Meet the 2026 NSW Training Awards
Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are a team of exceptional NSW Training Awards winners and finalists who together, highlight the opportunities, pathways and benefits offered in VET.
They attend schools, award shows and career expos sharing their VET journey, helping spread the word about VET and the success that comes with it.
Rebecca Hambrook
2025 NSW Vocational Student of the Year
Qualification
Certificate IV in Community Services
Trained by
TAFE NSW
Employed by
Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation
Region
Western NSW
-
Rebecca Hambrook believes in the importance of recovery and lived-experience support for First Nations and rural communities. Her career journey has been heavily influenced by her personal experiences, and she’s used VET to support others on their own pathways to success. In choosing to undertake a Certificate IV in Community Services, Rebecca took a crucial step in her personal and professional life; becoming a support worker. Having overcome addiction, incarceration, and trauma, Rebecca chose the community services industry to use experiences to help others facing similar challenges.
The flexibility of online learning allowed her to balance her studies while rebuilding her life. Midway through her course, she secured a role as a support worker at a residential rehabilitation centre, where she was able to apply her knowledge of mental health, trauma, and community services daily.
Now pursuing a Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs, Rebecca has her sights set on case work or outreach roles. Her commitment to education and helping others has meant that Rebecca has found her calling and is thriving.
Darby Hubber
2025 NSW VET in Schools Student of the Year
Qualification
Certificate II in Agriculture
School
St Raphaels Catholic School Cowra
Region
Western NSW
-
Darby Hubber is setting herself up for a big future after high school; with qualifications in both Agriculture and Cookery, she’s ready for anything that comes her way. Darby’s experiences in Primary Industries have deepened her understanding of agricultural practices, while time spent in Hospitality has refined her customer service and teamwork abilities. Balancing school, work, and extracurricular activities meant that Darby has heroic time management skills and unmatched organisational abilities.
Darby has already been recognised for her dedication and initiative, she’s received the Ken Duffy Scholarship in 2023, the Indigenous Education Award in 2025, and was invited to become a mentor for the Young Women in STEM Academy. A highlight of Darby’s educational journey was participating in the school's annual Japan experience, which allowed her to broaden her cultural perspectives. On top of her amazing academic achievements, Darby is also a Dance Step teacher and an assistant in a local hair salon. She is constantly putting her strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills to good use.
Amali Rollinson
2025 NSW School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Qualification
Certificate III in Hairdressing
Trained by
The Hair Academy Australia
Employed by
Blush Hair and Beauty Bar Bathurst
School
MacKillop College
Region
Western NSW
-
Amali Rollinson has loved the art of hairstyling since she was young. From an early age, she was busy experimenting with her family's hair and styling up her dolls. Unsurprisingly, as soon as she was old enough to work Amali began her career as a Salon Assistant at Blush Hair and Beauty Bar in Bathurst.
Being a year younger than her peers, Amali gave herself a head start by completing a school-based apprenticeship so she could finish Year 12 with a qualification as well as her HSC. Beyond simply improving her hairdressing skills, Amali was also able to gain new levels of maturity and independence. She is a real ambassador for VET, and she uses her strong communication skills to share insights into school-based apprenticeships and traineeships and encourage other young people to consider their options. Amali can attest to the benefits of her training pathway, and it’s thanks to the supportive mentorship and guidance that she has been able to thrive while pursuing her passion.
Penny Mackay
2025 Australian VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year
Subject Area/s
Hospitality and Business
Employed by
Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga
Region
Riverina
-
Penny MacKay began her career journey as an apprentice chef, where she experienced first-hand the transformative power of vocational education and training. After spending many years thriving in an industry she loved, Penny felt a pull to do more to make a difference in the lives of young people in her region. It was a big step for Penny to pursue a Bachelor of Education in Food Technology, but she took on the challenge so she could give back to her industry, her region, and the young people in her community.
Now she’s truly living her dreams as VET Coordinator; her hospitality program has gone from a small group to over 55 students, and her business classes are consistently growing. Penny is committed to providing innovative learning experiences to her students, and she has been able to create linkages across VET classes and industries to provide students with the real-world experiences they need.
As VET Coordinator, Penny oversees 173 students and builds collaborations with industry partners to deliver robust training in fast-evolving industries. Her commitment to personalised education ensures that every student feels valued and empowered to pursue their goals, and she’s helping to increase the teaching staffs’ capacity in her school as well. With even more plans to expand VET opportunities, Penny is showing just how innovative and crucial VET is for a community.
James Barry
2025 NSW Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
Qualification
Certificate III in Guiding
Trained by
TAFE NSW
School
Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley
Region
Hunter & Central Coast
-
James Barry, known to many as "Poncho", is a tourism professional with decades of experience in sharing stories, culture, and history with visitors from around the world. James completed a Certificate III in Guiding while balancing a very full work schedule at both Hunter Valley Small Group Tours & Transfers and Balloon Aloft; serving on the Board of the Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation; working as an archaeologist for Hunter Transmission Lines; and serving as a retained firefighter with NSW Fire & Rescue.
James' dedication to serving the community and mentoring the next generation is core to his work, and he’s already planning his next big step- setting up his own Indigenous tourism business that celebrates the rich culture and history of Wonnarua Country.
James is continuing his VET journey with further qualifications so he can support the growth of future tourism professionals, ensuring they gain essential skills for success.
Imogen Young-Maloney
2025 NSW Trainee of the Year
Qualification
Certificate III in Business
Trained by
Australian College of Commerce & Management
Employed by
Wagga Wagga City Council
Region
Riverina
-
Imogen Young-Maloney used her traineeship to explore the world of human resources, and her studies have given her the chance to develop a range of versatile skills that have solidified her as a superstar in her workplace. She has broadened her understanding of how vast the business sector truly is. She is passionate about making a positive impact on people while supporting the organisational functions within a business, and her approach has directly contributed to Wagga Wagga City Council’s workforce development and the promotion of VET across the region.
Throughout her traineeship, Imogen has been able to practice her time management, flex her design and branding skills, and build strategies for effective communication and collaboration. She has stepped up to organise community events and engage with local youth at career expos as well. Imogen’s journey has transformed her into a confident individual eager to seize new opportunities. She is excited to continue her studies and is making a positive impact in her community while advocating for the importance of VET and the doors it can open for others.
Kathryn Beale
2025 NSW Apprentice of the Year
Qualification
Certificate III in Electrotechnology – Electrician
Trained by
NECA Training
Employed by
NECA Electrical Apprenticeships
Hosted by
Star Electrical PTY LTD
Region
Southern & South Western Sydney
-
Kathryn Beale is the perfect example of an apprenticeship success story; a champion for women in trades, a skilled sparky, and an invaluable team member. As a mature-age apprentice in the trades, Kathryn has honed her skills and found a passion for working on the tools. She now has a world of opportunities at her feet, and a network of supportive colleagues behind her every step of the way.
Kathryn has been recognised not only for her technical skills and strong work ethic, but also for her commitment to fostering diversity and mentorship in the workplace. An essential member of the team, Kathryn is active in her workplace’s mentoring program, and a tireless advocate for women in trades. She has made it her mission to take on leadership roles to promote inclusivity in the workplace. Her tenacity shines through in all she does, and she’s using her own experiences to support the next generation of apprentices coming through the ranks. She is an invaluable asset to the team, and a role model for what is possible through VET.
Casey Fox
MC Ambassador
-
Casey Fox knows what it feels like to sit in the audience at an awards night, because three years ago she was there as a finalist. Since being named NSW Vocational Student of the Year in 2022, she has built a career dedicated to lifting up the people who shape our workforce, the trainers and assessors of the VET sector.
Casey is a qualified Trainer and Assessor delivering the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, with a particular focus on supporting industry experts to step into the classroom and on building trainer capability in foundation skills, an area where the need has never been greater. She has delivered the TAE through TAFE NSW's Paid to Learn program and as TAE Course Coordinator at St George and Sutherland Community College, where she also serves as a Board Member.
Beyond the classroom, Casey is a VET Ambassador, an Advisory Board Member for National Skills Week, and a regular voice for the sector at forums and parliamentary events. Tonight, she's right where she loves to be, in a room full of people who are changing their own corner of the world through vocational education.
Michael Pfeffer
MC Ambassador
-
Leveraging his previous career as a chef, Michael Pfeffer is dedicated to empowering budding hospitality stars in his charge.
Grounding his teaching style in practical application, Michael has managed to ignite his students’ passion for the industry – one that mirrors his own. His success as a Hospitality educator partly comes down to his comprehensive CV. He worked in fine-dining restaurants, cafés and hotels for 10 years before gaining a Bachelor of Education Technology and Applied Studies at university.
Described by his colleagues at Dapto High School as a beacon of positivity and encouragement, Michael’s ability to inspire can also be attributed to a passion for what he does. But it’s his readiness to prioritise real-world learning that sees Michael exceed expectations. He’s established a cafe in the school grounds for his students to learn in, led the NSW WorldSkills Commercial Cookery team in 2023, took out 2024 NSW VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year and incorporates excursions, industry speakers and interactive components to his teaching wherever possible.