FutureNow was originally established as the WA Arts Industry Training Council in October 1990. In 1995 sport, recreation and racing was added to its coverage and tourism and hospitality, printing, information communications technology were added in 2009. FutureNow has drawn on the contribution of successive Boards, Industry advisory networks and training and education partners and evolved to become a leader in workforce development in the Creative, Leisure and Technology sectors. FutureNow's current Board continues to set and monitor the strategic direction and performance of the organisation. The Board's Charter can be viewed here. futurenow_board_charter_final_20.02.19.pdf
Core Functions
FutureNow delivers on its purpose and vision by;
- Providing leadership and strategic advice about skills, workforce and industry development across creative, leisure and technology sectors in WA.
- Facilitating collaboration and creating platforms to inspire innovation and progressive workforce development policy solutions and responses.
- Undertaking research on the most important workforce development issues that face our sectors.
- Delivering services to support and build capacity across the diverse sectors that we represent.
- Extending conversations about the broader ecosystem of workforce development and the impact changing work typologies can have in future.
- Advising industry about national training policy, funding arrangements, regulatory changes, training product development and apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.
- Identifying and develop innovative approaches to workforce development including the development of micro-credentials and different ways of learning.
- Promoting new training initiatives from West Australian and Commonwealth governments.
- Building relationships and brokering skilling solutions with education and training providers.
- Facilitating industry input to the development and review of Training Packages and curriculum
- Working with industry, government and enterprises to identify the opportunities for work based training, including for higher level vocational qualifications
Core Values |
FutureNow's organisational culture supports the following values:
Diversity and Equity
We create opportunities for all through the application of transformative workforce development strategies and programs and are guided by a strong desire to leverage the diversity of the industry sectors we represent.
Collaboration
We work collectively through our Board, Industry, Government and Education partners and within our team to achieve good workforce development outcomes.
Professionalism
We are proficient, reliable and adaptable in all that we do, always striving for excellence and being proactive in anticipating sector needs.
Accountable
We take responsibility and work openly and transparently to earn the trust of our stakeholders.
Respect
We understand and value the position of our stakeholders and the commitment they make to supporting our work. We are mutually respectful and supportive within our workplace and act with respect and integrity in all we do.
Diversity and Equity
We create opportunities for all through the application of transformative workforce development strategies and programs and are guided by a strong desire to leverage the diversity of the industry sectors we represent.
Collaboration
We work collectively through our Board, Industry, Government and Education partners and within our team to achieve good workforce development outcomes.
Professionalism
We are proficient, reliable and adaptable in all that we do, always striving for excellence and being proactive in anticipating sector needs.
Accountable
We take responsibility and work openly and transparently to earn the trust of our stakeholders.
Respect
We understand and value the position of our stakeholders and the commitment they make to supporting our work. We are mutually respectful and supportive within our workplace and act with respect and integrity in all we do.
Board of Directors
Matthew Thomas, Chair
Executive Manager, Program Delivery talent / HR Commbank.
Xformation consulting
Executive Manager, Program Delivery talent / HR Commbank.
Xformation consulting
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Natalie JenkinsChief Executive Officer
Block Branding |
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Andrew HillChief Operating Officer
Food, Beverage and Entertainment, Crown Perth |
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Michelle SandfordChairman
Australian Computer Society |
Rikki Lea Bestall
CEO, Screenwest
CEO, Screenwest
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Iain McDougall |
Ian Smith
General Manager, Advance Press
Representing Printing Industries Association of Australia
General Manager, Advance Press
Representing Printing Industries Association of Australia
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Fran Kirby
State Training Board Board member, observer
State Training Board Board member, observer
Jodie Wallace
Executive Director, Service Delivery Strategy
Department of Training and Workforce Development, Observer
Executive Director, Service Delivery Strategy
Department of Training and Workforce Development, Observer
FutureNow workforce
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Julie HobbsChief Executive Officer
Ex - Officio Board member |
Julie is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a strategic outlook that draws on her background as a business person, creative practitioner and educator. She has a deep commitment to workforce development as a driver of economic, social and cultural capacity. Julie's background in management, education and the creative industries are informed by a range of qualifications and a multifaceted career that has encompassed private and public spheres as well as engagement with the not for profit sector. Julie’s work in the private sector as a designer and as the co director of a manufacturing and export company have lead to an understanding of the spectrum of challenges facing enterprises operating in an unpredictable economic environment. She appreciates the relationship between the labour market and the Higher Education and the vocational training and education sector as well as the informal methods that people use to develop skills and knowledge. Julie was the Principal Lecturer for Design at North Metropolitan TAFE - a leadership role that included teaching, curriculum design and the creation of strong industry connections.
Julie recognizes the critical relationship between industry - represented through employers, employees, freelancers and peak bodies, and future skills development. She is an experienced and inclusive facilitator with a commitment to meaningful stakeholder engagement. Her work with FutureNow has extended her focus beyond the creative sector to include the screen and media, technology, sport and recreation and tourism, hospitality and events sectors and the synergies that exist between them. Her research interests include the impact of digital technologies and globalisation on the future of work, the importance of creativity and design thinking across the broader workforce and the importance of human capital to economic and social development.
Julie is experienced in Governance from both executive and non executive perspectives. She held leadership positions within the Design Institute of Australia the multidisciplinary peak body for Australian design, serving as WA President from 2009-13 and National President from 2014 - 2017. The National role involved strategic leadership and advocacy around a broad range of issues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Advanced Diploma of Design, Graduate Diploma of Management, Graduate Diploma of Education & Training, Diploma of Auditing, Graduate Certificate of Art & Design and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Julie recognizes the critical relationship between industry - represented through employers, employees, freelancers and peak bodies, and future skills development. She is an experienced and inclusive facilitator with a commitment to meaningful stakeholder engagement. Her work with FutureNow has extended her focus beyond the creative sector to include the screen and media, technology, sport and recreation and tourism, hospitality and events sectors and the synergies that exist between them. Her research interests include the impact of digital technologies and globalisation on the future of work, the importance of creativity and design thinking across the broader workforce and the importance of human capital to economic and social development.
Julie is experienced in Governance from both executive and non executive perspectives. She held leadership positions within the Design Institute of Australia the multidisciplinary peak body for Australian design, serving as WA President from 2009-13 and National President from 2014 - 2017. The National role involved strategic leadership and advocacy around a broad range of issues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Advanced Diploma of Design, Graduate Diploma of Management, Graduate Diploma of Education & Training, Diploma of Auditing, Graduate Certificate of Art & Design and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ann-Marie Ryan
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Industry Development Manager Creative Industries and Digital Technologies
Ann-Marie has a very broad portfolio which includes digital technologies, games development, VR, AR and animation; visual arts, craft and design; film, television, media and publishing; dance, theatre, opera, orchestral and contemporary live music; and galleries, museums, heritage, archives and libraries. She is passionate about her industries, having spent much of her career straddling the cultural and commercial worlds, with senior experience in areas as diverse as publishing and bookselling, museums, ecommerce, and events. She directs a broad analytical lens over the workforce development challenges facing the dynamic sectors within her portfolio. Ann-Marie has built very wide networks since returning to Perth, and sits on industry advisory groups for information technology, cybersecurity, animation, and visual arts, among others. She has represented Western Australian industry on national project working groups to revise vocational qualifications for sectors including libraries and live technical production and also hosts a range of formal industry networks on behalf of FutureNow. Ann-Marie’s strength lies in bringing together people with diverse expertise and perspectives and focusing conversation on strategic levers that maximise industry’s capacity to address wicked problems and support pathways into these coveted sectors for the next generation of Western Australians. Ann-Marie joined FutureNow following a successful career in the museums and publishing sectors in London. Ann-Marie’s work has included overseeing major commercial operations for large retail and cultural institutions and this has given her a rigorous understanding of end user experience which she finds invaluable when negotiating the complex world of vocational education and workforce development. She has a BA English from Curtin University where she majored in Creative Writing and Cultural Studies. |
Melissa Harkins
Industry Development Manager - Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Events
Melissa has extensive experience in the tourism, hospitality and events sectors. She draws on a background in Event and Conference Management, Hotel Management, Front Office and Food and Beverage within Australia and internationally. Melissa worked for five star hotels in London and Canada before returning to Australia to work for Hyatt properties on the Gold Coast, Canberra and Sydney. In Perth she worked in Conference Management for Hotels then contracted to Dymocks to run their author events programme in Western Australia for visiting international and high profile authors, sporting stars and celebrity chefs.
Melissa has an interest in how people learn and develop skills. She is a trained educator who has lectured in Tourism. Hospitality and Events at a degree level at Edith Cowan University and Southern Cross University and in vocational qualifications at The Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management. Melissa has also taught at high schools in Western Australia where amongst other subjects, she assisted students undertaking vocational studies.
Melissa has a love of and understanding of the Tourism, Hospitality and Events industries and is keen to contribute to the workforce development challenges and opportunities within these sectors.
Industry Development Manager - Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Events
Melissa has extensive experience in the tourism, hospitality and events sectors. She draws on a background in Event and Conference Management, Hotel Management, Front Office and Food and Beverage within Australia and internationally. Melissa worked for five star hotels in London and Canada before returning to Australia to work for Hyatt properties on the Gold Coast, Canberra and Sydney. In Perth she worked in Conference Management for Hotels then contracted to Dymocks to run their author events programme in Western Australia for visiting international and high profile authors, sporting stars and celebrity chefs.
Melissa has an interest in how people learn and develop skills. She is a trained educator who has lectured in Tourism. Hospitality and Events at a degree level at Edith Cowan University and Southern Cross University and in vocational qualifications at The Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management. Melissa has also taught at high schools in Western Australia where amongst other subjects, she assisted students undertaking vocational studies.
Melissa has a love of and understanding of the Tourism, Hospitality and Events industries and is keen to contribute to the workforce development challenges and opportunities within these sectors.
Kelly Perry
Industry Development Manager - Sport, Fitness and Recreation
Kelly is a qualified Sports Scientist who has a deep interest and experience in education and workforce development within the sport, fitness and recreation industry. In 2012 she founded the Sports Science Education Institute to offer community coaches, personal trainers and physical education teachers sports science knowledge in short course format. She worked closely with AUSActive (previously Fitness Australia) to establish curriculum for approval of continuing educational credit for fitness professional re-registration and led the expansion of these courses to an online platform to increase market reach, such as to regional areas.
Kelly is the author of Coaching Children: Sports Science Essentials published by the Australian Council for Educational Research. She has written numerous articles published in fitness, sport and recreation journals and magazines, presented at the Australian Council for Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) conference and lectured in sports science and fitness. She is an academic sessional for the School of Health Sciences (Sports Science) for the University of Notre Dame.
Kelly understands the complex and changing nature of the workforce and economy. This is informed by postgraduate qualifications in business and policy studies specialising in research and evaluation, and through work with key industry sectors on multiple education development projects worth up to $110 million.
Industry Development Manager - Sport, Fitness and Recreation
Kelly is a qualified Sports Scientist who has a deep interest and experience in education and workforce development within the sport, fitness and recreation industry. In 2012 she founded the Sports Science Education Institute to offer community coaches, personal trainers and physical education teachers sports science knowledge in short course format. She worked closely with AUSActive (previously Fitness Australia) to establish curriculum for approval of continuing educational credit for fitness professional re-registration and led the expansion of these courses to an online platform to increase market reach, such as to regional areas.
Kelly is the author of Coaching Children: Sports Science Essentials published by the Australian Council for Educational Research. She has written numerous articles published in fitness, sport and recreation journals and magazines, presented at the Australian Council for Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) conference and lectured in sports science and fitness. She is an academic sessional for the School of Health Sciences (Sports Science) for the University of Notre Dame.
Kelly understands the complex and changing nature of the workforce and economy. This is informed by postgraduate qualifications in business and policy studies specialising in research and evaluation, and through work with key industry sectors on multiple education development projects worth up to $110 million.
Birgit Smith
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Careers presenter
Birgit has extensive and deep experience in the hospitality, tourism and events sector in both Australia and in Europe. Her experiences in her homeland of Estonia include working in a boutique and spa hotel in housekeeping, front of house and restaurant management roles. Birgit enjoys the personal interaction that tourism and hospitality occupations provide. Her University thesis, still in use today, was to create a client feedback process for her employer. She was also part of the Tallin airport ground handling team which involved check-in, gate boarding, driving with air bridges and checking passenger documentation within tight time frames.
Birgit’s most recent role was in event management within a large event venue where she applied her expertise in event sales, coordination and operations.
Birgit is passionate about hospitality, tourism and events industries and the wide range of long term and sustainable careers that are found within them. She is delighted to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with young people who are considering career paths within these sectors.
Birgit has a Higher Professional Degree in Hotel Management, a Certificate IV and Diploma in Business Administration and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Business.
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