Woodside chief to head WA Training Board

5/8/05
Premier Geoff Gallop today announced that Keith Spence would chair the State Training Board, Western Australia's principal advisory body on vocational education and training.
Dr Gallop said Mr Spence, who was chief operating officer of Australia's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, Woodside Energy Ltd, would bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.
"Mr Spence has 25 years' experience in the oil and gas industry and is highly respected for his contribution in tackling Woodside's skills shortages and for his commitment to lifting training standards in the Australian resources sector," the Premier said.
"He will help the board provide the Government with a blueprint for the planning and delivery of skill requirements and training priorities for industry.
"Mr Spence is a respected advocate for industry investment and involvement in training. He is also recognised widely for his company's training and employment initiatives for apprentices and for its work in providing indigenous traineeships and cadetships."
Dr Gallop said the appointment was significant and would support the Government's aim to give the highest priority to tackling skills shortages in the workforce.
Mr Spence also chairs the advisory boards of the Australian Centre for Energy Process Training and the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance and, until very recently, the Centre for Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University.
He succeeds Marli Wallace as chair of the training board.
Dr Gallop thanked Mrs Wallace, who has led the board successfully for the past three years.
Other members of the State Training Board are:

• Ms Lyn Sherwood - managing director, Lyn Sherwood Enterprises Pty Ltd and careers consultant;
• Mr Bill McKenzie - barrister, solicitor in commercial and business law and chairman of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Authority;
• Mr Dennis McInerney - managing director, McInerney Ford;
• Mr Joe Passione - managing director, Roy Weston Housing and Prime Projects;
• Ms Colleen Hayward - manager Kulunga Network at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research; and
• Mr Glen Lewis - information technology consultant.