Reference Group

Mr Patrick McClure AO

Patrick McClure has been a leader in the third sector for 20 years. He was CEO of Mission Australia from 1997–2006. During that period the organisation was transformed from a state-based entity to an international organisation with revenue of $250 million and 3000 staff providing employment, training, housing, youth and family services. He was CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW/ACT) from 1992–1996. He was also CEO of The Retirement Villages Group within Macquarie Capital Funds (2006–2008).

Patrick was Chairperson of the Australian Government’s Reference Group on Welfare Reform (1999–2000), Deputy Chairperson of the Welfare to Work Consultative Forum (2005–2006) and Member of the Board for a New Tax System (1999–2001). He was a Member of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership (1999–2007). He was also Chairperson of the OECD LEED Forum on Social Innovation (2003–2007) based in Paris. He was a Commissioner of the Australian Fair Pay Commission (2006–2009) and a member of the Aged Care Advisory Group (2011). He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day 2003 honours list and awarded an Australian Centennial Medal (2001).

Ms Sally Sinclair

Sally Sinclair is the CEO of the National Employment Services Association, the peak body for the Australian employment and related services industry. Sally has been instrumental in informing key stakeholders on addressing Australia’s employment and inclusion challenges including strengthening the integration of employment, education and training, and increasing employment of disadvantaged job seekers including Indigenous job seekers, people with disabilities, long-term unemployed, youth and mature aged.

Sally has extensive expertise in the design, development and delivery of employment and related services. Her experience spans the not for profit and for profit sectors, as well as numerous government appointments. Among her expert roles, Sally is a member of the Civil Society 20 (C20) Steering Committee, and co-chairs the C20 Inclusive Growth and Employment Working Group. Sally is also a Board member of the OECD LEED Programme’s Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance and is an expert advisor to the OECD LEED Programme’s Employment and Skills Strategies in Southeast Asia (ESSSA) initiative.

Sally holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, majoring in neuropsychology.

Mr Wesley Aird

Wesley Aird works on solving problems so that indigenous Australians can become genuine participants in the real economy. His primary work is with resource sector companies in the management of native title and cultural heritage and also in the development of initiatives for Indigenous employment, training and business. Wesley maintains a very strong commitment to his own community through both native title and cultural heritage for the Gold Coast native title group.

Wesley’s previous government appointments include as a member of the National Indigenous Council and the Welfare to Work Consultative Forum.

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