​​Tony Palladino, Chief Executive Officer 

Tony has extensive experience in the VET system.  Firstly, many years ago, starting out as an electrical apprentice and learning his trade at WA’s Western Mining, and most recently as Executive Officer of the NSW Utilities and Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB).  The NSW ITAB had very similar objectives to the FFTITC in providing advice to government on the workforce and training needs of industry.

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Tony has provided specialist policy advice on organisational learning design and career development, vocational education and training management, apprenticeship and traineeship training supervision and promotion, delivery and regulatory compliance, workforce and career development, labour market intelligence, occupational classification systems’ development, occupational (skill) standards / competencies and qualifications design and development.

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He has also worked in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in helping design and develop national occupational classification systems. 

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As CEO of the Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council, Tony’s primary role is to ensure the organisation provides quality strategic advice on the current and future training needs of the industries we cover to the Minister for Training and Workforce Development through the State Training Board and the Department of Training and Workforce Development.

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​Diane Smith, Industry Consultant

Diane is a returning employee of the Training Council having worked with the Light Manufacturing and Forestry Industries for approximately seven years from 2009 to 2016.  Diane has more than 20 years experience in high level administration positions including policy development, project management and industry engagement.  Diane’s experience in vocational education and training has included the provision of strategic advice to Government on a range of current and emerging training, labour market and workforce development issues, national VET curriculum changes, apprenticeship and traineeship pathways and VET delivered to secondary school students.

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Diane has completed a Bachelor of Business Degree from Curtin University of Western Australia, majoring in Human Resource Management with a minor in Industrial Advocacy.

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Diane's work with the Training Council covers the following sectors:

• Animal Care & Management

• Conservation & Land Management

• Seafood & meat processing

• Horticulture

• Rural Production​

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Bernadette Amos, Industry Consultant

Bernadette has worked in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector since 2009. She has experience working with International Students, Accredited Courses and State and Federal funding processes across the sector and has held quality and compliance roles within these areas for some time. Whilst in the VET space Bernadette has worked across a number of industries, including Process Manufacturing, Electrical Instrumentation, Community Services, Health and Fitness and Business. She is very much looking forward to learning more about the industries that the Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council represents and using her knowledge to collaborate on effective solutions for some of the training and workforce challenges that the industries may be currently facing.

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Bernadette's work with the Training Council covers the following sectors:

• Furnishing

• Forest and Forest Products

• Textiles, Clothing and Footwear

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Sandra Scott, Admin Support Officer

Sandra’s role involves handling administrative tasks and performing daily administrative support operations such as handling calls, emails, office supplies and coordinating IT support.  Sandra organises meetings, maintains calendars, books travel, and provides a seamless experience for both our team and stakeholders.  Sandra also looks after maintenance of the data in our CRM, assists with onboarding new employees, and liaises with vendors and suppliers.  Whether it’s supporting team projects, compiling reports, or coordinating board and campaign admin, Sandra aims to keep things efficient and organised.  Her goal is to create a well-structured, supportive environment that allows our team to work efficiently and productively.