Aisling Smith has over 15 years of experience in the delivery of Personal and Professional Development Training Programs.

As a master coach and facilitator and a passionate advocate for the mental health and wellbeing of employees, a neurodivergent mother, she has first-hand experience of navigating through the corporate world with a hidden disability. She is dedicated to empowering employees to enjoy work and their contribution to our society at large. Having spent ten years studying the brain, the mind-body connection and human performance, Aisling (Ash) utilises her learnings to support both Neurodivergent and Neurotypical people to identify and utilise their unique strengths and abilities to become leaders in their fields.

Andrew brings more than 20 years of advisory experience to his role, and has a Bachelor of Business, Master of Arts (Communication) and Master of Public Policy and Management. During his career, he has advised public and private sector clients in policy and strategy across transport (aviation, road, rail), energy, water, Defense and national security and social infrastructure.

The collective skills, knowledge and experience of the more than 1,000 Strategic Consulting team members globally makes us the catalyst to enable transformational change to reinvent tomorrow. Through close collaboration with our design and technology solutions, creative thought, change management expertise, visioning and advance planning expertise, Strategic Consulting looks beyond projects, seeking to create and implement resilient, sustainable and connected solutions that positively impact societies around the world. We want to make the impossible possible.

The Victorian Public Sector Commissioner is responsible for driving excellence, professionalism, and integrity in the sector.

Brigid Monagle was appointed as Commissioner in February 2023.

She is a senior public servant who previously acted as Secretary for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

Prior to that Brigid was the Associate Secretary at DFFH and before that she also held several Deputy Secretary roles in that department.

In the second half of 2020, Brigid was seconded to the then-Department of Health and Human Services to serve as Deputy Secretary, Public Health Policy and Strategy during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2018, Brigid established and led the Fairer Victoria Division as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).

Brigid was also an Executive Director at DPC, leading advice in the areas of Aboriginal Affairs Policy, including the formation of Treaty Authority legislation and self-determination, health policy and reform, and inter-governmental strategy.

Before that, Brigid worked at The Treasury in New Zealand for several years.

Brigid is committed to supporting Victorian public sector employees to continue to meet the high standards that the community rightly expects of the sector.

Brigid was named an IPAA Victoria Fellow in 2024.

She holds a Master of Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from University of Melbourne.

Sofia is an industry leading communications community/stakeholder and government relations professional with over 20 years’ experience in journalism, media advising government and strategic communications advice. Prior to starting her own consultancy, Sofia has previously advised Victorian Government Minister’s in on local government, planning, transport, health, emergency services, police, security, and counter terrorism policy, as well as state-wide media strategy.

Over her career, Sofia has worked in senior levels of government and led the media strategy for large national public facing organisations including the United Nations in Lebanon, Country Fire Authority, the Melbourne Women’s Hospital, South East Water, and the Victorian Planning Authority.

Sofia has also trained with the International Association for Public Participation Australasia. She has held board positions on the Alola Foundation, established in 2001 by Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the former First Lady of Timor-Leste and Women’s Health Victoria.

Sofia was previously a journalist with the Age. She is highly respected within her field and her deep understanding of practicing her profession at a level of excellence has led to her engagement as guest lecturer and tutor in PR, Media & Communications RMIT University.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (journalism) and a master’s degree in international relations (Human Rights Law) from Deakin University and in 2020 undertook a Certificate of Change & Corporate Communications at Cornell University.