Board Members

John Chapman’s multi-faceted career includes extensive experience at CEO/senior executive level in public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

He is currently the South Australian Industry Advocate. He is also a member of the SA Skills Commission as well as an independent member of the Department for Energy and Mining Audit and Risk Committee. He was South Australia’s Small Business Commissioner between 2014 and 2021 following 8 years as CEO of the Motor Trade Association of SA.

He holds a  Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow and Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Commissioner Cameron Baker has more than 20 years’ experience in the vocational education and training sector.  He was appointed as South Australia’s Skills Commissioner in July 2023.

Economic, social policy and workplace safety imperatives underpin Cameron’s work, which sees him engage daily with industry associations, employer bodies, unions and training organisations.

As the former Acting Victorian Skills Commissioner, Head of Apprenticeships Victoria, Deputy CEO of Manufacturing Skills Australia and General Manager – Skills and Engagement at the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC), he is well-versed in the regulatory and training needs of existing and emerging industries.

An accomplished strategic operator, Cameron was also a Commercial Director at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and held various educationally-focused appointments over 10 years of service with the Department of Defence.

Mardi is a commercial barrister at Edmund Barton Chambers.  She specialises in construction, engineering and energy law.  Prior to joining the bar, Mardi was a partner at Fenwick Elliott Grace and General Counsel for a public company, E&A Limited.  Mardi is a current Board Member of the Construction Industry Training Board, Lincoln College and serves on the Department of Treasury and Finance Procurement Governance Committee.  Mardi actively balances the needs of stakeholders and brings strategic insight and foresight informed by industry knowledge and experience.

Kelly is the Operations Manager & Director of Adelaide plumbing company, Hydro-Jet Solutions Australia.  With a Contractors Licence, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), she has also completed her Executive Ready qualifications with Women in Leadership Australia.

With a passion for the future of the plumbing and construction industries, Kelly is dedicated to supporting the training and education of both current and future tradespeople.  Her advocacy also extends to encouraging more women to pursue careers in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

AS CEO of the Master Builders Association, Will uses his experience and qualifications in journalism, finance and politics to work collaboratively with key stakeholders and deliver results for South Australia’s building and construction industry.  Will is a board Member of the Construction Industry Training Board and Master Builders Insurance Brokers.

Stuart Gordon has over 30 years’ experience working in the manufacturing industry, including 20 years with the Australian Workers Union ((AWU).

Stuart held Director positions in Printing and Media Superannuation funds between 2005 and 2019. He also chaired the Benefits and Insurance Claims Committee at Media Super and is currently a member of the South Australian Skills Commission

In his current position, Stuart provides advice to business and employees regarding skills and assessment in award classifications, negotiates Enterprise Agreements and advocates in the South Australian Employment Tribunal and Australian Fair Work Commission. In addition, Stuart’s work encompasses promoting and monitoring compliance with workplace law and investigating breaches of the Fair Work Act (2009). Stuart also liaises with Local and Federal Government.

Stuart has held multiple union committee positions. Currently he serves on the AMWU National and State Councils and Conference, as a long-standing member of the Construction Portable Long Service Board.

Gary represents workers’ industrial and workers compensation interests across South Australia in various “Blue Collar” industries within the AWU’s coverage including the oil and gas, civil construction, local government and cement manufacturing.

He was a member of the CITB Board between 2010-2019 and is a member of the SA Skills Commission Construction, Mining and Energy Industry Skills Council.

Gary also worked as a carpenter on various multi storey building sites in the metropolitan area before joining local government as a Building and Maintenance employee prior to joining the AWU.

Erin is the Project Coordinator/Mentor for the ‘Women In Defence Pathways’ program, a pilot program designed to provide opportuities to women looking to enter the electrical trade industries.

Erin is a plumber by trade and worked on a number of major sites within the construction industry.

Prior to her current role, Erin was a union official for 8 year at the CEPU representing the plumbing trade industries and construction industries.

Erin is passionate about opening up opportunities for others and helping to create a more inclusive industry through supporting the training and safety of current and future tradespeople.

Stephen’s career in the building industry spans more than 50 years.  Commencing with 15 years as a draftsman followed by a long and successful career as a builder.

Starting with home renovations and new homes and progressing in later years to affordable housing projects and apartment buildings for social welfare entities.

For the past 7 years Stephen has been the Executive Director of the Housing Industry Association SA where his role is managing the commercial interests of the association and also, more importantly, advocating for members and more broadly representing the residential housing industry.

Cassie Manser, a proud South Australian, attributes her early introduction to the construction industry to the influence of her family business.  Her extensive career includes significant roles on the National Broadband Network (NBN) build and with Laing O’Rourke, where she worked on the Future Submarine Project, Defense strategic pursuits, and project establishment within the NSW rail and tunnelling portfolio.

As the Managing Director and Principal Business Partner at Capture Culture, Cassie provides holistic consulting services in people and risk management, specialising in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Her leadership expertise spans specialist areas in Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), Human Resources (HR), Strategy and Transformation, Wellbeing, Industry Participation, and Diversity & Inclusion, as well as extensive support in leadership coaching and governance.

Cassie holds a Bachelor of Science (Anatomical Science & Psychology), a Master of Business Administration, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Additionally, she serves as a committee member for the South Australian Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and chairs its Mentoring Program and is the chair of Building Women Ltd, showcasing her dedication to fostering growth and equity within the industry.

Rebecca Pickering has worked in the civil, commercial building and construction industries for over 27 years, and for the last decade she has operated her own consultancy company and held various executive and Board roles in private construction and not-for-profit entities.  She is renown predominantly for successfully assessing, modelling and delivering critical strategic business projects through her own consultancy company, and working directly with the construction and infrastructure industry.

Whilst consulting Rebecca was engaged by Civil Contractors Federation SA to complete financial modelling to support the potential establishment of a fully focused Civil Group Training Organisation (GTO). The CCF SA Board committed to the GTO venture, and further engaged Rebecca to establish the independent GTO entity Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd (CACL), on behalf of CCF SA. She was later appointed as Director of CACL by the CCF SA Board.

Mid December 2020 Rebecca successfully took on the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Civil Contractors Federation SA, whilst still leading the Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd (CACL). A dynamic leader, Rebecca is also a Certified Compliance Professional and holds a number of recognised qualifications in the areas of business, risk management, compliance and auditing.

Chelsea is employed by the Maritime Union of Australia Division of the CFMEU as the South Australian Branch Office Manager.

Chelsea’s specialised skillset, particularly focused in the key areas of financial and operational governance, underpin the strategic industrial and political objectives and obligations of the Branch and the Division.

Chelsea has been elected to the position of Treasurer of the South Australian May Day Collective for the second consecutive year (2024 and 2025) following her previous tenure as President.

Previously working within the CFMEU Construction and General Division in South Australia, Chelsea forged close and necessary working relationships with allied Unions, including the Manufacturing Division of the CFMEU and CEPU (Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union) both intrinsic within the building and construction industry, and these strategic relationships continue to enhance Chelsea’s broad experience, giving a real first hand insight into the specific and unique requirements of the sector.