Skip to main content

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board provides strategic advice to the Minister for Training and Workforce Development.  It guides the work of the Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence to prepare Western Australia’s workforce for a clean energy future.

Advisory Board members are appointed by the Minister for Training and Workforce Development for their experience in the vocational and tertiary education sectors, industry, unions, First Nations people, Government, TAFE and community affairs and to contribute to the strategic direction of the Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence. Its composition provides representation from a diverse range of skills and interests to develop inclusive workforce strategies for the clean energy sectors.

 
Mr Matthew Cheney 

Chair 


Mr Cheney leads Energy Transition and Sustainability at Western Power, where he is responsible for delivering a whole-of-government approach to energy, sustainability and decarbonation. 

Mr Cheney has responsibility for several key renewable energy transition projects across the State and has been instrumental in shifting change in the industry on the future delivery of a safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity supply. 

He has initiated and led industry changing projects including grid transformation and performance and initiatives related to managing the increasing uptake of solar in WA. 

Mr. Cheney was the joint recipient of the Energy Professional of the Year Award at the WA Energy Awards. Mr. Cheney holds a Bachelor Engineering in (Aerospace Avionics) from the Queensland University of Technology and qualifications in leadership, government and management.

 

 
Dr Mara West 

Board member 


Dr West is a Yamatji Elder from WA and as Chair of North Metropolitan TAFE’s Governing Council, she has extensive skills and knowledge in education and training for Aboriginal people. Dr West was the fourth Aboriginal person to graduate from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1984. Dr West then obtained a Graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Development. 

Dr West was instrumental in establishing small satellite TAFE institutions across the State. Dr West was also instrumental envisioning a program that provided on-site training opportunities for Aboriginal students looking to be employed in hospitality roles within the mining industry. 

Within the Kulunga Aboriginal Unit at The Kids Research Institute, Dr West works with researchers to navigate the Aboriginal health arena, providing cultural governance and acting as cultural lead on numerous research projects.

 

 
Ms Jasmine Kadic 

Board member 


Ms Kadic is a Wadjuk/Ballardong woman with a strong connection to the Noongar Community in Western Australia. 

She has extensive experience in management positions within the health and construction industries and has a passion and drive for Aboriginal economic and social development across all major areas including health, employment and education. 

She is the Managing Director of Bengang a multi-utility infrastructure construction company and its staffing and professional services arm, Ergon. 

She is also a board advisor for the National Peak Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing, and a member of the Australian Institute Company of Directors. 

 
Mr Shannon O'Rourke 

Board member 


Mr O’Rourke is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Powering Australia, with a mission to grow Australia’s clean-tech manufacturing industry and deliver better outcomes for First Nations Australians in the clean energy transition.

The Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre is intended to build Australia’s manufacturing industry across transmission, distribution, solar, wind, batteries, industrial decarbonization, carbon and clean transport. 

As the former Chief Executive Officer of Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, Mr O'Rourke led a national research collaboration of 74 industry, government and academic participants, and around 180 researchers to deliver a $120 million dollar research program across the entire critical minerals and battery value chain. 

The FBICRC’s work resulted in a National Battery Strategy, Battery Breakthrough Initiative funding, and common user facilities across the country. Mr O’Rourke’s career spans almost 30 years in energy, and he is also a Member of the WA State Training Board.

 
Mr Jai Thomas 

Board member 


Mr Thomas is the Deputy Director General – Coordinator of Energy and leads Energy Policy WA, a group within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. 

As Coordinator of Energy, Mr Thomas the Senior Official responsible for the energy policy and regulatory arrangements in WA, as well as providing advice to the Minister for Energy on energy policy and energy transition. 

Mr Thomas is an energy sector professional with expertise in electricity regulation and distributed energy projects and has held regulatory and project delivery roles at both Horizon Power and Western Power.

Mr Thomas has overseen Energy Policy WA’s work program on customer and retail policy and contributed to national energy policy, whole-of-government initiatives relating to energy, and the regulation of emerging energy service models.

 

 
Ms Rebecca Tomkinson 

Board member 


Ms Tomkinson is the Chief Executive Officer of The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME), the peak resources sector representative body in the State. 

Prior to joining the CME, Ms Tomkinson was the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in WA. In her early career Ms Tomkinson held roles in local, state and federal government before transitioning to executive roles in the corporate and community benefit sectors. 

Raised in regional WA, she is deeply committed to the social and economic development of the state and the promotion of its unique and critical role nationally and globally. 

Ms Tomkinson is a current board member of Infrastructure WA, Crown Perth, the Perth USAsia Centre and the AROSE International Space Council (AISC). She is also the Chair of the Government's Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Advisory Council.

 

 
Ms Jodie Wallace 

Board member


Jodie commenced as Director General, Department of Training and Workforce Development on 30 November 2024. Prior this this, Jodie held Executive Director and Senior Executive positions at the Department and has represented Western Australia and the skills sector on various boards and committees. 

Jodie has over 20 years of public sector experience including system and sector policy, workforce planning, migration, service delivery, program design and delivery, and international education. 

Jodie’s experience also extends to the school education sector. Jodie has university qualifications in applied science and education, and an MBA from the University of Western Australia. Jodie is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

 

 
Mr Gregory Warren 

Board member 


Mr Warren is the Non-Executive Chair of the Electrotechnology Training Institute (formerly the Electrical and Communications Association) and has more than 35 years of managerial experience in the WA Electrical Industry where he has specialised in Access Control, CCTV, Security, BMS, Mechanical and Electrical Service Sectors. 

From 2015 until 2021, Mr Warren also served as a Board member of National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and has been the College of Electrical Training’s Legal Director since 2016.

 

 

 
Mr Terry Hill 

Board member 


Prior to his role as Chair of the Pilbara Development Commission (PDC), Mr Hill was Chief Executive Officer of the PDC, a position he held for eight years. 

In 2022, Mr Hill acted in the role of Director General for the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development. 

Mr Hill has also worked internationally, leading large projects and trade missions to Asia and managed the commercialization of intellectual property. Mr Hill holds formal qualifications in Agriculture, including a Bachelor of Science – Agriculture and a Masters in Agribusiness. 

Mr Hill is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to primary industry, public administration and the agricultural sector. 

 
Mr Michael Wright 

Board member 


Mr Wright has been a member of the Electrical Trades Union since 2007. Since joining the Union, Mr Wright has represented electrical workers across Australia. 

Representing the trades that are building our Net Zero future, Mr Wright is passionate about ensuring a training system which can meet the unprecedented demand for skills whilst ensuring the highest quality outcomes for apprentices and workers. 

Mr Wright is also the Director of Powering Skills Organisation, the Jobs and Skills Council for the energy sector and has key skills in strategic leadership, stakeholder management, advocacy, governance and compliance.