CEO of Service Skills Victoria

As CEO of Service Skills Victoria, Ian Nicolson has a diverse range of responsibilities.  As well as the core business of Service Skills Victoria (SSV), advising government on the training needs of Victorian service industries, he heads up the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program, provides secretariat service to the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria and manages the Victorian Food Industry Training Board.

Originally a teacher of commerce and information technology in the technical system, Ian gained valuable experience in teaching TAFE commerce programs before moving from teaching into industrial relations as Gippsland Organiser with the Australian Education Union. During this time he represented the union movement as President of the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council and as a director of Gippsland Development. His involvement in economic development eventually led to an appointment as the inaugural Gippsland Manager for the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Regional Development.

Ian’s initial experience with Industry Training Boards came with his appointment in 1997 to the Executive Officer position with the Victorian Light Manufacturing and Forests Industry Training Board, which was eventually restructured as Furnishing Training Victoria.  Ian’s background in economic development also gave him exposure to the tourism and transport industries, working on industry development issues including training, addressing skills shortages and promoting careers.

Ian’s family has farmed in West Gippsland since 1914 and he still lives on the family farm with his wife, Margaret and son, Hugh. In his spare time he plays golf and, tragically, follows the Hawthorn Football Club.