PATDAC

People and Talent Development Advisory Council (PATDAC) contributes to the achievement of professional excellence by providing a forum for discussion and debate about current industry trends and training needs for the insurance and finance sectors.

  • Callan McDonnell

    Chair

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    Callan McDonnell

    Executive Manager, CI Learning Campus, Commercial Insurance
    Suncorp Australia

    Callan McDonnell has over 20 years of experience in learning and development. He has worked in a number of different organisations in Africa, Asia, the UK and Australia focusing on instructional design, capability development, leadership development, talent management and workforce planning. 

    In Australia, Callan has run a training consultancy that provided a range of learning and development services, including setting up learning systems, process and assessment strategies for Registered Training Organisations. 

    Currently, Callan is the Executive Manager for the Commercial Insurance Learning Campus which supports all operational training design and delivery for Commercial Insurance within the Suncorp Group. Since joining Suncorp in 2015, he has worked on a number of key projects directed at staff retention strategies to address turnover as well as sourcing strategies used to attract talent and implementing capability frameworks that drive business performance.

  • Brooke Lewis

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    Brooke Lewis

    ANZIIF Allied, BBUS
    Senior Manager, Capability & Learning
    IAG

    With experience across multiple industries including Professional Services, Logistics, Manufacturing, Government and Not for profit, Brooke brings a unique perspective on building capability for the future.

    Since joining IAG in 2008, Brooke has held a number of roles across People & Culture, including leading the Business Partnering team and most recently as the Senior Manager responsible for Capability and Learning.  Her current role encompasses design, development and implementation of enterprise capabilities and skills across onboarding, compliance, accreditation, professional & technical frameworks.

    Brooke is passionate about building the capability of people with pragmatic solutions that will deliver strong business performance today and tomorrow.

  • Catherine Dixon

    Catherine Dixon

    Catherine Dixon

    Executive General Manager Human Resources
    Vero Insurance New Zealand

    Catherine has been part of the Suncorp Group for the last 15 years, joining Vero in March 2013 as the Executive General Manager Human Resources. 

    Catherine is accountable for the development, implementation and management of the People Strategy which supports the business objectives of Vero New Zealand and aligns to the Group’s overarching People Strategy. 

    Previously Catherine was the Executive Manager Human Resources & Communication for Suncorp Life New Zealand. 

    In 1999, Catherine joined the Life business of Royal & SunAlliance and supported the significant change to the business during her tenure including the acquisition and divestment of a number of businesses. Prior to joining the Suncorp Group, Catherine worked for IAG in both business and HR roles for 13 years.

  • Peter Hall

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    Peter Hall

    Head of Learning and Development
    QBE Insurance

    Peter Hall is Head of Learning and Development for QBE Australia. He has accountability for enterprise learning and development encompassing technical capability and leadership/management capability development.  In this newly created role, he has been tasked with driving alignment, quality and consistency of learning and development with QBE Australia’s business imperatives.  

    Prior to this role, he was Head of Learning  at Westpac Group   Peter has extensive learning and HR experience in senior roles in the financial services industry, including retail banking, corporate banking, wealth management and in the general insurance industry. Before this, he was Head of Learning and Talent for St.George Bank.  During his career, he has worked in a wide range of financial services organisations including St.George Bank, ANZ Bank and Insurance Australia Group.  He is involved in a number of industry learning groups and professional networks.

  • Pierre De Villiers

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    Pierre De Villiers

    Learning, Talent & Diversity Lead - Pacific
    Marsh Pty Ltd

    Pierre De Villiers is currently the Learning, Talent and Diversity Lead for Marsh across the Pacific.  Having started his career as a Chartered Accountant, he quickly discovered that his true passion in life was in Learning. He has over 14 years experience in professional services and has worked in various Learning & Development roles and projects spanning 5 continents and 11 countries.

    He has been based in  Australia  for the last 5 years where most recently he led Learning & Development and Behavioural Change activities on a significant technology change program.

  • Rod Winders

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    Rod Winders

    ANZIIF (Snr Assoc) CIP
    National Training & Development Manager
    Elders Insurance

    Rod commenced as National Training & Development Manager for Elders Insurance in August 2004, following a 25 year career with Telecom / Telstra initially in the technical ranks, the last 14 years in the training division - Telstra Learning.

    Currently Rod manages the Training & Development function for Elders and is responsible for all the design, development and delivery of compliance, induction, product and personal development and accreditation training.

    Rod has been a committee member of PATDAC since its inception in October 2004 as the Corporate Members Advisory Committee, CMAC. Rod serviced on the SA BEC for 3 years and is currently a member of the SA Charity Luncheon Committee.

    Rod’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training, Diploma in Adult Education and a Diploma in Financial Services.