Meet The Experts Driving Learning And Development

Sandra is the Director of Skills Strategies International and embodies the company’s values and dedication to learning. With a long-standing career in the vocational education sector, she has earned a unique reputation with educational institutions and the private sector alike. Clients appreciate Sandra’s authenticity, agility, industry knowledge, and ability to innovate. Her business experience and vision ensure that Skills Strategies International continues to deliver highly effective and engaging learning experiences to organizations and individuals. As a passionate and enthusiastic learning and development professional, Sandra has extensive experience in designing and delivering learning programs, consulting with business executives, and providing VET services. In her free time, she is an avid motorbike rider, loves animals and owns two Dalmatians and two lorikeets. She is also inspired by Tony Robbins, the catalyst for change and strategist for success.

Colin is a highly experienced and accomplished professional with over 25 years of senior leadership experience in major global companies such as Dnata, Qantas, and TNT. He has a proven track record of driving change and transformation in areas of airline, aviation, customer service, and transport/logistics. He is recognized in the industry as a leader with strong operational management, financial knowledge, change management and influencing skills, and a ‘can-do’ approach to problem solving. Colin’s leadership style is described as leading by example and encouraging and promoting all stakeholders to contribute fully so that they and the company can gain from the experience and help develop and build the company’s culture.

Kynan is the Manager at Skills Strategies International’s Mandurah Training Centre. Kynan has a passion for building up people and developing business through training and development services offered by Skills Strategies International. “I love this opportunity to see new businesses grow.”
Prior to working at Skills Strategies International Kynan had spent the last 15 years in New Zealand working for Odyssey House, the Ministry of Social Development and Most recently for Workwise Employment Agency. I have over 20 years experience working in social services starting in support work and careers counselling and eventually moving thru to management roles.
Outside of work I hold Black belts in multiple Martial Arts where I have run my own schools on a part time basis.

Jarrod has worked in the IT industry for 25 years and has extensive experience in IT consulting, cyber security, and project management. He is passionate about sharing knowledge and developing skills in his team and brings a very structured approach towards developing systems and people to get the very best from them.

Michael is the Training Manager at Skill Strategies International, who works closely with our specialist Trainers, to continue to provide excellent customer service, training and support to our learners.

Michael’s Retail and Business experience is gained through thirty years in the Retail Environment across many sectors, from fashion and discount variety all the way through to not for profit.

His expertise lies in Multi Site Management and developing retail teams capable of delivering results by utilising strong leadership and people management skills.

The last decade of his retail life has been spent helping a not for profit organisation achieve real retail results. Michael has seen first-hand how training and breaking down barriers to employment can give individuals the confidence and feeling of self-worth responsible for setting them on their way to success. This has inspired him to move into the training sector where he can help businesses and individuals gain the qualifications and training they need to take the next step.

“Training is very rewarding for me. It is the cornerstone to providing the learner with skills and knowledge to break through employment barriers or enhance opportunities in their current role.”

Kemp Lysle is a highly experienced professional who holds several key roles at Skills Strategies International (SSI). As the Senior ICT Specialist Trainer, he is responsible for providing training within the information and communications technology (ICT) field. He also serves as the Moodle Coordinator, managing the platform used for online learning and course management. Kemp is known for his light-hearted approach and is often referred to as the “office clown” for his ability to keep the mood light and upbeat. With a strong background in ICT training, Kemp is a valuable asset to SSI and is well-equipped to help clients achieve their goals.

Evan Chelios is a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry, with a proven track record of success in rebranding and opening new venues. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his role as a Training and Assessment Trainer, where he helps to develop and educate the next generation of hospitality professionals. In addition to his training responsibilities, Evan also serves as a Business Development Manager, leveraging his expertise to drive growth and success for the company. With his extensive background in the industry and passion for excellence.

Kirsty joined Skills Strategies in 2022 and brought with her a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. Kirsty is a experienced in strategic design with a strong background in both research and practice. She has a demonstrated history of leading complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and has a deep understanding of the business development process.

Kirsty holds a Doctorate of Business Administration and is well-versed in systems thinking, coaching, facilitation, and developing partnerships.

Alana is an experienced educator in health care services who recently joined the team at Skills Strategies International. In her new role, she manages and trains all students participating in the company’s aged care and other health services programs. Alana is passionate and enthusiastic about her job, and is dedicated to providing the best possible education and training to her students.

Daniel is a highly experienced professional with a career spanning over 15 years. He joined Skills Strategies in 2022 as an Educator focusing on Business Traineeships and quickly demonstrated his expertise in finance and HR and now looks after students in these industry areas also . Dan is a former teacher who later became a Chartered Accountant.

Daniel has been sharing his extensive knowledge and skills for the past 6 years, focusing on training and development. He holds a Dual Diploma and is committed to helping young learners grow and start their careers in the business world.

With a passion for developing business skills and mindsets, Daniel brings a wealth of accounting knowledge to those studying finance and taxation. His experience and expertise make him a valuable asset to the Skills Strategies team.

With decades of hands-on experience in the commercial cookery and hospitality sector, Dave Alexander brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Specializing in guiding aspiring chefs through Certificate II, III, and IV courses, Dave is dedicated to fostering the growth of his students, ensuring they reach their full potential.

Beyond training, Dave is equally committed to assisting business owners in upskilling and developing their commercial kitchen and hospitality teams. His focus is on delivering a tangible return on investment by keeping trainees on track and equipping them with the skills that benefit both the business and the individual learner.

Drawing from a diverse background that includes roles such as Executive Chef, restaurant owner, business General Manager, and Chef Trainer and Assessor, Dave possesses a deep understanding of the industry. His reputation as a top-tier trainer, mentor, and hospitality industry expert makes him a highly valued addition to the Skills Strategies team. Feel free to reach out and explore how Dave can contribute with meeting your specific cookery, hospitality, and kitchen training needs.

Mark brings over 19 years of experience in business development and account management to Skills Strategies in his role as Business Development Manager. He plays a key role in identifying and securing new opportunities, with a strong focus on delivering training solutions that are both practical and cost-effective. This includes accredited qualifications, skill sets, traineeships, and individual units of competency tailored to meet the needs of clients, businesses, and individuals.

Throughout his career, Mark has built a reputation for developing strategic partnerships and leveraging his extensive knowledge of the RTO sector to drive growth. He is passionate about supporting Skills Strategies’ ongoing success and is known for his energetic approach, forward-thinking mindset, and ability to turn big ideas into results.

Sean is a valuable member of the Skills Strategies team. Despite being new to the team, he has quickly settled in and is highly respected by his colleagues. He brings with him a background in customer service and IT and is the IT Support Officer for Skills Strategies. In addition to his IT Support Officer role, Sean assists in delivering IT training to our students and plays a major role in providing digital literacy training for people entering the workforce. He is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals and is committed to delivering high-quality training and support. With his knowledge and expertise in IT and customer service, Sean is an asset to Skills Strategies and is well-positioned to help our clients succeed.

Tenille is a dedicated and experienced professional who joined our team in January 2016. She has quickly become a highly valued member of our organization, known for her professional and mature attitude. With over 8 years of experience working with various Registered Training Organizations, Tenille currently serves as our National Funding Officer. She is skilled in providing funding and administrative support to clients.

Chaitali Bhatt is the Educator of Skills Strategies International

Sophie Gissing is the Work placement Coordinator and Educator of Skills Strategies International.

Irene Protopapas assists our team and students in her role as Administration & Student Services at Skills Strategies International.

Irene has an international professional background spanning education, human resources, and administrative support. With a Master of Arts in English Language and Linguistics from Rhodes University, she brings her academic and professional experience to this integral role in our Balcatta office.

Irene excels in managing student inquiries, enrolments and administrative support for students and trainers. Irene is committed to providing high quality support for our students throughout their whole learning journey.