Carmel Crouch

Board Chair

As Managing Director of STEPS Group of Companies Carmel is responsible for the strategic direction and overarching corporate governance of the organisation which maintains the success of STEPS operations, including employment, training, education, and social ventures. The STEPS Group of Companies is made up of STEPS Group Australia, STEPS Social Business and STEPS Staffing Solutions. Carmel mentors and coaches the STEPS Group of Companies Board of Directors, incorporating strategic planning, the Executive Leadership Team and Executive Management Team, working with them to develop strong values driven results orientation, with service delivery excellence. Carmel is a strong advocate in the disability and training space and has extensive experience liaising with Government departments including Director Generals of Government departments, public servants and Ministers at both the state and federal level and across four States and Territories within Australia. Carmel is highly skilled in the areas of leadership and corporate governance, often mentoring and coaching other CEO’s and Boards, particularly in the NFP sector, from throughout Australia.

Ben Carblis

Director: New South Wales and ACT

Based in NSW, Ben is currently deputy Chair of Jobs Australia, Chair of the Finance, Audit Insurance and Risk committee, and since 2019, representative for NSW on the Jobs Australia Board. Ben has an intimate understanding of the complexities, challenges and opportunities within the employment, childcare, aged care and community services industry, gained through over 20 years of senior leadership positions throughout NSW and the country. This experience has refined his skills in governance, government relations, advocacy, partnerships, business development, and financial management. Ben’s experience and alignment to Jobs Australia’s vision of reducing social disadvantage in our community positions him well to represent NSW on the Jobs Australia Board.

Michelle Braham

Director: South Australia

Michelle is an innovative and future oriented CEO regularly exploring promising practice and opportunities to provide responsive services. Michelle commenced her journey as CEO in August 2017 and has been the catalyst for major improvements in Youth Options including consolidating three locations into one Adelaide CBD location, our Sturt Street Youth Hub.

Michelle has a broad range of skills and experience in management, governance, human resources and in the establishment of services for young people and those seeking career assistance. Michelle is a professional member and sits on the Jobs Australia Board and is the Governance Chair. Prior to joining Youth Options, Michelle was employed by the Northern Territory Government.

Chris Hamilton

Director: Queensland and Northern Territory

Chris is the CEO of RESQ Plus in Longreach, delivering the Community Development Program to 32 rural and remote communities throughout Outback Queensland.

Chris has significant Board experience having been the Chair of Legacy Brisbane Ltd, a Director of Legacy Australia and member of the South West Queensland Hospital and Health Board. Chris is a director of RSL Australia Ltd, RSL Queensland and Jobs Australia Ltd.

Chris has an MBA in Human Resource Management and Marketing, a Bachelor of Applied Science, Diploma in Leadership and Management and an Associate Diploma in Horticulture. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Duane Tang Wei

Director: Western Australia

Duane is the CEO of Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC) And a proud Aboriginal man from Broome, Western Australia, who has over 20 years’ experience working in remote and regional locations within the Aboriginal Affairs Sector, both with Government and also the Not for Profit sector.

Duane has a strong understanding of Aboriginal affairs and specialises in Remote Service Delivery Projects and Operations, as well as change management associated with Remote Employment and Community Development Program and project delivery. For the past 12 years, Duane has been the Chief Executive Officer of Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC). KRCIC is a regional and remote Employment Service Provider and a Not for Profit Indigenous Corporation that delivers a diverse range of employment and community development projects and programs within the Kullarri Region of the Kimberley in Western Australia.

Duane’s experience provides a hands-on understanding of working with Government and with remote Aboriginal Communities and Groups to achieve project and service delivery outcomes, policy reform and change. He is a strong advocate for Local Community Based Employment and Local Capacity Building. He stands by the vision of KRCIC which is “Creating positive and sustainable futures for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People and Communities”.

Ben Vasiliou

Director: Victoria

Ben Vasiliou is a Social Entrepreneur & Social Justice Advocate. He is the proud CEO of Youth Projects, an independent Melbourne based Not for Profit. Ben has held a number of non-executive director positions with Australian charities and is a Victorian Justice of the Peace. Ben was named Innovator of the Year and One of The Top 25 most influential and inspiring people in the social economy in 2020, by Pro Bono Australia. He was also named in the Top 5 CEOs of 2021 announced by Third Sector and was Scholar of the Year in 2023 by the Australian Leadership Hub. Ben has graduated from the Executive Education in Social Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford University (USA).

Ben Richards

Director: Tasmania

Ben is the Chief Operating Officer of Workskills Tasmania. Workskills Tasmania has operated in Southern Tasmania for the past 41 years, enabling positive change in the local communities it serves.

Ben is responsible for the operational delivery of a diverse range of employment service programs, including: ParentsNext, Transition to Work, Workforce Australia Employment Services and the unique ‘Troublesmiths’ Youth Social Enterprise. Before joining Workskills Tasmania, Ben served for over 20 years in the Australian Army, holding various leadership and operational appointments.

Ben holds a Master’s degree in business from the University of New South Wales and was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours.