--- title: Workforce Capability Advisory Panel description: The panel reviews applications for FCIF Innovation Grants. Their input informs grantmaking recommendations put to the FCIF Board for approval. image: https://www.fcif.org.au/hubfs/44.png --- [![logo](https://www.fcif.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=215&height=90&name=logo.png "logo")](https://fcif.org.au?hsLang=en-au) - [Home](https://www.fcif.org.au) - About us - [About FCIF](https://www.fcif.org.au/aboutfcif) - [2025-2028 Grants Strategy](https://www.fcif.org.au/funding-strategy) - [Equity and Transparency](https://www.fcif.org.au/equity-transparency) - [Help videos (using Blackbaud](https://www.fcif.org.au/videohelp) - [Measuring Unmet Demand](https://www.fcif.org.au/measuring-unmet-demand-working-group) - [Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/contact-0) - [Share your story](https://www.fcif.org.au/share) - [Subscribe](https://www.fcif.org.au/subscribe) - [Contact us](https://www.fcif.org.au/contact) - Expansion - [Expansion Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/expansion) - [External Reviewers](https://www.fcif.org.au/expansion-reviewers) - [2025 Applications](https://www.fcif.org.au/2025-expansion-grant-applications) - [2025 Outcomes and Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/outcomes-and-feedback-2025-expansion-grants) - Innovation - [Innovation Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/innovation) - [2025 Innovation Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/outcomes-2025innovationgrants) - [2026 Outcomes and Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/2026-innovation-outcomes) - [Innovation Advisory Panel](https://www.fcif.org.au/panel) - Workforce Capability - [Workforce Capability Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/workforce-capability-round) - [Workforce Capability Advisory Panel](https://www.fcif.org.au/workforce-capability-advisory-panel) - Funding partners - [Funding partners](https://www.fcif.org.au/funding-partners) - [Become a contributor](https://www.fcif.org.au/becomeacontributor) - [Home](https://www.fcif.org.au) - About us - [About FCIF](https://www.fcif.org.au/aboutfcif) - [2025-2028 Grants Strategy](https://www.fcif.org.au/funding-strategy) - [Equity and Transparency](https://www.fcif.org.au/equity-transparency) - [Help videos (using Blackbaud](https://www.fcif.org.au/videohelp) - [Measuring Unmet Demand](https://www.fcif.org.au/measuring-unmet-demand-working-group) - [Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/contact-0) - [Share your story](https://www.fcif.org.au/share) - [Subscribe](https://www.fcif.org.au/subscribe) - [Contact us](https://www.fcif.org.au/contact) - Expansion - [Expansion Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/expansion) - [External Reviewers](https://www.fcif.org.au/expansion-reviewers) - [2025 Applications](https://www.fcif.org.au/2025-expansion-grant-applications) - [2025 Outcomes and Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/outcomes-and-feedback-2025-expansion-grants) - Innovation - [Innovation Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/innovation) - [2025 Innovation Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/outcomes-2025innovationgrants) - [2026 Outcomes and Feedback](https://www.fcif.org.au/2026-innovation-outcomes) - [Innovation Advisory Panel](https://www.fcif.org.au/panel) - Workforce Capability - [Workforce Capability Grants](https://www.fcif.org.au/workforce-capability-round) - [Workforce Capability Advisory Panel](https://www.fcif.org.au/workforce-capability-advisory-panel) - Funding partners - [Funding partners](https://www.fcif.org.au/funding-partners) - [Become a contributor](https://www.fcif.org.au/becomeacontributor) Search Search - [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.fcif.org.au/subscribe) - [NEED HELP?](https://www.fcif.org.au/about-fc) - - - [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.fcif.org.au/subscribe) - [NEED HELP?](https://www.fcif.org.au/about-fc) - - Search Search # 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'.  [![acnc-logo](https://www.fcif.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/acnc-logo.png?width=200&height=201&name=acnc-logo.png "acnc-logo")](https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/f586a361-01fe-ee11-9f8a-00224893b0ed/profile) *We live and work on the lands of the Darkinjung people, and the Gadigal, Wangal and Gayamaygal people of the Eora Nation. We recognise them and other Traditional Custodians of this unceded land. We pay our respects to elders past and present. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.* © Financial Counselling Industry Fund. 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