Our People

Work & Training is Tasmania’s largest employer of trainees and apprentices and also the largest private provider of training and assessment in the state. We would not be able to achieve this without the dedication, expertise and passion of our people, who number in excess of 40 state-wide. 

Our people are experts in their respective fields and undertake continuous professional development to ensure that they are able to provide our clients with the most up-to-date information on current market trends and workforce development.

Our people take pride in being a valuable resource for business owners and managers in relation to this and also provide effective support to employees undertaking training and those seeking to enter the workforce.

As a Tasmanian not-for-profit entity, we are aware of our commitment to ensure that we are adding the greatest value to the community through providing pathways to employment across the state. Our fantastic people are integral to our achievement of this.

Our Board

Chris Deakin

Chair

Chris joined the Work & Training Board in April 2023.

Over her career, Chris has held a number of Board and Executive positions spanning more than 30 years. Her roles in financial services included General Management for Business Development and Marketing and Distribution. She started her career at Coopers and Lybrand in chartered accounting. She also spent nearly two years providing consulting services on change management and transition for a State Government project. She also now works in the primary prevention of violence against women.

Chris completed a 10-year term on the Board of Banyule Community Health in 2022, which included several years as Chair and Deputy Chair, receiving a Federal electorate Community Volunteer Award in 2023 for this work. She is a member of the History and Traditions Committee of the Richmond Football Club. She has held a number of other Board roles in the financial services industry and has been President and Treasurer of her sons’ primary school and college.

Chris is passionate about social justice, diversity and inclusion and believes strongly in supporting local community. Much of her professional experience has been in the not for profit sector, where the value of giving back is central.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics (Monash), a Diploma Financial Services (Financial Planning), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and has completed Leadership Victoria Women’s Leadership Program.

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Poul Bottern

Director

Poul Bottern (MBA Hons, GAICD) joined IntoWork Australia as Group CEO in 2012 having over 20 years experience in management and executive level roles across community, training and employment related services.

Poul has worked with the Board and Management Team in building IntoWork Australia into a large progressive employment, recruitment, training and community service provider with over 200 locations across Australia. He is actively involved in various forums and peak bodies, including his role as the President of the National Australian Apprenticeship Association.

IntoWork Group of Businesses employs over 2600 staff, as well as thousands of apprentices, trainees, and short-term placements, and trains tens of thousands of students each year. As an Apprenticeship Network Provider the Group supports tens of thousands of people entering apprenticeships and traineeships, and also supports many disadvantaged young people and people with disabilities to enter the workforce and settle into the community as a DES and NDIS provider.

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Christine Zechowski 

Director

Christine Zechowski is an accomplished executive with over 25 years’ leadership experience spanning the employment, skills development and education sectors. She has held several strategic governance roles, including Director and subsequently Chair of Wide Bay Group Training, where she led the successful merger with MRAEL in 2009.

Christine then served as Chair of MRAEL until 2011, overseeing the integration of operations and strengthening organisational performance through a period of significant reform. She continued as a Director of MRAEL until 2016. 

Christine is deeply committed to advancing community-centred service delivery. Her focus on workforce development and vocational training is underpinned by strong regional connections and a proven ability to align business strategy with local needs.

She brings to the Board a passion for equitable access to service participation and a keen understanding of regional economic landscapes across Australia, making her a valued contributor to the Group’s vision and strategic direction.

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Nicolas West

Director

With over three decades of experience in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, Nicolas West has extensive experience in the strategic positioning of organisations within the sector.

Since joining the IntoWork Group in early 2017, Nicolas has worked with the Board of Directors, Group CEO, executive and management teams to place IntoWork as a leading provider of workplace participation services.

Prior to joining IntoWork, Nicolas held a number of senior roles involving the governance of organisations, including VECCI, Committee for Melbourne, as a Director of an industry association, CEO of a not-for-profit community organisation, leading the merger of two community organisations and advising on creating governance models for enterprises. His motivation stems from a desire to make a real change in the lives of individuals.

Management Team