Bendigo Kangan Institute, the operators of Bendigo TAFE, Kangan Institute, VETASSESS and
eWorks, is pleased to welcome its new Chief Executive Officer – Trevor Schwenke.
Trevor, who commenced as CEO on Tuesday 29 March, is a seasoned leader in the TAFE sector. He has held key leadership positions in vocational and educational training for more than 20 years. This includes roles as either Institute Director or General Manager since 2007. His previous role was as General Manager, TAFE Queensland South West.
Trevor is also Chair of the Queensland Worldskills steering committee. Worldskills Australia will be holding its National Competition in Melbourne in October this year.
According to Bendigo Kangan Institute President, Michael Brown, “Trevor has both a strong record of TAFE leadership and considerable experience in managing TAFE institutes through periods of change. His experience and guidance will be invaluable as we complete the integration of our organisation and move forward to achieving our 2020 vision of ‘100,000 pathways to the future’.”
“I am both delighted and honoured to be joining Bendigo Kangan Institute at such an important time in its history,”
said Trevor Schwenke.
“Following the merger of Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute in 2014, the team has been head down working through a complex organisational integration. This has been challenging, but in facing these challenges, the team has built an excellent platform for future success.
“My role now is to help the team complete this integration and to support our people and
customers as we take the journey to 2020.
“In the immediate term, this means learning as much about the Institute as I can. For the first couple of months, I will be busy meeting with our people, customers and key stakeholders. Once I have done this, I am looking forward to taking a more public role and sharing our story with the broader community.”
About Trevor Schwenke
Trevor Schwenke has more than 22 years’ experience in key leadership roles in the vocational education and training, higher education, school and corporate sectors. Prior to his appointment as Bendigo Kangan Institute CEO, Trevor was the General Manager of TAFE Queensland South West.
In this role Trevor, led an organisation which services a geographical footprint extending across one third of Queensland. He worked with elected representatives, business and community leaders to grow the organisation with the primary focus on meeting and exceeding the needs of students, employers, industry and the community.
Trevor has significant experience in the integration of major vocational training institutes. In 2013 and 2014, he oversaw the amalgamation of The Bremer Institute and Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE. In this role, Trevor was recognised as the 2013 Queensland Professional Manager of the Year by the Australian Institute of Management.
Trevor began his career as a tradesman and soon became a specialist welder and welding inspector. Further study in engineering (Associate Diploma) and education (Bachelor Degree) allowed him to follow his passion for teaching higher level engineering programs. A Masters of Education (Leadership) and a post graduate certificate in Open and Distance Learning has allowed Trevor to further his career in the field of educational leadership and management and to pursue a special interest in blended and flexible delivery.
