Voices from the Edge

Marc Miles - Consistency vs Innovation

Marc Miles is a career presenter and trainer. He has written a book on Advanced Facilitation Skills, and for over a decade, has taught public speaking skills, and content from the Training and Education Training Package for Australian Vocational Education and Training.

During his time in the Vocational Education and Training sector, Marc has taught the TAE package over 500 times to people all around Australia in various industries. He has a been an instructional designer, training manager, and currently works as a senior facilitator for Spec Training.

Marc’s students know him as a dynamic and engaging facilitator in both the face-to-face and online environments, believing he has set a new standard for how online delivery can be done.
Marc’s book, Creating Transformation: Advanced Training Skills for Workshop Facilitators, was published in 2024. 

Marc has a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics, Natural language processing certifications, and has conducted numerous professional development workshops for various audiences across Vocation Education and Training, corporate and entrepreneurial sectors

Sacha Kaluri

Sacha Kaluri has been referred to as one of our countries leading youth career experts. She is the co-founder and director of the Australian Teenage Expo - our countries largest youth educational event. Author of The Two Worlds Of Your Teenager, has had own TV Program, Radio Show and Podcast. Written for all of the major Aussie newspapers and has been the Australian Ambassador for the United Nations New York for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.

 

She has also been awarded as one of the  Top 50 Small Business leaders in Australia. Sacha has presented to more than 1 million young people, all over Australia, New Zealand and USASacha is down to earth,  has a real and comical approach to life. 

Ian Collins and David Wollage - Safety Coaching

Joining us today are two passionate leaders in safety coaching, Ian Collins and David Wollage. Ian is a dedicated advocate for workplace wellbeing and human performance, with a strong presence in the safety coaching space. He has founded three companies - Safety Coach International, Wellbeing Daily and How2HOP. David, is a seasoned professional in safety leadership, brings years of hands-on experience in creating safer, more effective workplaces.

 

Together, they are spearheading the Safety Coaching Foundational Workshop, happening in Perth this May. This workshop is designed to transform how safety is approached, shifting from compliance-driven models to a more human-centered, coaching-based approach. If you're looking to elevate safety culture in your workplace, this is the event to be at. Welcome, Ian and David!

 

You can find out more about this topic here: https://www.newviewsafetycoach.com.au/foundationcourse

 

 

Dimi Lattas

Dimitra (Dimi) Lattas is a social work lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast, passionate about advancing forensic social work education in Australia. Dimi’s research specialises in forensic social work and developing innovative educational practices that reflect industry expectations. In 2024, Dimi won the National Organisation of Forensic Social Work’s Albert Roberts Scholarship and the AASW National Social Work Researcher of the Year.

She has been selected for the 2025-2026 Fulbright Scholarship. Her research has been recognised internationally, with invitations to present in Australia, the UK, the US, Taiwan, and Italy. Dimi is currently drafting the Australian Forensic Mental Health Social Work National Competency Framework.

Jasper Hartmann

An excellent conversation with a very smart gentleman in the intelligence community, Jasper Hartmann. 

Jasper is an internationally recognised and highly sought-after instructor and keynote speaker in HUMINT (human intelligence) and human-centric counterintelligence. His expertise lies in interpersonal intelligence skills, including elicitation, counter-elicitation, strategic questioning techniques, and tactical behavioural analysis. He trains businesses and government institutions in countering threats such as (industrial) espionage, insider risks and hybrid warfare (sabotage).

 

Jasper has been trained by both current and former leading military and intelligence professionals in the United States. He provides global training in human centric counterintelligence for companies seeking to strengthen their resilience and robustness against critical incidents, including (industrial) espionage, hybrid warfare, and other risk-based challenges posed by foreign state and non-state actors.

 

As a keynote speaker, Jasper has gained international recognition at events such as the World Police Summit in Dubai and Homeland Security conferences. He is internationally represented by the speakers’ bureau Big Speak.

 

He serves as an Intelligence Officer at Sector Intell. Group in the United States, an Associate Partner at Praesidium Risk and Resilience in Australia, and is a certified Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) operator by Nemesysco.

 

Jasper has also previously been a associate partner to Paul Ekman International (formerly PEI, now PEG).

Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas joines the Edge to talk about issues in New Zealand at the moment. We touch on safety, politics, road cones, and so much more. Sarah is a Health and Safety Professional with over 2 decades of experience. She also delivers Crisis Leadership Training. 

Sarah has always been into the outdoors and once claimed to be a travel addict fuelled by caffeine. Today the caffeine addiction still stands although her knees won’t let her be as adventurous as she once was. ⁠

At the turn of the century  she travelled the worldas a professional ski patroller and outdoor instructor before beginning her work in health and safety at Tranz Rail in 2002. Like many people
who are now in senior technical positions she is very glad that there was
no Facebook before 2004. ⁠

Today she and her family are based and Cromwell. Her husband Goeff is a cadastral surveyor, and their son Ollie has inherited his parents love ofthe outdoors. On the weekends team Thomas along with their Cairn
terrier Tussock can be found in the outdoors enjoying all that Central Otago has to offer. In the summer, they enjoy hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking, while in the winter, they focus on skiing and
snowboarding.

 

To contact Sarah follow these links:

www.easinz.co.nz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahthomaseasinz/

Tanya Hallett - Lego Serious Play

In this episode of Voices from the Edge, Tanya Hallett dives into the transformative world of LEGO Serious Play. Discover how this innovative approach, once seen as child’s play, has become a powerful tool for team building, strategy planning, and fostering psychological safety. Tanya shares heartfelt stories from workshops, including profound moments of self-discovery and unique builds that unveil untold emotions and perspectives.

Whether you’re curious about using play to tackle workplace challenges, exploring strategies for mental health and trauma-informed practices, or just love a good story about the unexpected depth of LEGO, this episode has something for everyone.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how “thinking with your hands” can reshape workplaces and deepen team connections. Don’t miss this engaging conversation—it might just inspire you to pick up a LEGO brick and build something extraordinary!

Lance Burdett

Lance Burdett is a renowned expert in crisis management, mental health, and personal resilience, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in law enforcement. As the founder and lead consultant at WARN International, he specializes in delivering training on managing challenging situations, enhancing communication skills, and building mental resilience. Lance's unique insights are shaped by his extensive experience as a crisis negotiator and his academic background in psychology and suicide prevention.

 

His engaging storytelling, combined with practical advice, equips listeners with tools to navigate both professional challenges and personal growth. Whether you're interested in leadership, mental health, or effective communication, Lance's expertise provides a wealth of knowledge applicable across various aspects of life.