The Engagement Forum WA has been running since 2014. The Forum aims to provide a platform to showcase programs and services that exist to support school aged young people to stay engaged with their education or to effectively transition from school to other approved options, including alternative education programs, training and employment.
Department of Education
Anna Bruni
Department of Education
Manager North Metro (west) Participation Team
Anna has held various roles within the Department of Education since 2000, as Senior Youth Worker, Participation Coordinator, Senior Participation Coordinator and Senior Engagement & Transitions Coordinator overseeing the pilot of North Metro Education region’s Engagement & Transitions Program.
Since completing a Youth Work qualification, Anna has worked extensively with vulnerable youth in both schools and in the community and has a strong knowledge, skills and understanding of the many challenges faced by young people and strives to empower and build their capacity to achieve their aspirations and fulfill their potential.
Department of Education
Charanjit Kaur (CJ)
Department of Education
Engagement and Transitions Manager (ETM)
South Metropolitan Education Region – West (Fremantle-Peel)
Charanjit has worked in youth engagement and transition pathways across various Participation, Engagement and Transitions roles for over 15 years in the Department of Education. In earlier roles, she provided case coordination and advocacy for young people, brokered effective transitions into alternative education and training pathways, and built strong networks to foster collaboration across providers. This foundation informs her current Engagement and Transitions Manager role, where she leads regional initiatives and continues to strengthen partnerships with community, schools, training providers and industry. Charanjit is passionate about empowering young people, and remains committed to creating pathways that connect education with meaningful futures in training and employment.
Department of Education
Nikolai Emery
Department of Education
Engagement and Transitions Manager
Southwest Education Region, Albany
Nikolai lives on Minang country on the beautiful south coast of WA where the forest meets the Southern Ocean and where he loves being in the outdoors experiencing the local area.
His work in the public service in Western Australia over two decades has been built on a foundation of studies in Australian history, anthropology, and education.
Nikolai has spent many years working with young people, communities, people living with disabilities and families with multiple and complex needs. His approach promotes the principles of inclusion, equity and social justice and he believes that linking young peoples’ experience of education and training to the reality of a rapidly changing social fabric within communities both local and global is an important role for helping young people thrive.
Department of Education
Bruce Sherborne
Engagement and Transitions Manager
North Metropolitan Education Region
Department of Education
Is a founding partner member of the Engagement Forum WA organising committee. He works for the Department of Education as the Engagement and Transitions Manager for the North Metropolitan Education Region.
Bruce has a wealth of experience and has been in his current role since 2009 . He has previously undertaken various roles with the Department and in the youth work and the engagement spaces, including running an NFP Alternative Education/Work Skills Program for highly at-risk young people, Trade lecturing to non-English speaking migrants, apprentices and youth at risk, Youth Support Worker, District Attendance Officer, Participation Coordinator, Senior PC, Enterprise and Vocational Education Coordinator. Bruce moved from NZ to Australia in 1986 and eventually settled in Perth.
He had a boilermaker welder background before transitioning into working with youth at risk and in the education sector. He also has a background in Christian Pastoral ministry as he and his wife and family pioneered a church and were missionaries overseas for 7 years.
His desire is to support vulnerable and at-risk young people, as well as staff and colleagues to make a difference in supporting schools, providers, and services with engaging young people to have better education, training and employment outcomes and opportunities for success in their future and lives.
Youth Futures
Linda Resnick
Youth Futures | Head of Teaching and Learning
Linda is currently the Head of Teaching and Learning at Youth Futures. In this role, she is responsible for supporting and enhancing classroom practices in alignment with contemporary pedagogies. In this respect, Linda provides targeted professional learning, coaching and mentoring to out academic team.
Linda commenced her career in education as an English teacher working for 12 years with migrants, refugees, and international students.
Since then, she has held various roles in the education sector including Program Manager at English colleges, Admissions Manager, Compliance Manager and Youth Futures Anchor Point Manager. She has delivered presentations at numerous English Language conferences.
Linda has a passion for designing engaging and relevant curriculum tailored to the needs of different student cohorts. This is accompanied by a focus on high quality compliance that exceeds regulatory requirements and promotes excellence, both for the VET sector and Higher Education. Linda has led internal and external audits for a number of organisations and developed new systems and processes to underpin increased quality standards
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA
Jonni Taylor
CCIWA | Education Development Advisor
Jonni Taylor Education Development Advisor for Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA and
Apprenticeship Support Australia. With a strong background in sales in a variety of industries Jonni thoroughly enjoys Career Development. Jonni helps to identify strategies to assist students, candidates and employers into vocational job outcomes.
Anglicare WA
David Frost
Service Manager
Student Wellbeing Service
Anglicare WA
David is an experienced manager, service developer, and governance leader with a decade of impact across the New Zealand and Australian health and wellbeing sectors. He is skilled in leading multidisciplinary teams, building and expanding services, and driving strategic initiatives that align with organisational vision and community needs.
David brings a governance-informed perspective to leadership, underpinned by hands-on frontline delivery experience, ensuring decisions are both strategic and practical. His approach combines evidence-based practice with a trauma-informed, recovery-focused ethos, fostering environments where people feel supported and empowered.
David is passionate about connection, collaboration, and relationship-building, and thrives in developing innovative solutions, strengthening partnerships, and guiding services toward measurable, sustainable outcomes.
