The head of education at The Australian Industry Group and a national leader at the Electrical Trades Union have been appointed as Deputy Commissioners at the federal government’s Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA)

The Ai Group’s Executive Director – Centre for Education & Training. Megan Lilly (pictured), and the ETU’s National Assistant Secretary Trevor Gauld were named as appointees on Wednesday by federal skills minister Andrew Giles.

According to a statement Giles, the pair bring with them a wealth of experience from their fields, and have both contributed significantly to VET sector reform to the benefit of Australian businesses and workers.

“They are well connected and respected in their areas of expertise, and will provide excellent support to the Commissioner, Professor Barney Glover AO, in delivering JSA’s goal of helping our country meet its present and future skills needs,” said Giles.

“The Deputy Commissioners will help drive JSA’s enhanced tripartite stakeholder engagement, involving the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, industry, employers, unions and training providers.”

Lilly is a former chair of Manufacturing Skills Australia and is currently a board member of Worldskills Australia and the Mansfield Adult Community Education centre, as well as a member of the Qualifications Reform Design Group.

Gauld is described as having held numerous board directorships and committee positions, and has worked as an electrical tradesperson across different parts of the electrical industry.

JSA was established in 2022 and aims to see the “full skills potential of our nation to be realised” leading to “improved workforce participation, productivity, wages and equity”.

Picture: Megan Lilly (credit Worldskills Australia)