Tony is a proud Gunggandji man whose traditional lands include the discreet Aboriginal community of Yarrabah. Tony also has strong family and cultural connections throughout Cape York and Torres Strait Islands. Tony is a Co-Owner and Managing Director of Australian Training Works Group Pty Ltd (ATW). Australian Training Works (ATW) is a 100% privately-owned Indigenous owned and operated Queensland registered Group Training Organisation and a full employment services business. ATW and its group of companies specialise in providing training, employment, mentoring solutions and workforce development with a major focus on Indigenous outcomes.

Tony has previously worked across the Queensland and Australian Governments for a combined total of 22 years. He has worked at an Executive Management level in both tiers of government where he has managed large organisational teams and has led effective work force strategies through major periods of change. During this time Tony has mentored and supported staff, managed regional offices and held responsibility for programme expenditure within financial management guidelines.

Tony’s past working experience has specifically focused on the areas of Indigenous employment and training, Indigenous economic development, and social housing delivery. Whilst employed by the Queensland Government Tony was the Manager of the Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Education Program (AIHWEP). AIHWEP was the first nationally accredited certificate program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers. Tony has had extensive experience in working on the ground with remote communities and has managed former Community Development Employment Programs (CDEP). Tony is a Board Member of TRACQS Pty Ltd which is the Community Development Program (CDP) provider for the largest mainland CDP site nationally.

Tony has been a member of GHD’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and has previously been Australia’s representative on the World Indigenous Business Network (WIBN). Tony holds a Bachelor of Education from James Cook University, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) and a Certificate IV in Small Business Management. Tony also possesses a trade qualification as an Auto Electrician and has taught adult education programs in the TAFE and Correctional Services sectors.

Tony is a current and inaugural Board Member of the National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance (NIETA), which is the first ever National for Indigenous Employment and Training peak organisation.

Through Tony’s experience he has a comprehensive understanding of apprenticeship and traineeship frameworks and is most familiar with the Vocational Education sector. As Co-Owner and Managing Director of the ATW Group, Tony currently has oversight of major corporate and Queensland Government contracts to provide Group Training Organisation services. These include contracts with the Queensland Department of Health for the facilitation of Certificate III School Based Traineeships across various health related qualifications targeted at year eleven and twelve Indigenous students. The aim of the School Based Traineeships is to provide the students with either a pathway to employment in the health sector or further education. Tony has busily spent the past seven years researching and developing his Indigenous school to work transition program - Australian Indigenous Destinations Program (AIDP): “Taking Our Youth from School and Beyond.” Tony is actively seeking partnerships with interested schools and/or corporations to implement and deliver this program.

Tony is a serious First Nations entrepreneur who believes that First Nation economic participation and intergenerational wealth creation is a key driver to improve the lives of First Nation’s people.