Sharon Coates - Conference Speaker

As Chief Executive Officer of Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA), Sharon brings to the role knowledge and wisdom gained from the many positions she has held within the vocational education and training (VET) system. Sharon's immediate prior experience includes senior management roles with ANTA that involved leading system-wide VET reform and providing high-level advice to government, industry and public sector stakeholders.

Before joining ANTA, Sharon worked in a number of senior VET management roles including with the Victorian State Training Authority, the Adult and Further Education sector, and TAFE institutes.

Sharon has held two Ministerial appointments, one relating to national adult, language and literacy policy and the other relating to women's employment, education and training. She has also represented Australia in several international seminars and delegations.

As CEO of IBSA, key priorities for Sharon are to:

• ensure that the voice of industry is heard; and
• provide deliverers of VET training and assessment services with the high quality, nationally recognised products they need to meet the requirements of industry, enterprises and learners.

In turn, this will ensure Australia has the skills for local, national and international competitiveness.