Our Board
DR BELINDA MCLENNAN
Chairperson
DProf (UK), MEd, BA, GCert (LD), GCert (Ed), GDip (Ed), AICD
Belinda McLennan has over 40 years of experience in the education sector. Most recently she was the Chief Operating Officer of AMES Australia and worked with the CEO to identify, evaluate, negotiate and manage strategically important business opportunities to enable AMES Australia to achieve both short and long term organisational goals.
Belinda has held senior management roles in TAFE, Higher Education and VET including the role of CEO at Tasmanian Polytechnic, Pro Vice Chancellor - Teaching and Learning at Victoria University, Deputy Director TAFE at Victoria University and General Manager - Strategic Development at Chisholm Institute.
DR MICHAEL BROWN
Director
PhD, M Ed, GradDip of Ed Admin, B Ed
Prior to retiring in 2018 Mike was a Senior Lecturer in Technology Studies, Adult and VET for over 10 years with Latrobe University and University of Ballarat. He has held various roles as a Lecturer in Adult, Vocational Education and Training. Mike started his teaching career as a Sheetmetal Apprentice teacher at Richmond College of TAFE.
Mike has published numerous publications and conference papers on themes such as pedagogy, sustainability, competency based training and Vocational Education and Training.
DAVID WILLIAMS
Director
Consultant
Cert Survey Drafting
David Williams was the Executive Director of the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA) for 12 years. His role included the advocacy, governance and workforce relations with TAFE Institute Boards, Chairs, CEOs and Senior Managers. Key stakeholders included Federal and State Ministers, Department Secretaries and Industry Peak Body leaders.
Prior to joining the VTA, David worked with the Australian Services Union, Victorian Services and Energy branch in a variety of roles focusing in particular on the Victorian water instrumentalities and Victorian local government. From 1992 to 1996, David held the role of elected Branch Secretary of the Union.
David is currently a Director of the Board of TAFE Gippsland.
BRIAN HENDERSON
Director
Consultant
BA, DipEd
Brian worked at the Australian Education Union (AEU) for 18 years in roles including the Victorian Branch Secretary, the Federal Executive member and the Vice President, Secondary-Victorian Branch.
In addition to Brian's knowledge of the Victorian education system, through his work in the Federal AEU, he gained extensive knowledge of education systems both interstate and overseas. Brian has been involved in public education for over 40 years as student, teacher, parent and union official.
DAVID WINDRIDGE
Director
BEc, GradDip – Accounting, GradDip – Teaching
GAICD, Fellow CEO Institute
David Windridge was most recently the CEO/Executive Director of MEGT (Australia) Ltd, Ability English and MEGT UK. David has been a significant figure in the private training sector which has been acknowledged by receiving life memberships with the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) – now known as Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), and Group Training Australia (GTA) .
As CEO of MEGT David oversaw the growth of MEGT from one office in Melbourne’s outer-east to a national entity employing over 800 people with 95 offices and reaching out to students from all over the world.
SUSAN CHRISTOPHERS
Director
BEd, DipBusStudies, GAICD, PSM
Susan Christophers was most recently the Executive Director, International Education Division with the Early Childhood and School Education Group, a division of the Department of Education and Training. With over 20 years as a Senior Executive, Sue has led the development of state and national policy, managed complex projects, and built Victorian government schools as a destination of choice for international students.
Sue's passion for education and training has fuelled her career and her impact on state education in Victoria is testament to this passion, her determination and her focus on excellence. Sue was the Chair of the Adult, Community and Further Education Board of Victoria from 2016 to 2018.
CLIVE DRISCOLL
Director
General Manager
Finance & Business Performance (CFO)
Melbourne Cricket Club
BA Bus (Acc) Master Information Systems
Fellow CPA Australia
Clive is the GM, Finance & Business Performance with the MCC. He is a Senior Level Executive with extensive hands-on experience in management, business leadership, working directly with Board Directors, Lawyers, Banks and Governments with an established record for adding value to the business.
He is highly skilled in financial, strategy, risk, governance and information technology management, which includes budgeting, forecasts, cash control, IT infrastructure, IT Governance, risk and project management.
SHIRLEY SOUTHGATE
Director
Executive Director
Leo Cussen Centre for Law
BA, LLB (Hons), EMPA, GAICD
Shirley is the Executive Director/CEO of Leo Cussen Centre for Law and previously she was the Director – Practical Legal Training with Leo Cussen Centre for Law for 3 ½ years. She has significant public sector and community sector senior management experience, including a strong understanding of government regulatory bodies.
Shirley is an experienced legal practitioner with significant experience as a senior in-house government lawyer in a statutory authority.
Our CEO
MARTIN POWELL
Chief Executive Officer
BBus (Acc) (MAICD)
Mr Martin Powell commenced as the CEO at the VET Development Centre (VDC) in January 2016. Since this time, Martin has driven innovation and change at the VDC to support its goal to become a centre of excellence for continuous professional learning to the VET workforce.
The VDC Board has acknowledged the vision and considerable effort of Martin, who developed the business case and rationale for the establishment of the VDC permanent training facilities in Collins Street Melbourne. This initiative has enabled the VDC to expand its professional learning programs and consolidate its market presence to enable record participation. Martin has also refined the VDC team and streamlined business, marketing and corporate practices to enhance and stimulate engagement with the VDC by the professional workforce, government and other stakeholders.
Prior to joining the VDC, Martin has held prominent positions in the VET sector. Martin was the National Manager, Services / Victorian Executive Officer for the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). With TVET Australia and the National Advisory for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment (NATESE), Martin was Director of the National VET Equity Advisory Council (NVEAC), the COAG advisory committee responsible for independent social policy advice for those groups at risk of disadvantage. His experience extends to broader policy, project and program roles in public sector social policy in the areas of VET, health, corrections, youth services, mental health services, treasury and finance and industry
