Tom Thorpe OAM- Chairman
Member of selection committee
Tom has had many years experience in engineering and manufacturing industries, and was Director of Paramount Cores and Compacts and Thorpe Industries Pty Ltd. He was involved in a senior management position in a Sheltered Workshop and was a founder and director of Inner Eastern Group Training. Tom was a councilor of the City of Box Hill and served three times as Mayor.
Tom is now retired but continues as a Director of IEGT and IE Directions Ltd.
John Bieske - CEO
Member of selection committee
John was awarded a Victorian Overseas Foundation scholarship in 1965 traveling on to England and Canada for four years of industry experience in computers and telecommunication. Upon his return to Australia he joined Hewlett Packard where he fulfilled a number of sales and marketing positions over the next 30 years. His last position was Executive Director responsible for computer sales and marketing.
John is now semi retired with one of his current interests as CEO of the AOF.
Robert Herbstreit - Secretary
Member of selection committee
Married, recently retired and living in Inverloch Victoria, he commenced work as a Toolmaker gaining a VOF scholarship in 1966, and worked as a Manufacturing and Production Engineer in the US and UK. On return to Australia, he advanced through Works and Operations Management, and attained General Manager’s positions in both the Metals Manufacturing and Printing Industries.
He has considerable experience and understanding of manufacturing and company management, and believes the VOF scholarship was instrumental in building his career.
Graeme Little - Treasurer
Graeme has worked in vocational education since 1982, and is currently Program Manager of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at The Gordon in Geelong.
Graeme, a Fitter and Turner, was a scholarship recipient in 1975, travelling to Canada and Germany, after which he returned to further his career in design and management in the agriculture industry.
He has also performed the roles of VOFA chairman, and secretary, Geelong sub-committee.
Graeme is married with three adult children, and enjoys the opportunity to participate in the career development of young tradespeople.
John Panozzo - Board Member
Member of selection committee
John was awarded a VOF scholarship as an automotive technician in 1961. John spent two years in England studying and gaining experience in the automotive industry and on his return, joined Toyota Australia as State Service Manager. He progressed through various management positions until his retirement in 2002.
John was president of the John Batman College of TAFE for nine years and chairman of the VACC "A" Grade Board of Examiners for five years. John continues to consult in the automotive industry.
Graeme Scott - Board Member
Graeme won a VOF scholarship in 1966 in the trade of Electrical. Graeme traveled to the USA where he was given the position of Assistant Engineer in the R&D dept of Perkin Elmer Corp. After one and a half years, he was offered a similar position with Perkin Elmer Ltd in the UK .
Graeme has spent 6 years as a TAFE teacher, 10 years as a Teachers College Lecturer, 11 years as a Regional Consultant with the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He is now providing a highly specialized service to business and industry as an Industrial Counselor with ITIM Australia.
Graeme is a past Secretary-Treasurer of the AOF and is now a Board member of the AOF.
Mark Callaghan - Board Member
CEO WorldSkills Australia
MARK CALLAGHAN joined WorldSkills Australia (WSA) in October 2005 and was appointed CEO in November 2006.
Mark is committed to continually improving all aspects of WSA's core business - the competition process - to ensure that the WorldSkills Australia programs continue to be an essential element of skill development and contribute to Australia's economic growth through recognition and promotion of world class skills.
Prior to WSA, Mark had extensive experience in operations and project management and major event operations - including Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife and three sons.
David Purchase OAM LLB - Board Member
CEO VACC
David Purchase joined the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) as Executive Director in 1997.
After graduating from law at Melbourne University in 1972, he spent 15 years at the Victorian Employers Federation, where he became Deputy Executive Director.
In 1986 David was appointed as Executive Director of the Life Insurance Federation of Australia, the representative body for all the life insurance companies operating in Australia.
In 1994 he joined Norwich Union Financial Services Limited as Group Company Secretary and in 1995 became General Manager of Lifescreen Australia Pty Ltd (a subsidiary Company of the Norwich Group).
David is also a Director of MotorTradeCard Pty Ltd, a Member of the Board of Australian Overseas Foundation Inc, Vice President and Secretary, Australian Automotive Industry Association, Director, Motor Industry Holdings Limited, Director, Motor Industry House Pty Limited, Chairman of the Coalition of Business Organisations (COBA) and a Panel Member of Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Committee.
David is a Former Member of the Board ofCARE Superannuation Fund and Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board.
He is a Member of Melbourne Cricket Club.
He is married, with four children.
Graeme Kellett - Board Member
Graeme is now in his 53rd year in the jewellery industry being self employed for the last 38 years, producing handmade, high quality jewellery for most leading retail jewellers and wholesalers in Melbourne. Graeme also produces private commissions.
He has held a sessional teaching position at N.M.I.T. and lectures at the Gold and Silversmith's Guild of Australia.
Graeme has served on the AOF board for seven years.
Norm Lyons - Board MemberNorm was awarded a Victorian Overseas Foundation Scholarship in 1965 and spent three years in England studying and gaining experience in building construction. On his return he re-joined the family business of Lyons Construction, a medium sized commercial construction company, in Geelong, Victoria. He now holds the position of Executive Chairman. Norm is a past president of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce and a former board member of the Australian Technical College, Geelong.
In 2001, Norm was awarded The Australian Centenary Medal for services to Junior Chamber International and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce
David Williams - Board Member 
After winning a Victorian Overseas Foundation Scholarship in 1965, David continued his technical training in the Volkswagen Factory Workshops in Germany, dealerships in the UK and Canada, and later as a Design Check Product Engineer with General Motors in USA.
He then worked for 24 years with BMW Australia in a range of executive sales, after sales, and dealer development roles, before being selected to lead the Quality Management Team for the Australian Dealer Network.
He started his own consulting business in 2006, specialising in developing and improving small business and is currently working with a range of manufacturing and automotive clients including the VACC, on Government Funded Skills for Growth Initiatives.