Who is ICN Victoria

Tim Piper is the Victorian Head of the Australian Industry Group which represents a range of companies across a broad range of industry sectors in Australia. Tim is Chair of the Industry Capability Network in Victoria and sits on the Portable Long Service Leave Authority, CoInvest Board, GS1 Board, WorkSafe Victoria Advisory Council and Occupational Health & Safety Committee. He also sits on a number of Victorian Government committees covering many areas, including environmental matters, COVID19 recovery, the rail industry, skills development, and industrial issues. Tim has practised as a barrister and solicitor in Australia and the UK and worked as a journalist in television, radio and newspapers. He also has completed an MBA. Tim was honoured last year with the Member of the Order of Australia for his services to industry and manufacturing, to skills training and to multicultural youth. He has also been an Australia Day Ambassador and was the recipient of the Centenary Medal for services to the business community.

Tony became a Director of the ICN Victoria board in August 2018. Tony is the Victorian Branch State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU). He has been involved in the manufacturing and construction industries for many years and is a long-time member of the AMWU. Tony is passionate about the Local Jobs First policy and supporting local manufacturing in Victoria.

Paul is an internationally experienced leader having held Managing Director/CEO and Chairman level roles across Australia and Asia Pacific, spanning several key industries. Paul was previously the Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), best known for producing the Royal Melbourne Show (attracting half a million people annually), world class food and beverage award programs and venue management and activation of the Melbourne Showgrounds. Prior to this Paul was Managing Director Asia Pacific for Optum International, a subsidiary of the United Health Group, one of the world’s leading providers of health services. Before joining Optum International, Paul was the Victorian State Director for Vodafone, and prior to this, he held an extensive 17-year career with Motorola finishing as the Director and Vice President for Motorola Asia Pacific. Paul holds an honours degree in electronic engineering from Swinburne University, a post graduate diploma in management with a major in marketing and has completed several short management courses in the USA. Paul is involved in several boards, not-for-profits, and start-ups. Paul is also an Australia Day Ambassador and a proud Victorian.

With over 20 years on ICN Victoria’s board, Russell has an extensive history in the heavy resource engineering industry. As a professional mechanical engineer, Russell operated at one of the oldest Australian engineering companies, Jaques Limited. Another business Russell was involved at is Clyde Industries Limited, with export operations primarily to Asia, North and South America and South Africa. The focus on local content and strengthening our supply chain has been the core reason for Russell’s involvement with ICN Victoria for over two decades.

Gillian has a distinguished career that spans executive and non-executive roles across the private, public and not for profit sectors having worked three decades in industries that interface with the environment and community, before senior public service. An accomplished leader in complex stakeholder environments across multiple sectors, risks and settings, Gillian was initially an industrial chemist and later operations manager with BHP Steel and Brambles Cleanaway. Gillian has held senior roles with both the Australian and Victorian Governments including Deputy Secretary Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Chair Sustainability Victoria and was Victoria’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability - an independent statutory role that reports and advises government and the community on the environment - for a decade until June 2024. As an establishing Centre Director for the Commonwealth Enterprise Connect Program from 2008-2010, Gillian was fortunate to experience first-hand the critical role of ICN in supporting industries and creating jobs. Gillian is also the Chair of FrontierSI, a Member of the Monash University Council, Deputy Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and a Trustee of the Royal Society of Victoria. Gillian was recognised as one of Victoria’s Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2020, and as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours “for significant services to environmental sustainability, and to public administration

Jenny Kruschel is a dedicated workers advocate with a passion for manufacturing, having amassed over two decades of experience across various roles in the Textile, Clothing, and Footwear (TCF) industry. Hailing from regional Victoria, Jenny's journey began on the shop floors of esteemed establishments such as Rocklea's Spinning Mills, Exacto, and Diamond Cut. Her grassroots experience ingrained in her a deep understanding of the industry's nuances and challenges. Jenny currently holds the positions of TCF National Secretary within the Manufacturing Division of the CFMEU. Jenny is also the Director of Skills Insight’s Jobs and Skills Council, an Executive Member of IndustriALL, and a Member of the Home Workers Code Committee (Ethical Clothing Australia).

Damian has more than 25 years of experience advocating on matters of national and global interest. As Group Executive, Policy and Public Affairs at Engineers Australia, Damian has a direct channel to the views and ideas of more than 120,000 experts and is tasked with harnessing those into policy insight and action. As a key voice in the engineering profession, Damian advises government on critical national issues and advocates on the role that the engineering profession plays in creating a sustainable, skilled, and innovative future for Australia. He regularly engages with decision and policy makers on issues as broad as infrastructure, energy transformation, climate change, innovation and the skilled workforce. Prior to joining Engineers Australia, Damian held senior positions leading advocacy initiatives and organisations across Australia, New Zealand and North America. Damian is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School leadership program.