You are invited to connect at The Victorian Vernier Society monthly meeting is on Thursday the 13th of August May at 1pm via Zoom.

For those who have not experienced ZOOM before, please download it now and arrange to try it with a committee member to ensure that our first meeting is trouble free.

You will need a computer with a camera, microphone, speakers and a good internet connection.

We will email you the Zoom link to join our lunch meeting!

Michael Grogan

Michael has been State Director Victoria and Tasmania, and National Director Skills and Training at the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) since May 2016.

The Industry Growth Centre Initiative is the centrepiece of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. There are six Growth Centres focused on where Australia excels. The Initiative enables national action on key issues by improving capabilities to engage with international markets and global supply chains, enhancing management and workforce skills, encouraging collaboration and the commercialisation of new products, and identifying opportunities to reduce regulatory burden.

Today, Australian manufacturing employs close to 1.3 million people representing over 10% of the Australian workforce. It contributes over $9 billion per month in exports of goods and services and files more patents than any other sector. It a vibrant and dynamic industry that is undergoing profound transformation with the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies, automation and artificial intelligence.

Michael joined AMGC having led Sutton Tools for almost two decades as CEO. Under his leadership, Sutton Tools employed 375 workers across three locations in Victoria. In addition, he managed manufacturing facilities and operational outlets in New Zealand, Singapore and Europe. Michael launched successful joint ventures in India and the Netherlands and boosted the company’s revenue through extending its sales reach in international markets including the USA and China.

Michael’s role with AMGC is to oversee manufacturing opportunities in Australia’s southern region and driving collaboration between industry and research institutions for positive commercial outcomes.

Michael has a national focus for lifting Australia’s manufacturing skillset. As a strong advocate for technical skills, apprenticeships and tertiary qualifications, Michael is committed to making sure training packages and links with universities remains top of the education agenda.

Michael is a board member of Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC), sits on two of Australian Government Industry Reference Committees (IRCs), is heavily involved in Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) and is Chair of the William Ruthven School Council.

The Vernier Promise!

At Vernier you will:

• Connect and Network with business leaders
• Associate with people who share your interests
• Gain insights and knowledge from authoritive keynote speakers
• Develop and grow your leadership and business prospects
• Promote the sustainability of the Australian manufacturing industry