East Gippsland TAFE elects new Board Chair

21 May 2009

East Gippsland TAFE elects new Board Chair

The East Gippsland Institute of TAFE Board is very pleased to announce the election of Mrs Barbara Fulton to the role of Chair.

Mrs Fulton, who has been Acting Chair for the past 11 months, said “I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Chair of the Board. I have been on the Board now for almost three years, and I find participating in the education and training sector and especially with East Gippsland TAFE, to be very rewarding and fulfilling – it’s a true asset within our community and one with which I’m proud to be involved.”

Mrs Fulton brings with her a depth and breadth of industry experience that has includes over 30 years in senior management roles within the utility industries including urban and rural water, electricity and gas, along with over 10 years of active experience as a Director within the catchment management, retail finance, financial planning and health industries.

Mrs Pauline Bommer the departing Chair, served on the Institute’s Board for over 13 years and has contributed greatly to the development of the Institute during this time. Working closely with the other Board members, the management team and staff, Mrs Bommer, has supported the Institute with strategy development for a large number of Institute projects, the enrolment of over 13,000 students in 2008 and over 51,000 qualifications given to graduates of the Institute.

East Gippsland TAFE’s, CEO, Ms Angela Hutson said “Our Board is delighted with the appointment of Barbara to the role of Chair. She is a highly skilled executive who has demonstrated her extensive skills and knowledge over the three years that she has been with us. On behalf of the Institute I would also like to thank Pauline for her commitment during her 13 years with East Gippsland TAFE.” Ms Hutson also announced that Mr Weight has been an active member of the Board and as Chair of the Building and Facilities Sub Committee of the Board; he has overseen many of the Institute’s Capital Work Projects, including the establishment of the Education and Research Centre – SEAMEC located at Bullock Island and the refurbishment of the Bairnsdale campus. He has strong business and community networks across Gippsland.

“We are very lucky at our Institute to have a diversity of skills, experience and knowledge on the Board. Their guidance over the past 22 years has seen our Institute and the overall vocational education and training system in Gippsland grow from strength to strength. This can be clearly supported through our growth in student numbers and the courses we offer, our engagement with local industry, the many awards we have won and our recent Gold status for Training Excellence which was awarded at the end of last year. We are very proud of these achievements, which have been strongly guided by our Board, and they support our position as a leading vocational education and training provider in Australia – which is great for our region and communities of the East Gippsland and Wellington shires said Ms Hutson.”

The Institute Board comprises ministerial appointments, co-opted members, the CEO of East Gippsland TAFE, and elected staff and student representatives.