Meet our board
Through the legislative framework the Minister for Training and Skills provides the board with a Statement of Expectations on an annual basis. This statement outlines the priorities and expectations the Queensland Government has for TAFE Queensland. From this the board develops a five year plan outlining the organisation's strategic direction.
Chairperson
Ms Seawright is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer and governance advisor, with broad sector experience in health, resources, technology, sport, infrastructure and the arts.
Based in Townsville, she brings to TAFE Queensland extensive board and professional experience and expertise in strengthening and guiding organisations through periods of change and growth.
Ms Seawright is currently a non-executive director of Netball Australia, following a 5 year term as Chair of Netball Queensland. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a non-executive director of The Australian Festival of Chamber Music, a non-executive director of QCN Fibre Pty Ltd (a State Government-owned joint venture between Powerlink and Energy Queensland), a Board Member of Racing Queensland, and an inaugural Member of the National Sports Tribunal.
Member
Dr Cooms belongs to the Nunukul people of Minjerribah or North Stradbroke Island. Dr Cooms has a PhD from the Australian National University and has worked with TAFE NSW writing curriculum and teaching.
Dr Cooms has extensive experience leading Indigenous affairs organisations in the community and government sectors and has also undertaken considerable work in Native Title, working as CEO of the Queensland Native Title Services and serving as a Member of the National Native Title Tribunal.
Dr Cooms is currently the Chair of the Quandamooka Yoolooburabee Registered Native Title Body Corporate.
Member
Ms Davies specialises in operational risk and internal audit, having worked across a breadth of industries within both the private and public sectors.
Ms Davies is currently Chair of MOVE Bank and is an Audit and Risk Committee member of a federal government department.
Ms Davies holds a Bachelor of Economics, Graduate Certificate in Information Technology (Business Systems), is a graduate of the AICD, Certified Internal Auditor and CPA.
Member
Mr Dettmer has extensive knowledge of workplace policy and vocational education and training (VET), as well as experience in managing economic change. He has extensive corporate governance experience having served on a number of boards in the trades and union sectors.
Mr Dettmer is the National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, and previously was State Secretary of the Queensland / Northern Territory Branch from 2003-12.
Mr Dettmer has held a number of board positions including QMI Solutions, the Queensland Training and Employment Recognition Council, Yeronga TAFE, SkillsTech Australia and Construction Skills Queensland. He was also Chair of Manufacturing Skills Queensland, and an ACTU nominee to the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency. He is a board member of the Australia Institute and of Australian People for Health, Education and Development-Union Aid Abroad and Safe Work Australia.
Mr Dettmer holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from Monash University.
Member
Ms Giles is a vocational education and training (VET) expert with experience in Australia and more recently in New Zealand. She is a passionate advocate for VET and the role that it plays in contributing to economic, industry, community and individual development.
Ms Giles was formerly the Institute Director at SkillsTech Australia and has held management and directorship positions at the Department of Employment and Training, the Open Learning Institute, the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE and the Wide Bay / Sunshine Coast Region TAFE, and Training and Employment Queensland.
Ms Giles holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Master of Social Planning and Development from the University of Queensland.
Member
Ms Hockley is a well-respected business owner of the L & M Group of Companies and an experienced non-executive director with a background in education and training, sport, employment, retail and governance.
Ms Hockley was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the general division for her significant service to the community and to business and was the past Chair and a Fellow of the AICD Gold Coast committee and the Chair of Ohana for Youth, Arcadia College and the Spot Academy. Ms Hockley sits on the board of the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame and Sports Gold Coast.
Ms Hockley co-founded Women in Power to mentor other women and is a member of the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program. She has been recognised for her volunteer efforts which include a 20 year Leadership Award for the City of Gold Coast and was awarded an Outstanding Volunteer to the Indigenous Community.
Ms Hockley hold a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies and Grade Management Qualification and is a Fellow of AICD.
Member
Mr Price was appointed to the Energy Queensland Executive in November 2016 and is responsible for leading the Group’s engineering and asset management strategies, which includes the safe and efficient management of the Group’s electricity distribution networks. Mr Price is also accountable for the Energy Queensland Corporate Strategy and Regulatory outcomes.
Prior to joining Energy Queensland, Mr Price was a member of Energex’s executive management team for ten years undertaking a number of roles which included managing and leading capital planning and program delivery, asset management, procurement, regulatory issues and the growth of new commercial business.
He has a strong background in Queensland's skills and training sector including being Chair of Energy Skills Queensland, a former member of the TAFE Queensland Board, a member of the TAFE Queensland Reform Board and Chairperson of SkillsTech Australia.
Mr Price holds a bachelor degree (with honours) and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Queensland and is a Fellow of AICD.