Voices from the Edge

Marc Miles and The Illusion of PD

In this episode Marc and I discuss some of the challenges around trainer PD in the VET sector. 

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.

Book Review - Explosive

A book review of the book by Cliff Todd

Amanda Amaral

Amanda Amaral is a safety professional turned entrepreneur, with over a decade of experience in high-risk industries including Oil & Gas, Maritime, and Transport & Logistics. Throughout her career, she worked hands-on at the frontline, from offshore seismic vessels to logistics hubs, helping organisations reduce risk, improve training, and engage their people in safety outcomes.

 

In 2025, she co-founded GotSafe Media, a company dedicated to transforming workplace health and safety communications into something that actually connects with people on site. Through innovative videos, tailored safety packs, and leadership messaging, Amanda helps businesses shift safety from a compliance checkbox into a culture of ownership and care. As both a safety communicator and a mum, Amanda brings a deeply human perspective to how safety messages are delivered, ensuring they resonate across every level of the workforce.

Book Review - 10 ideas to make safety suck less

A book review of the book by Sam Goodman

Sarah Barnbrook

Sarah Barnbrook is an award-winning advocate, international speaker, and best-selling
author who is passionate about preventing harm in the digital world. She is the Founder of
Away From Keyboard (AFK) Inc., a charity that delivers workshops, personalised support,
and peer group sessions to help families and communities build safer online experiences.
AFK’s work goes beyond advocacy, with Sarah leading policy submissions, government
reporting, and initiatives that influence safety frameworks globally.

As an accredited United Nations delegate, Sarah has represented civil society at the
Commission on the Status of Women in New York, observed the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and attended the Human Rights
Council in Geneva. She is also Chief Revenue Officer of Women 4 STEM, where she focuses
on creating opportunities for women and girls across the STEM pipeline.

Her advocacy is deeply shaped by her lived experience, fuelling a mission to create systemic
change. Sarah has spoken at global summits and events, including Geneva Peace Week,
delivering thought leadership on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, AI ethics,
and digital wellbeing. Her work has been recognised with numerous awards, including
Global Volunteer of the Year and Youth Impact Awards, and she has been a finalist in the
Women in AI APAC Awards and Australian Women in Security Awards.

Book Review - Concussion

A book review of the book by Frankie & Michael Lipman

Sally North - Western Australia's Work Safe Commissioner

Truly honoured to have Sally North grace our podcast, and our home. Unprecedented. 

Sally North is the WorkSafe Commissioner in Western Australia, having acted in the role for about a year before being formally appointed in July 2024. In this role she is the work health and safety regulator for the resources and general industries sectors. Commencing as an inspector, Sally has over twenty years’ experience at WorkSafe in operational and leadership roles and previously worked in the private sector in occupational health and safety.

Book Review - Workplace Fatalities

A book review of the book by Todd Conklin