Board and executives
CSQ Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is appointed by the Queensland Minister for the training and skills portfolio, as the sole shareholder of the company, and comprises an independent Chair and representatives from the building and construction industry and government. Directors are appointed for a three-year term.
The Board provides CSQ with strategic direction and advice and ensures that the levy funds are invested through equitable, transparent and fiscally responsible governance and in line with the needs of industry.
CSQ Directors
Mr Michael Kinnane – Chair
Ms Penny Cornah
Mr Damien Long
Mrs Marina Chambers
Mr Rohan Webb
Ms Sue-Ann Fresneda
Mr Steven Koch
Ms Emma Eaves
Executive Leadership Team
CSQ’s Executive Leadership Team provides leadership and direction to support the operations of the organisation and to implement the strategic direction set by the Board.
Our Executive Leadership Team include:
Brett Schimming
Brett Schimming is the CEO of Construction Skills Queensland. He initiates and leads partnerships with industry, government, employers, unions, educators, trainers and associations. He develops initiatives and programs that grow the skills base and capacity of Queensland’s building and construction industry workforce. Brett is passionate about ensuring the workforce meets the demand of employers, and he is active in national and state policy discussions and initiatives to predict and grow the skills base.
Brett brought to CSQ extensive experience in the leadership and management of training and education organisations. He has worked in a range of industry sectors including RTOs, professional services firms, and other industry bodies.
Brett has qualifications in Education, Business and Public Policy and many years of experience managing training and education organisations. He has served on multiple State and National Committees, and Company Boards and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Geoff Clare
Geoff Clare is the Chief Financial Officer and Operations Officer at CSQ. He is responsible for leading the Industry Engagement & Corporate Services Division comprising fiance, business service, legal and governance, IT network, HR, training procurement, and marketing and communications.
Prior to joining CSQ Geoff worked in financial management, project management and business analyst roles for a diversity of organisations including Primac Elders, Queensland Rail, QUT, National Training Authority, Education Credit Union, and Victorian Financial Institution Commission.
Geoff is a CPA and AICD member with a Bachelor of Business (Banking & Finance).
Wayne Forrester
Wayne Forrester is the Director of Training Procurement at CSQ. He is responsible for leading the development and implementation of CSQ’s training procurement, contract management, reporting and payment functions.
Before joining CSQ in July 2010, Wayne worked for the Queensland Government in a similar role, responsible for leading the procurement and payment of training and assessment services for Queensland’s apprentices and trainees.
Wayne’s public sector background is much broader than the procurement activities mentioned above and includes significant experience in Vocational Education and Training in the areas of apprenticeships and traineeships; strategic and operational policy; program development and management; regional support activities and employment program management and implementation.
Carla Crawford
Carla Crawford is the Director of Corporate Services and Company Secretary. Carla is responsible for leading the corporate aspects of Construction Skills Queensland including legal, governance and risk, marketing, communications and events and business services together with providing company secretarial support to the Board.
She is responsible for providing pragmatic legal advice and implementing commercial solutions that support the organisation’s risk appetite. Aligned with this, she is responsible for CSQ’s legal matters with an emphasis of managing commercial agreements and advising on corporate governance including risk management.
Prior to joining CSQ, Carla was an associate at Mullins Lawyers where she was a commercial lawyer in private and corporate practice. Her role included providing practical and commercial legal advice on mergers and acquisitions, advising clients on due diligence, acquisition and sales as well as restructuring to private equity models. She worked alongside public companies as well as small and medium sized businesses.
Robert Sobyra
Robert Sobyra is the Director of Evidence, Data and Innovation with Construction Skills Queensland. Responsible for driving CSQ’s research agenda, Robert is a leading thinker at the intersection of construction and skills. He writes and talks regularly on all things relating to the construction and workforce. Robert has a special interest in the future of work, skills and training.
Robert brings to CSQ a depth of experience across strategy, risk and analytics from his time in federal and state government. He holds a Bachelor of Justice from the Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Theory from the Australian National University, and is currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate at the University of Queensland.
Michelle Canny
Michelle Canny is the Director of Policy Analysis and Performance Reporting at CSQ. She is responsible for delivering the Annual Training Plan, undertaking policy development and analysis across a range of education, and industry-related issues. Michelle also leads business planning and monitoring non-financial performance for CSQ.
Before joining CSQ in January 2020, Michelle worked for Deloitte & PhillipsKPA as an education and training sector specialist leading large scale program evaluations, business case development for major infrastructure projects and a ran of strategic planning & review activities.
A range of public sector roles in Victoria and NSW round out Michelle’s understanding of public policy, regulation, budgeting and funding mechanisms. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Commerce.
