stewardship and initiatives to develop Industry-relevant training products.

AUSMASA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gavin Lind, said AUSMASA had been overwhelmed by expressions of interest from individuals across the mining and automotive industries seeking to contribute.

“It’s gratifying to see such a strong endorsement of AUSMASA’s work from our important stakeholders, and a desire to shape the future workforce and skills required in the mining and automotive industries,” Dr Lind said.

AUSMASA has appointed members for its automotive and mining SWAPs, consisting of representatives from across Australia from each sector, including employers, unions, industry associations and training providers.

In addition to shaping updates to our training products, SWAP members engage and consult with AUSMASA on workforce matters affecting the mining and automotive industries and help guide monthly industry research bulletins.

“By actively involving industry representatives in our SWAPs, our training products can be more flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of employers. Industry involvement also ensures learners are entering the industry with more relevant and future-ready skills,” Dr Lind said.

The mining and automotive SWAPs each consist of 16 members, whose 2-year term starts on Monday 1 December 2025.

AUSMASA wishes the incoming and continuing SWAP members the best for the upcoming term and thanks outgoing 2024–25 SWAP members for their ongoing support and insights.

2026–27 Automotive SWAP members: (click to view LinkedIn)

• Adrian Lea, Curriculum Maintenance Manager, Box Hill Institute
  
  
• Anthony Bonaccorso, Training Manager – Automotive & Engineering, Major Training Group
  
  
• Brian Savage, Deputy CEO, Australian Automotive Dealer Association  
  
  
• Bruce McIntosh, State Manager, Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• Chris Missen, Manager – Service Training, Toyota Australia
  
  
• Dean Moule, National Technical Manager, Bus Industry Confederation
  
  
• Debbie Joyce, Executive Officer, Automotive Training Board NSW
  
  
• Frank Gili, CEO, Construction & Mining Equipment Industry Group
  
  
• Jason Trewin, Chief Executive Officer, I-CAR Australia
  
  
• Jodi Ryan, General Manager of Apprenticeships, MTA SA/NT
  
  
• Kate Pemberton, National Apprentice Development Manager, Komatsu Australia
  
  
• Lesley Yates, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association
  
  
• Melissa Mangano, National Employee Relationship Manager, United Forklift and Access Solutions
  
  
• Neil Patchett, General Manager Government & Public Relations, Boating Industry Association
  
  
• Sarah Brunton, National Technical Officer, Electrical Trades Union
  
  
• Scott Stanford, Skills and Policy Advisor, Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

2026–27 Mining SWAP members: (click to view LinkedIn)

• Bryce Coventon, Chief Executive Officer, Performance Training Pty Limited
  
  
• Chris Davis, Melbourne Learning Centre Manager, Caterpillar of Australia Pty Ltd
  
  
• Dr Claire Chakrabarti, STEM Program Manager, Austmine
  
  
• Claudia Carsten, Manager – Mining and Automotive Industry Training Council, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia
  
  
• Daniel Sweeting, Chief Operating Officer, Lucas Drilling
  
  
• Dr Irene Ioannakis AM, Chief Executive Officer, Ioannakis and Associates
  
  
• Jodie Badcock, Chief Executive Officer, Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance
  
  
• Karolina Szukalska, General Manager – Workforce, Safety and Innovation, Minerals Council of Australia
  
  
• Robert Petherbridge, Executive Director, Commercial Business, TAFE Queensland
  
  
• Sara Scott, Training and Development Manager, MACA
  
  
• Scott Layton, Lead Learning Simplification, BHP
  
  
• Shane Roulstone, National Organising Director, The Australian Workers' Union
  
  
• Steve Watts, Industry Safety & Health Representative, Mining and Energy Union
  
  
• Tim Westcott, Director (President), Australian Drilling Industry Association
  
  
• Vanessa Skipworth, General Manager, Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing & Energy Council
  
  
• Zane Hughes, Program Coordinator/Project Manager, Cooperative Research Centre on Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME).