Our Team

Elisa Uyen

Director

Elisa Uyen is the Managing Director and Founder of The Pivot Institute which was established in 2002. With over 25 years’ experience in corporate training, learning and development consultancy and RTO management Elisa is committed to providing powerful, customised and targeted programs across leadership and management, training and assessment and mine based training including high risk licences. Elisa and her team have also been co-ordinating Pivot’s major projects including Life After Argyle and My Future Plan for Rio Tinto. These projects have provided bespoke learning and development consultancy services to support upskilling for large mine closures including determining suitability, management of training functions and Master Vendor services for Argyle (WA) and Ranger Uranium (NT).

Significant and relevant Qualifications include BA Sci (Psychology); Grad Dip Ed (Higher & Further), Grad Cert Mgmt together with relevant VET based qualifications in Training and Assessment and Management. Elisa is currently the Deputy Chair of the Education IRC responsible for the development of the TAE Training Package.

Charmaine Powell

Business Development Manager/Induction Trainer

Charmaine started her career working for Elisa (CEO Pivot/Mine Training Australia) back when she was 16, where she looked after the administration & student support services for Pivot. She then moved into the Wedding & Events/Hotel Management industry where she gained a wide range of skills and knowledge in Event Planning and Leadership & Management. From there she took a leap into the BIG Mining world. Charmaine landed a FIFO job with Rio Tinto in the Pilbara Iron Ore industry. She had the opportunity to work in a few departments such as the Laboratory, Fixed Plant, Drill & Blast and Planning.

In March 2022 Charmaine was asked to come back and re-join The Pivot/MTA team after all these years, with the opportunity to be a part of opening our brand-new subsidiary Mine Training Australia! Charmaine’s focus is on Business Development, working with clients and mining company’s all over Australia ensuring their staff are professionally trained and qualified by our highly experienced training professionals. With Charmaine’s knowledge in the mining industry, she also delivers our Mine Induction Training courses.

If you have any questions about training courses, potential contracts, staff development or mining she is your go to girl to speak to.

Melissa Kuhlmann

Trainer & Assessor

Melissa has worked across education sectors and RTOs in a range of positions for over 15 years. Work roles include Trainer, Learning and Development Consultant, Curriculum Consultant, Instructional Designer, Principal Lecturer, Team Coordinator, Portfolio Manager (Acting), and TAE & Quality Consultant. Melissa was a member of PWC Skills for Australia Working Groups collaborating on the TAE Holistic Review Project. This started early 2021 will result in the release of the next TAE Training Package. She has recently joined Pivot after working across the regions in the TAFE RTOs.

Melissa has designed and developed a range of customised training programs, accredited and non-accredited, to meet learning requirements. She is passionate about learning and the opportunities resulting from adult education in all its forms. Melissa enjoys the challenge of TAE delivery and facilitation to a wide variety of industry specialists who wish to pass on their knowledge and experience to others.

Melissa’s education includes a Master’s in Business Leadership, Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Edith Cowan University. Vocational qualifications include Diplomas in VET and Training and Development, and the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Peter Morgan

Mine Trainer

Peter has been working in the mining industry for over 15 years in a FIFO role before coming to join us here at Mine Training Australia.
He delivers high risk training for Forklift and EWP, as well as courses in enter and working in confined spaces, gas test atmospheres, safe working at heights, scissor lift, telehandler, secure loads & load and unload goods/cargo. He also conducts VOC assessments and creates and sets up training packages for the delivery of Cert III in Surface Extraction Operations, Cert III in underground metalliferous mining and Cert IV in work health and safety.

Warren Uyen

Mine Manager Consultant

Warren is an experienced Mine Manger and Mining Engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the mining industry. He has extensive experience in the management of both open pit and underground mines, covering project development and operations. Warren holds his First Class Mine Manager Ticket and has worked internationally and across Australia in all aspects of mining.

Ashleigh Uyen

Marketing and Communications Manager

Ashleigh specialises in course content development, marketing and client relationship management. Ashleigh has worked in mining and manages client communication and liaison between Pivot / MTA and our mining clients. Ashleigh thoroughly enjoys the creative side of the development of marketing content and is in charge of the marketing and communication side of the organisation. Ashleigh’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Event Management, and she is currently studying a Graduate Diploma of Psychology with Deakin University.

Clay Uyen

Logistic Officer

Clay is the Logistics Officer at Pivot and Mine Training Australia. Working on and off site to gather materials and attend client meetings to support business growth. Clay assists in the planning and execution of events attended and run by Pivot and MTA from handyman at the office, to strategic business marketing behind the scenes. While working part time at our head office, Clay is also studying Mechanical Engineering and playing semi professional Rugby.

Beverly Brago

Administration Assistant

Beverly is a dedicated administrative assistant with over three years of experience from Manila, Philippines. In September 2021. she started working with The Pivot Institute virtually. She enjoys getting to know her coworkers and helping each other grow professionally and personally, as well as learning new things.
Beverly’s main responsibility in The Pivot Institute is to support the team members with any administrative tasks such as editing and formatting documents, handling and creating content on social media accounts, responding to enquiries and etc.