Responsible Custodians
We live by our values and measure and learn from our impact.
Dusseldorp Forum is an independent family foundation with a long legacy of bringing people together to tackle complex challenges.
Our People
Our small, dedicated team are supported by an experienced Board and guided by the values of our founder Dick Dusseldorp.
After 30 years at the helm of his group of companies, Lend Lease Corporation, Gerardus Jozef (GJ) Dusseldorp’s final address as Chairman at the 1988 AGM summed up his business beliefs.
He reflected that “caring” and “sharing” in industry had a powerful impact. “Caring, of itself desirable, also pays.” While his business acumen was legendary, Dusseldorp’s achievements are characterised by his determination not only to succeed but to also share the benefits of that success.
Jack founded the Forum with his father in 1989 and was Chairman of the Forum until 2024. His vast career includes the NSW Law Foundation, Evatt Foundation, the Office of Youth Affairs, NSW TAFE Commission, Australian Student Traineeship Foundation, WorldSkills International and the WorldSkills Foundation. In 2000, he received the Order of Australia Medal for services to education and community.
Tom Dusseldorp (Chair)
Tom is a company executive with 15 years across the Australian and UK marketing landscape. Tom has worked with a diverse selection of brands in the food and drink sector. This includes global drink giant Pernod Ricard, Australian ASX listed companies Noumi, Australian Vintage and a recent start up food business with the mission to tackle global animal agriculture reliance, All G Foods. Tom joined the Dusseldorp Forum Board in 2010 and took over as Chair in 2024. Tom has taken an active role in many of it’s projects over the years including early Worldskills competitions and the ‘Skills Across the World’ building initiative in Africa. Tom is passionate about the environment and is actively involved in driving this key part of the Forum’s strategy.
Dr Lindie Clark
Lindie is Deputy Chair of the Forum and formerly Director of Macquarie University’s institution-wide work-integrated learning program PACE. Before joining the university in 2003 she worked for the Commonwealth Government in the employment, industrial relations and health portfolios. She is the author of ‘Finding a Common Interest: The story of Dick Dusseldorp and LendLease.’
Teya Dusseldorp
Teya is Executive Director of the Forum. She worked formerly as a lawyer with the Australian Human Rights Commission as an advisor to the Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner and with the National Inquiry into the Stolen Generations. She holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney and a Master of Arts from UTS.
James Hooke
James joined the Board in 2019 and is the current CEO of Atlas Arteria. Previously he was the CEO of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation in New York and served in senior management positions in Australia with Fairfax Media Limited, Bain & Company and Phillips Fox Solicitors. James has a Bachelor of Arts and Laws degree and is the author of three books.
Dr Rebecca Huntley
Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends and Director of Research at the agency 89DegreesEast. She is the author of numerous books including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference. She is the Chair of the Advisory Board of Australian Parents for Climate Action, mother of three girls and lives in Sydney.
Joe Dusseldorp
Joe joined the Dusseldorp Forum Board in 2020. He is a specialist surgeon, clinical researcher, and medical technology entrepreneur. He is particularly focused on the care of children affected by disadvantage, deformity, and disability and shares his family’s passion for social justice. He holds multiple medical leadership, commercial advisory, and board roles both in Australia and internationally.
Marta Dusseldorp
Marta joined the Dusseldorp Forum Board in 2020. She is an award-winning actress who has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. She has received an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama and a Helpmann Award. She sits on the board of Creative Island and the Screen Export Advisory Panel for Screen Producer’s Australia and has her own production company Archipelago productions.
Teya Dusseldorp
Teya is Executive Director of the Forum. She worked formerly as a lawyer with the Australian Human Rights Commission as an advisor to the Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner and with the National Inquiry into the Stolen Generations. She holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney and a Master of Arts from UTS.
Margot Beach
Margot is General Manager of the Forum and has worked in the community services sector for the past 30 years. She has experience in senior and executive management positions within both government and NFP’s in early years education, child protection, disability services and aged care. Her commitment is to engage with compassion, mindfulness and respect.
Jessica Wilson
Jess is Project Manager at the Forum. Jess holds a Bachelor of Psychology majoring in Human Resources as well as her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has been with Dusseldorp Forum for 8 years and previously worked in the corporate sector in human resources and executive support roles. She enjoys working closely with people and is passionate about organisational development and positive staff culture.
Rachel Fyfe
Rachel is the Communications Manager at Dusseldorp Forum and has worked in For Purpose communications for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor of International Studies and has worked for Chain of Hope UK and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Rachel’s passion is supporting and uplifting stories of communities working together to ignite change.
Alex Fischer
Alex is a member of the Forum supporting national policy innovation and strategic learning. He brings two decades of global and cross-sector experience seeking to achieve shared goals of improving our societal and environmental health. His previous roles have built collaborative networks between civil society and government, launched blended-finance rural social enterprises, and led strategic philanthropic and research programs designed to amplify social impact and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nicole Mekler
Nicole Mekler is a Project Manager at the Forum. Nicole has had a range of roles in legal, community and youth sectors, where she has worked alongside community-led initiatives and developed a diverse and unique skill set across criminal justice and service sector reform, youth work, advocacy, policy, research and community development. She has built strong relationships particularly in Toomelah, Boggabila, Bourke, Moree and Mt Druitt and has more than a decade of experience supporting First Nations communities in driving change, youth participation, systems change and justice reform.
Scarlett Steven
Scarlett is the Office Manager at the Forum. She has nearly a decade of experience in administration support across a range of industries. She holds a Master in Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours, and a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management. She is passionate about community-led change and supporting people in ways that are meaningful to them.
Katie Wenmohs
Katie is the Finance Officer at the Forum and has over 15 years of accounting experience. She has a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance from Loyola University New Orleans. Katie started her career at Ernst & Young as an external auditor in the USA. She also has experience in internal audit and financial accounting. More recently she has worked as a financial accountant across various industries in Singapore and Australia. Katie is a registered BAS Agent in Australia.
Our Values
These core values reflect our beliefs and practices.
Independence
We are independently funded and governed. We are not politically or commercially aligned and can convene and facilitate across sectors from a non-partisan platform.
Innovation
We value the ability to turn insurmountable obstacles into opportunities and creative solutions. We support those taking risks, challenging the status quo and shining a light on the way forward.
Integrity
We do what we say we will do. We strive for open, respectful relationships built on honesty, trust and transparency.
Integration
We value bringing together diverse individuals, communities, governments and organisations around a common interest to create sustainable solutions to complex problems.
Intergenerational stewardship
We build things to last. We recognise that to be custodians of change for future generations requires a long-term view and the courage to tackle the tough issues.Our Story
We have a long history of creating social change that began in the 1980’s.
1988
GJ (Dick) Dusseldorp retires as Chair and Founder of Lend Lease Group of Companies.
1989
Dusseldorp Skills Forum is established by a gift of shares from Lend Lease employees and institutional shareholders “to benefit the Australian community by stimulating innovation and educational developments”.
First TRAC (Training, Retail and Commerce) centre opens in the Hunter region of NSW, pioneering school-industry partnerships.
1989-1994
TRAC established in 26 communities nationally, growing to 80 sites across Australia.
Read Looking Back at TRAC
1992
Dusseldorp Skills Forum works with Federal Labor Government preparing Working Nation White Paper.
1994
Australian Student Traineeship Foundation established by the Federal Government, to embed quality structured workplace learning in schools nationally. $38 million allocated over 4 years.
Tjerk Dusseldorp succeeds Dick Dusseldorp as Chairman of Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Dick becomes Patron.
1997
Plan-it Youth Mentoring launched on the Central Coast NSW – mentoring program offering young people who are at risk of leaving education, the opportunity to find a positive way into further training or employment with the support of community based mentors.
1998-1999
Release of landmark reports: Australia’s Youth: Reality & Risk and Australia’s Young Adults: the Deepening Divide.
1998-2005
Dusseldorp supports Skills Across the World, with WorldSkills International Skills development projects in Zimbabwe, Kenya, East Timor and Balkinu Community in Cape York.
1999
Launch of How Young People Are Faring, an annual report tracking the learning and work circumstances of young Australians. Published annually for 10 years. Now with the Foundation for Young Australians.
The Cost to Australia of Early School Leaving, released with the National Centre for Social and Economic Modeling at the University of Canberra, estimated for the first time in Australia the lifetime costs to the nation of a single-year cohort of early school-leavers.
1999-2001
The National Youth Commitment, a Dusseldorp initiative, advocated for guaranteed coordinated support so that all young people have access to Year 12 or its equivalent or a job with training. Six regional partnerships were established between 1999 and 2001 to develop the capacity of local communities to deliver a Youth Commitment.
2004
Learning Choices Expo at Sydney Olympic Park, which showcased the best alternative learning programs from around Australia.
2006
Australian Youth Mentoring Network launched – Australia’s peak mentoring body and a national hub for youth mentoring research, tools and resources – in partnership with the Smith Family, Big Brother Big Sister and the Federal government.
Learning Choices Expo in Queensland focused on the best in Australian Indigenous education.
2007
Research series on Gen Y, youth engagement and attainment.
It’s Crunch Time / Fearless and Flexible – the views of Gen Y
2008
Growing the Green Collar Economy CSIRO Report launched with the Australian Conservation Foundation focused on the skills, innovation and employment dimensions of the transition to a more environmentally sustainable society.
Green Team launched at WorldSkills Australia National Competition.
YGreen project launched – a residential sustainability project where young people are trained and employed to conduct home sustainability consultations in their local community. Now run by Steplight.
2009
iGreen program launched in schools.
Keeping Up and How Young Indigenous People are Faring, two reports from Dusseldorp Skills Forum and Reconciliation Australia, examining the data on education, training and employment of Indigenous young people aged 15-24.
2009-2011
MoVE Australia Research – Modelling Vocational Excellence partnership between Dusseldorp Skills Forum, WorldSkills Australia and RMIT University.
2010
Trade Secrets with Institute of Sustainable Futures at UTS – providing practical information for tradespeople and apprentices about the easiest way to implement sustainable practices into their service.
2011
WorldSkills Foundation launched, working closely with WorldSkills International, to act as a global hub for skills development and innovation.
2011-2012
MoVE International Research partnership project between WorldSkills Foundation, University of Tampere, Finland, University of Oxford and RMIT University – focused on inspiring skills excellence internationally.
2011-2014
Learning Choices research including: National Survey of alternative education programs; A Map for the Future analysis of published program evaluations; and support for Kitty te Riele’s 2 year study focused on the provision of education for disadvantaged young people through flexible learning programs throughout Australia – Putting the Jigsaw Together.
2012
Generational leadership transition from Tjerk Dusseldorp to Teya Dusseldorp.
Name change from Dusseldorp Skills Forum to Dusseldorp Forum.
2012-2014
Creative Learning initiatives launched, including partnerships with Sydney Story Factory, The Social Outfit and 3Moree with Beyond Empathy.
2014
Youth Justice Initiative in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, supporting the Bourke community in north-west NSW.
2016-2020
A five-year strategy focusing on ensuring children and families have strong learning, health, and communities that enable them to thrive. Long-term partnerships in Logan QLD, Doveton and Robinvale, VIC, Dubbo and Bourke, NSW and Kabulwarnamyo, NT.
