Business NSW New England North West will support the Greater Northern Skills Development Group (GNSDG) to deliver the Skills Connect leadership and workforce development series across the region in June.
With workforce and skills needs continuing to shift, both organisations say stronger regional collaboration is critical. GNSDG, recently reinvigorated, is partnering with Business NSW to roll out the series as a region-led initiative aimed at building capability, supporting workforce development and responding to priorities identified by local businesses, including youth engagement.
GNSDG brings together stakeholders from across the vocational education and training (VET) sector, including industry, training providers, schools and community representatives. The group plays a key role in strengthening the region’s skills pipeline and supporting pathways into employment.
The Skills Connect series will be held in Tamworth on 2 June at the Mercure Tamworth and in Bingara on 3 June at the Roxy Theatre. The program is designed to deliver targeted development opportunities for individuals and businesses.
Sessions will be led by Mark LeBusque, a Harvard-trained consultant, author and leadership coach with more than 25 years’ corporate experience. His focus includes building core leadership capabilities such as self-awareness, resilience, emotional intelligence and communication.
Each location will host three tailored sessions for job seekers, supervisors, senior leaders and business owners, with a focus on practical skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace.
GNSDG chair Nicky Turner said the series reflects the organisation’s focus on access to high-quality, locally relevant training.
“A key priority for GNSDG is ensuring people in our region can access training and development aligned to local industry needs,” Turner said.
“Through Skills Connect, we are delivering targeted opportunities in Tamworth and Bingara that support job seekers, supervisors and business leaders to build capability relevant to their roles.”
Business NSW New England North West regional director Stephanie Cameron said recent data highlights the need for locally driven solutions.
“According to the Business NSW Workforce Skills Survey 2026, 28.1 per cent of New England North West businesses report a lack of local access to relevant training — more than double the rate in 2024 and above the NSW average,” Cameron said.
“The proportion of businesses reporting limited capacity to supervise or train staff has also increased.
“This reinforces the importance of initiatives like Skills Connect, which support businesses to build capability and strengthen their workforce.”
Business NSW said its partnership with the series reflects a commitment to supporting region-led responses to evolving workforce needs.
Event details
Tamworth: Tuesday, 2 June 2026 — Mercure Tamworth
Bingara: Wednesday, 3 June 2026 — Roxy Theatre
Registration is essential. Further details will be released soon.
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