Andrew Shea

Andrew Shea is a nationally recognised leader in vocational education, workforce capability and skills system reform, with more than two decades of executive experience across the training and employment sector.

He is the Managing Director of Skilled Nation and recently served as Chief Learning Officer and as a Managing Partner at Thales Cyber and Digital, where he led strategic workforce development initiatives across high-growth technology and defence environments.

Andrew has previously been Chief Executive of award-winning training organisations, leading teams that secured both state and national training awards and supported thousands of apprentices and trainees across multiple Australian jurisdictions. He has worked closely with industry, government and employer networks to strengthen apprenticeship pathways, improve completion outcomes and align training with evolving workforce needs.

A two-time winner at the Australian CEO Awards, Andrew is an experienced keynote speaker and adviser on leadership, digital capability and the future of work. His work focuses on strengthening employability, organisational resilience and preparing both learners and employers for success in an AI-driven economy.