ACCE Management
Penne Dawe
Chief Executive Officer
Penne Dawe became CEO of ACCE in 2023 having worked at ACCE for several years. She has been responsible for the proposal and implementation plan that established the Jobs Victoria Career Counsellors service for Victorians during COVID from 2021-2023.
Since starting with ACCE she has worked to raise the profile of career education and guidance for Australians and supported new partnerships and projects with the Australian Mathematical and Sciences Institute, Orygen, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Canadian Career Development Foundation.
Prior to working at ACCE, Penne held senior management roles in Mental Health and Disability, Manufacturing, Finance, IT and Management Consulting.
She has been a Director on the Board of Illawarra Children’s Services and represents ACCE on the RBA Education Advisory Panel, the Nillumbik Tech School Board, GAN Australia Steering Committee, National Youth Employment Board Advisory Board and the Public Skills Australia Careers and Pathways Network.
Lee Ponsioen
Operations Manager
With 16 years of experience at ACCE, Lee is committed to developing the organisation to be a leading career provider in Australia. As Operations and HR Manager, she holds the role of Company Secretary for both ACCE and CCCA. Lee is responsible for overseeing finances, compliance, and staffing. She works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure smooth organisational operations and fostering a collaborative and productive environment.
Lee brings her experience in leadership and operational roles to ACCE having worked at the ANZ Bank and as Operations Manager at Petrogas Pty Ltd, a Mobil distributor. As the Operations Manager and Child Safe Officer, she is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone within the organisation and those ACCE serves through its work. She is passionate about creating a positive, growth-oriented workplace and collaborating with the ACCE staff to drive success.
Kerry Brookes
Head of Teaching and Learning
Kerry Brookes comes to the CEAV Institute, ACCE’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, with over 20 years of teaching experience in a variety of secondary schools and training settings including special needs, independent schools and community and alternate settings. She brings her experience in curriculum design and development (NSW, ACARA, VCAL and Vic 7-10) along with roles in year coordination and team leadership and learning support.
Kerry’s background in systems thinking has led her into the careers and guidance pathway where she directs her passion for lifelong learning to create engaging curriculum and assessments.
She holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Bachelor of Applied Science (Systems Agriculture), Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary), Masters of Education (Special Educational Needs), Masters of Education (Careers and Guidance Counselling) and a Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training.
Craig Eastwood
Career Development Manager
With over 15 years of diverse experience across corporate, not-for-profit, and educational sectors, Craig brings expertise in strategic leadership, project management, and service delivery to ACCE. In additional to having successfully managed a state-wide community focused career guidance service, Craig’s focus is on collaborating with careers professionals and organisations across the career sector to enhance career services. Craig proactively supports and trains career advisers, qualified careers practitioners, and stakeholders in the value and use of evidence-based vocational tools.
Craig holds several tertiary qualifications and has a strong background in business management, underscored with a commitment to fostering sustainable, quality services that have a positive impact on individuals and the community.
Karen Pritchard
My Career Insights Program Manager
Karen joined ACCE in 2019 as a Program Coordinator in the Southwest for the Department of Education’s My Career Insights (MCI) program delivered by ACCE. In this role she oversaw the delivery of the Morrisby Profile in secondary schools in her region and coordinated one-to-one conversations between students and a qualified career practitioner to discuss their results.
In 2021 Karen became the MCI Program Manager for the state-wide flagship career program. Since then, she has overseen its development which now includes the Enhanced My Career Insights pilot program that commenced in 2024. The pilot focuses on providing additional one-to-one support for priority cohorts in selected schools to assist them with work readiness and career development.
Prior to working at ACCE, Karen was a secondary Math/Science teacher in a range of Government and Catholic schools in both metropolitan and regional areas. She is a qualified Student Wellbeing Coordinator and Career Practitioner and has worked in both capacities in schools. Karen remains a passionate advocate for career education and wellbeing support for all students and has a special interest in ensuring equity and support for students in regional areas.
Rachel Dodson
Business & Payroll Manager
Rachel has over 16 years of experience in finance and joined ACCE in 2012. Her diverse background includes roles in administration and finance. She started her career at Clive Peeters where she gained valuable experience in Sales and Finance within their Insurance division and later worked at Stem Industries and Petrogas. At ACCE, she has supported resource development before moving into administration before becoming Business Manager for accounts and payroll.
Rachel has a passion for lifelong learning that aligns to the mission of ACCE, and she has continued to demonstrate her passion for learning, building on her qualifications that include a Certificate II in Hospitality, Certificate in Business Management, Certificate III in Administration, Certificate IV in Career Education, and Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Level I, II, & III certifications in Vibrational Balancing. She is currently pursuing a Certificate IV in HR Management.
Amelia McCulloch
Member Services Manager
Amelia is a passionate educator dedicated to empowering individuals through meaningful and innovative learning experiences. With a deep commitment to education, she leverages her expertise to create dynamic, inclusive environments that inspire growth and lifelong learning. Having started at ACCE in 2015 and working in a number of roles in education and small businesses, Amelia now focuses on building strong partnerships with communities, employers, and industry leaders to bridge the gap between education and employment.
In her role with ACCE, Amelia oversees Member Services and leads various projects, both internal and external, that enhance the organisation’s impact. She also coordinates the ACCE Biennial Conference and Professional Learning programs, fostering ongoing development and connection within the educational community. Amelia’s holds a Bachelor of Arts/ Teaching (Secondary), Certificate IV in Career Development and is looking forward to completing the Gradate Certificate in Career Development Practice.