Workforce Capability
Advisory Panel
Supporting FCIF to make the best funding decisions
To align our grant approval process with best practice, we have established an Expert Advisory Panel for the Workforce Capability Round.
The Panel's role is advisory: their input informs the grantmaking recommendations put to the FCIF Board for approval.
The panel consists of diverse experts, each bringing a different set of skills, experience and subject-matter expertise to the deliberation process.
Panel members
Nathan Blane – Executive Director, Research and Workforce and Chief Economist, HumanAbility
Nathan Blane is HumanAbility's Executive Director, Research and Workforce and Chief Economist, leading the organisation's research program and economic analysis. Nathan is ex-Treasury, ex-Grattan, ex-political-office-staffer, and more recently ex-UnitingCare Australia, where he led the economic inclusion and community services portfolios. At HumanAbility, he is responsible for the organisation's workforce planning and research, drawing on a background in Australia's care and support sectors, labour economics, and fiscal policy.
Carmel Franklin – Non-Executive Director, Energy Consumers Australia and Way Forward Debt Solutions
Carmel Franklin currently serves on the Boards of Energy Consumers Australia and Way Forward Debt Solutions. She is a recently retired financial counsellor, and former CEO of Care Financial Counselling Service (ACT) and former Board Chair of Financial Counselling Australia. Carmel brings skills and experience in financial counselling, operational delivery and sector-wide perspectives.
Mary Hodge – Branch Manager, Department of Social Services
Mary Hodge is a Branch Manager at the Australian Government Department of Social Services, leading teams responsible for financial wellbeing, including financial counselling, emergency relief, food relief, and volunteering programs. She has extensive experience in social policy development, program delivery, stakeholder engagement. Mary is passionate about working with government and non-government partners to improve outcomes for Australians experiencing vulnerability and financial hardship.
The alternate for Mary Hodge is Rachael Teoh.
Kath Hume – Founder, Workforce Transformations Australia
With expertise in strategic workforce planning, capability development and future foresight, Kath explores how emerging trends and technologies shape workforce needs — and how people can be empowered to keep pace. She challenges traditional approaches to workforce development, advocating for problem-solving in the face of unknown solutions and preparing for futures that may seem improbable today.
Kath hosts the Reimagined Workforce podcast, reaching listeners in almost eighty countries, and is the author of the Amazon number one best seller Learn Solve Thrive — a book that highlights the critical skill of learning how to learn, essential for adapting to rapid change.
AJ Williams-Tchen – Founder, Director & Lead Consultant, Girraway Ganyi Consultancy
AJ Williams-Tchen is an award-winning Social Worker, Nurse & Youth Worker of Aboriginal (Wiradjuri) background. He is the Founder, Director & Lead Consultant of Girraway Ganyi Consultancy, with over 34 years experience with Aboriginal organisations & communities in health, education, mental health, suicide prevention and finaicial literacy. He facilitates cultural Awareness programs across Australia and is a Principal Master MHFA Instructor, who has facilitated over 935+ MHFA courses nationally. He also provides cultural mentoring & support programs in schools and workplaces, and hosts the podcast 'Yarninblak'.