New Manager of the School of Volunteer Management

Geoff Copeland was appointed Manager of the School of Volunteer Management in early September 2007. Geoff has been associated with the School since 2005 when he conducted a review into the School and since then has conducted a number of Leadership Workshops.

Geoff says that one of his major challenges is to re-organise the School to operate with part-time staff, while at the same time increasing the quality of training and the level of service it provides.

One of the major strategies to achieve this is the re-activation and expansion of the pool of contract trainers established in 2005. This action is already well underway and it will enhance the School's responsiveness and the range of training activities it is able offer its clients.

Other service and quality initiatives Geoff will focus on include:

• Further expanding the move from centralised scheduled courses to customised workshops conducted on-site for clients
• Working more closely with clients to help them obtain maximum value from their training budgets
• Helping individuals in the sector address the training needs by facilitating them "piggybacking" on clients customised workshops
• Partnering with other training providers to offer workshops or activities on topics of specific relevance to the sector
• Expand the School's consulting service to assist organisations improve their effectiveness and/or assist them to address specific issues

Geoff has been a trainer and manager for over 30 years. He spent 6 years in the Regular Army as an officer and attained the rank of Captain. He continued his association with the Army through the Army Reserve where he reached the rank of Colonel. Geoff has received two awards for his leadership in the Army; he is a graduate of the Joint Services Staff College (JSSC) and has been awarded the Reserve Forces Decoration (RFD).

Following his time in the Regular Army Geoff spent 15 years with Grace Bros (now Myers) in a variety of roles including responsibility for management training, management trainees, senior management development, career and succession planning of managers, and leading the internal consulting unit.

Geoff established his own management consultancy in 1989, specialising in the development of people and organisations.

Geoff welcomes calls to discuss training needs and plans to meet with the School's clients in the coming months. Please phone Geoff on 9261 3600.