David McILwraith is our founder and CEO for the program.
A seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in legal practice, education and training development, corporate governance, and sustainable community development. He brings a unique multidisciplinary expertise that integrates human rights, business performance, and social impact frameworks into workforce training programs.
David has a strong track record in developing and delivering large-scale training initiatives, particularly in the fields of hospitality, customer service, and workforce competency development. During his tenure as an Internal Business Performance Consultant for Shell Australia in South East Asia & Oceania, he played a pivotal role in designing competency-based training packages that bridged workforce skill gaps in customer service, operational safety, and performance excellence. This experience provides a solid foundation for implementing structured training models within hospitality environments, focusing on both technical and cultural competencies.
His commitment to workforce development has been demonstrated through national and regional training strategies, such as the National Youth Employment Strategy for Papua New Guinea, which successfully integrated out-of-school youth into the labor market through structured education and vocational training. Similarly, his leadership in Welfare Reform initiatives for Indigenous Australians highlights his ability to develop inclusive, culturally sensitive training models that promote sustainable employment pathways.
In addition to his work in training design and delivery, David has an extensive background in sustainable development and community engagement, ensuring that workforce programs align with social, economic, and cultural needs. His expertise in corporate governance and mediation ensures transparent and ethical management of training programs, fostering trust between stakeholders, employers, and participants.
Currently serving as the Chairman of the Global Management Team at the Emotional Well-being Institute (EWBI), Geneva, David advocates for emotional well-being as a key indicator of successful workforce integration and training outcomes, particularly in programs designed for migrant and indentured workers. His work emphasizes the importance of measuring happiness and well-being as a critical success factor in sustainable training and development programs.
A seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in legal practice, education and training development, corporate governance, and sustainable community development. He brings a unique multidisciplinary expertise that integrates human rights, business performance, and social impact frameworks into workforce training programs.
David has a strong track record in developing and delivering large-scale training initiatives, particularly in the fields of hospitality, customer service, and workforce competency development. During his tenure as an Internal Business Performance Consultant for Shell Australia in South East Asia & Oceania, he played a pivotal role in designing competency-based training packages that bridged workforce skill gaps in customer service, operational safety, and performance excellence. This experience provides a solid foundation for implementing structured training models within hospitality environments, focusing on both technical and cultural competencies.
His commitment to workforce development has been demonstrated through national and regional training strategies, such as the National Youth Employment Strategy for Papua New Guinea, which successfully integrated out-of-school youth into the labor market through structured education and vocational training. Similarly, his leadership in Welfare Reform initiatives for Indigenous Australians highlights his ability to develop inclusive, culturally sensitive training models that promote sustainable employment pathways.
In addition to his work in training design and delivery, David has an extensive background in sustainable development and community engagement, ensuring that workforce programs align with social, economic, and cultural needs. His expertise in corporate governance and mediation ensures transparent and ethical management of training programs, fostering trust between stakeholders, employers, and participants.
Currently serving as the Chairman of the Global Management Team at the Emotional Well-being Institute (EWBI), Geneva, David advocates for emotional well-being as a key indicator of successful workforce integration and training outcomes, particularly in programs designed for migrant and indentured workers. His work emphasizes the importance of measuring happiness and well-being as a critical success factor in sustainable training and development programs.