Our Team
Astute Learning is a team of professionals, passionate about our industry and committed to our clients’ businesses, bringing our wealth of senior resource industry experience to our clients through results orientated strategies.
Our team members have unique in-depth industry knowledge and experience enabling them to relate directly to contemporary industry issues, legislative requirements and resource sector best practice. Our team offers practical insights and applies problem solving techniques based on this experience.
With associates in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth the Astute Learning team supports operational performance, supervisory and leadership development of resource sector teams on sites across Australia.
Tim Cameron
Facilitation Team
Tim is an Organisational Development consultant with over 25 years experience having held senior executive appointments in the Private, Public and Not for profit sectors.
Tim has worked in the resource and heavy industry sectors in Project Engineering, Contract Management, Process Improvement and Operations roles as well as a Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of an ASX Listed public company.
In addition to his broad operational experience, Tim is able to draw on a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters of Engineering Science, a Masters of Business Administration and formal training qualifications. Tim is focused on the development of supervisory and leadership program frameworks, and content that drives engagement, builds capability and meets organisational requirements.
Les Croft
Facilitation Team
Les specialises in organisational effectiveness, leadership development and health and safety system compliance. He has a broad operational background with Alcan, RioTinto and BHP in roles ranging from Production Superintendent to Manager Training and Development.
Les has delivered middle management development programs at a corporate level targeting 650 mid-level managers across the CRA / Rio Tinto group and worked in operations as diverse as Tomago Aluminium Smelter, Blue Scope Steels production facilities and BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance.
Les has been engaged in the practical implementation of System Leadership and continues to practise in this area. Les holds qualifications in engineering, safety compliance and training and development.
Kerry Osling
Facilitation Team
Prior to pursuing his passion for organisational development and change management Kerry worked within the aluminium smelting and mineral sands industries in a number of operational and technical leadership roles. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree with a Masters of Business Administration and has extensive experience in developing teams and culture to improve business performance.
Kerry has actively led change in safety, employment systems, costs, process capability, and plant expansion / commissioning. Kerry is an experienced Systems Leadership practitioner and has for many years facilitated experiential programs founded on the CRA Working Together program.
Louise Coutts
Facilitation Team
Louise has extensive operational experience at site level in the resources industry coupled with senior roles in a corporate office environment.
She commenced her career as a Training Officer at Mount Isa Mines in 1991 before moving on to WMC Resources where she worked at Kambalda Nickel Operations, Hill 50 Gold in Mount Magnet and Queensland Fertilizers in Brisbane and the Perth office in a variety of senior HR roles.
During periods where more flexibility was needed Louise also worked on a contract basis for Argyle Diamonds, Western Power and Works Infrastructure. More recently, Louise has worked with BHP Billiton in a variety of roles including Human Resource Manager, Recruitment and Development Manager and Organisational Effectiveness Manager. Louise holds a Bachelor of Business (HRM) and a Graduate Diploma of Further Education and Training.
Peter Horne
Facilitation Team
Peter places an emphasis on the practical application of line management skills from risk management, HSE management and team performance management to positively impact on organisation and individual performance.
He has worked as Principal Advisor Capability Development within Rio Tinto and held roles in Organisational Development / Training & Development in a number of heavy industry organisations following operational roles in the Oil & Gas sector.
Peter is a skilled facilitator of Systems Leadership workshops and holds qualifications in engineering, training and development, and business administration (masters).
Paul Skewes
Facilitation Team
Initially completing his trade training through the Royal School of Military Engineering of the British Army, Paul has subsequently held operational roles from Front Line Management, Mid-Level Management and Business Improvement applying Six Sigma methodologies.
A change management and business improvement specialist, Paul’s career to date has spanned direct operational supervision, recruitment and development, business improvement, training and in-workplace coaching across the construction, resource and public sectors.
Paul currently leverages his broad industry experience and passion for business improvement in his capacity as facilitator of leadership and safety compliance programs, workplace coach and his mentoring of operational leaders.
Heather Dickinson
Instructional Design – Content Development
Heather holds a Master of Education (Workplace Education) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Education, and is a professional within the Learning and Development field with over 12 years’ experience across learning needs analysis, instructional design, course development and facilitation.
Heather’s experience in training delivery and career commitment to learning and development brings a practical perspective to her instructional design. In her current engagement Heather is leading the design and development of Health and Safety content for use in the commercial explosives industry on mining sites globally.
Ben Abbott
Instructional Design – Content Development
Ben is an innovative Instructional Designer with a Masters of Training and Development and a strong emphasis on visual design. Throughout his career he has continued to explore innovative ways to improve learner engagement and outcome retention.
Ben is trained in a broad range of methodologies from Creative Training Techniques with Bob Pike to Information Mapping. His instructional design work spans traditional learning, eLearning and blended approaches across topics from Performance Management to Systems Application.
In his current engagement Ben is focused on workplace diversity and unconscious bias.
James Moore
Learning Administration & Program Evaluation
James commenced his career in the United States Government public sector, providing services as a public service administrator to the United States Air Force. After a period of six years James transitioned to Right Management focusing on supporting the national career and talent management services provided by that organisation.
James has maintained his interest in capability development and has for several years managed the Astute Learning program support office, including the overseeing of the company’s Learning Management System and other technology platforms.
James holds a Bachelor in Business Technologies and is accountable for program administration and supporting evaluation of program effectiveness.