CHAIR

Robert (Rob) Banfield is the Chair of the SETN Board. Rob’s work background involves several decades in Education in Tasmania and overseas. Having lived and worked in the Huon and Channel areas since 1995, Rob has a strong community connection to our region and is passionate about ensuring that SETN will add to the life experiences and prosperity of our communities. Rob currently works part time in the education and tourism sectors, and volunteers with Ambulance Tasmania and Parks Tasmania.

SECRETARY

Donald Coventry has significant senior executive level experience in both the arts and the environment/natural resource management (NRM) in Australia. He has twice been a public art gallery director (Latrobe and Cairns), a radio station manager (3MBS-FM), CEO of the national scientific research and conservation organisation, Birds Australia (now Birdlife Australia), CEO of Southern Gulf Catchments in Queensland, a Regional Director for the Department of Primary Industries in Victoria, CEO of NRM South in southern Tasmania. He is currently a senior executive recruiter and lives on the Huon River in southern Tasmania.

Lucy Whitehead has worked as an adult literacy and numeracy practitioner in the Huon Valley for over 10 years.

Passionate about empowering Tasmanians to gain skills and confidence to thrive both at work and in the community, Lucy's role on the SETN board is to support the Jobs Hub to improve employment opportunities for people. Lucy is a strong advocate for lifelong learning. This means giving everyone the chance to improve their reading, writing, maths and digital skills so they can get the job they want and be valued employees. With networks throughout the Huon Valley and Kingborough, Lucy engages with stakeholders such as job service providers, training organisations, and community organisations to highlight opportunities for people to learn and increase their skills.

A Kingborough Councillor in his second term, Gideon is also a Director of Gymnastics Tasmania. His previous Board roles include Glenorchy Community Fund, Tasmanian Youth Broadcasters, and ABC Advisory Council member. He holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) from the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Gideon is passionate about full employment programs and redefining work. He has studied the impact of H.C Coombs’ White Paper on Full Employment in Australia, the Plan Jefes y Jefas de Hogar program in Argentina, and is particularly inspired by the works of David Graeber, Pavlina Tcherneva and Bill Mitchell.

Gideon is thrilled to be on the SETN Board to help enact the idea embodied in Article 23 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”

Jess Crowley is the GM of Bulk Nutrients, who manufactures and supplies sports and nutritional supplements to Australia and NZ. Overseeing a workforce of 100 staff in the Huon and Kingborough municipalities, Jess is committed to creating meaningful employment opportunities and fostering a sense of purpose in her team. A firm believer in the potential of the Huon and Kingborough regions, she is keen to support the connection between employers and job seekers to cultivate lifelong benefits through meaningful employment.

With a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Teaching, she also has significant experience in business strategy and finance. She has been a director of the Tas Dairy Industry Authority for 6 years, and is treasurer of the local horse riding club. She lives in the gorgeous Huon Valley and is excited to support the Southern Employment and Training Network.

Dave joined Kingborough Council in April 2024 as its Chief Executive Officer.  Dave made the move from Auckland, New Zealand with his wife, Connie, to live a more sustainable lifestyle compared to the hustle and bustle of Auckland.

For the prior seven years, Dave worked in leadership roles in Auckland Council (the largest local government organisation across New Zealand and Australia), latterly as General Manager Active Communities.  Prior to this, Dave held various high-level positions at the Australian Rugby Foundation, Rugby Australia, and Paralympics New Zealand. 

As a new Kingborough resident Dave is passionate about making a positive impact for his new community. Dave also has a strong connection to the Huon Valley with his parents-in-law having previously lived there for over 20 years.