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.

TREASURER

Mark Richardson owned and operated a SME in the Channel for nearly 20 years. In that time, he has been passionate about employing and training local people, assisting them to gain skills and qualifications to last a lifetime.

A firm believer in lifelong learning, Mark has continued to learn, gaining tertiary qualifications in business (MBA), teaching and systems.

Mark currently holds a leadership position in a large renewable energy consulting firm and sits on the board of a local medical NFP. Mark was elected as a Councillor for Kingborough Council in 2022.

Mark has a track record of strategic thinking and problem solving that focuses on sustainable results with strong foundations and good governance.

Gary Arnold is General Manager of the Kingborough Council, a role he has held since February 2014. He is a former President of Local Government Professionals Tasmania from 2017-2022 and has been a Fellow of that organisation since 2001. Gary has been a Director of Derwent Estuary Program since 2017. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, a graduate of the Institute of Australian Company Directors, and has a Master of Business Administration and Master of Town Planning.

With over 20 years working in project management, economic development, policy, tourism, marketing and communication roles within the private sector, and local and state governments, Michelle Gledhill is currently the Manager Economic Development for Huon Valley Council. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Tourism Management) from the University of Tasmania and is an accredited Economic Development Practitioner with Economic Development Australia.

Through her role in local government, Michelle has been instrumental in the formation of the governance model underpinning and enabling the establishment of the Southern Employment and Training Network. She has led many critical projects for and on behalf of the Huon Valley Council and our community, including the development of the Huon Valley regional place brand, the national award-winning Huon Valley Food Hub project, and delivering many local initiatives that underpin and support a thriving local economy for the Huon Valley community and local businesses. Michelle is a passionate collaborator and connector within her community and, is keen facilitator of projects and initiatives that support and enable local businesses to reach their goals and aspirations.

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.

Ro Alden Hull is the Managing Director of Mountain Ash Insights - a Huon Valley based boutique consulting firm which works locally to support healthy landscapes and communities. At Mountain Ash Insights, Ro leads a team which is predominantly made up of women and mothers, working casually and flexibly to collectively build skills, capability and confidence.

As the mother of a toddler, a PhD candidate, and an enthusiastic hobby farmer, Ro understands the pressures and benefits of balancing multiple personal and professional projects.

Ro has extensive experience in strategic planning, corporate governance, public policy and project management. She also has extensive board and committee experience including as a Non-Executive Director of a large regional university. She holds a Bachelor of Science with honours and is part-way through a PhD in environmental accounting. She has also completed short courses with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.