2010~2013
Jeanette Allen – Australia
Jeanette Allen was 15 when she decided she wanted to be a hairdresser.
Little did she know then just how far her Australian Apprenticeship would take her.
“When I completed my apprenticeship in hairdressing, I had an excellent grasp on all aspects of the trade,” Jeanette said. “Within six years I was a salon manager and within 10 years I owned and operated two salons employing 15 staff.”
Jeanette quickly realised as a business owner, and trainer of her own Australian Apprentices, that teaching the profession of hairdressing was to be her next goal.
A career of life-long learning was to follow. “My apprenticeship really was the foundation I needed to kick-start my career, and as the years progressed, I found I was able to build upon that qualification through further education and experience to extend myself and my career opportunities,” she said.
“I’ve been a hairdresser, business owner, teacher and curriculum designer and for a number of years the CEO of Service Skills Australia – a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving training and enhancing skills and workforce development for Australians, especially apprentices and trainees.”
Jeanette has now established her own consultancy with a view to contributing to the development of the vocational education and training sector and the many opportunities it offers to business and industry. “I believe Australian Apprenticeships have the power to change lives,” she said. “By taking on an apprenticeship, you are opening yourself up to a world of opportunities where you can gain an independent and well-paid career.”
In 2011 Jeanette was the inaugural winner of the Leadership in Quality Award at the Australian Training Awards.
2014~2016
Erica Cumming – New Zealand
Erica has enjoyed a longstanding career as a Chief Executive Officer of the NZ Hair & Beauty Industry Training Organisation Inc (HITO), while at the same time serving in a governance role on a range of Boards including WorldSkills NZ. Erica has led HITO through successive government policy changes, introduced new industries to apprenticeships, overseen the development of new qualifications for the hair and beauty sectors, and has achieved international recognition and certification of New Zealand qualifications”.
A fully qualified hairdresser, having started her career in hairdressing in Gore at 15 years old as an apprentice and going on to own her own salons, Ms Cumming has been an advocate for the tertiary education sector and in particular people in the hairdressing, barbering and beauty industries to get qualified – both in New Zealand, and through her role as Chair of the International Professional Standards Network, an international organisation that works to raise the standard of hair and beauty organisations across the world.
2017~2021
Dr. LEUNG Hip-hung– Japan
Dr. Leung is a director of Japan Spa Wellness Association. He holds a Bachelor and a Doctoral degree in Engineering and is a Chartered Engineer.
Dr. Leung has extensive experience in the education and training field. He started his career in the teaching profession as a lecturer in a technical institute and progressed subsequently to a Principal in heading an Institute of Vocational Education. Before his retirement from the Vocational Training Council in December 2013, Dr. Leung was a Senior Assistant Executive Director taking charge of various training activities of different industries in Hong Kong. In view of his contributions to ipsn, Dr. Leung received his honorary award from ipsn in 2014.
In terms of community services, Dr. Leung is the Honorary President of the Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong, a member of the Consumer Relations Committee of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, a member of the Advisory Board for Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies of Lingnan University of Hong Kong, and an advisor of the Community Care and Nursing Home Workers General Union of Hong Kong. He is also the Resident Advisor of the China Planning Institute on Ageing of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
the ipsn 