We specialise in skills policy, workforce planning, vocational education, and system reform. Our work translates evidence into action, ensuring that policy ambition connects with industry reality.
From national workforce strategies to sector reviews and training reform, we help clients navigate complexity with confidence — and deliver outcomes that matter. We’re known for sharp analysis, sector fluency, and deliverables that actually influence decision-making (not sit on a shelf).
Our clients include Jobs and Skills Australia, the Department of Defence, MEGT, national apprenticeship networks, and leading education providers.
Skills Frontier is a strategy and research consultancy helping governments, industry, and education leaders build the future workforce — with clarity, purpose and impact.
Lauren Conceicao, Managing Director
“I founded Skills Frontier after two decades working across the skills, education and workforce system — from executive government and TAFE leadership, to national industry bodies and international research roles.”
Lauren has led multi-million dollar reform programs, shaped policy at Cabinet level, and built deep trust across public and private sectors. Her career has spanned roles such as Executive Director at TAFE NSW, National Executive of the National Apprentice Employment Network, and Deputy Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia (NSW).
Lauren understands how government works — and how to make it work better. She’s a systems thinker with a sharp sense for where policy and practice fall out of step — and what needs to happen to fix it.
Today, Lauren is a sought-after advisor, speaker, and strategist — helping leaders shape a fairer, smarter and more future-focused skills system.
Qualifications:
Master of Business Administration
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Current Working With Children Check
Police Clearance (SA and NSW)
Current advisory roles:
St Patricks Technical College Board
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB SA) Cross-Sector Planning Committee
Build Skills Hydrogen Training Project Technical Committee
Our Associate Network
Skills Frontier has built a team underpinned by a network of skills sector and labour force experts.
Our team is flexible, working at the right level to deliver the expertise needed on a project-by-project basis at the optimal price point for our clients.
Bringing together expertise across policy, strategy, leadership, program delivery, sector expertise, government, private sector, labour market economics and corporate consulting, our team will be outlined in any proposal documents.
Meet some of our Associates:
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Strategic Adviser
Justin’s experience as a global consultant on strategic matters relating to workforce elevate Skills Frontier’s outputs to deliver results for clients that meet the modern expectations in a corporate setting.
Justin has led consulting, surveying, analysis and reporting for large clients, while also collating global datasets and insights to produce graphics and reports that underpin thought leadership and sector insights.
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Strategic Adviser
Josh is a highly experienced policy and workforce strategist, with over a decade leading labour market, skills, and training reforms across government and industry bodies.
His career has included leading executive roles with Jobs Queensland, Industry Skills Australia and the South Australian Skills Commission, where he built a strong reputation for delivering evidence-based, industry-informed solutions.
Josh holds a Master of Business Administration and is known for his expertise in labour market analysis, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement.
At Skills Frontier, he supports clients to navigate complex workforce challenges and deliver practical, future-focused solutions.
Let’s work together.
Skills Frontier builds project teams with the right experts for the right projects – partnering with organisations and individuals where their expertise adds to the deliverables and outcomes from Skills Frontier.
Contact us to express interest in joining our associate network and being considered for project opportunities, we’re also keen to connect with great people.