Melissa (Mel) Pinney is currently Director of Careers and Transitions at the ACT Education Directorate. Mel has over 20 years’ experience working in the employment and training sectors across NSW and the ACT. Mel has also held the role of Director of VET in Schools at the ACT Education Directorate and was previously Director of Projects at Skills Canberra.

Prior to joining the ACT Government Mel held roles with employment services providers and Australian Apprenticeship Support Services and has worked collaboratively with GTOs and private and public registered training organisations on a range of projects over the past 20 years. 

This breadth of experience inspires her to collaboratively develop programs that improve connections between schools, industry, government and service providers. A recent example of this is the award winning Understanding Building and Construction Program. This program aims to increase the participation of young women in vocational education and training in the building and construction industry through learning opportunities in schools.