Meet the Fellows: David Barron FIEP – ‘We can learn from each other’s challenges and success’.

Speaking of his Fellowship, David says: “The goal of our economy should be to provide fulfilling, stable employment that allows every individual to lead a prosperous life. But we don’t always see that promoted by government. I’m a big supporter in bringing industry leaders and professionals together to drive change in a more meaningful way.

“We’ve found the best path to long-term employment comes from supporting people early in their careers and giving them two things. First, they need tools and knowledge to add value in the workforce. Second, they need the resilience and motivation to adapt as things change. This gives young people a bright future and we actually build a stronger economy while doing so.

“It seems simple, but most organisations are good at one or the other – not both. So we need effort from the whole industry, and a foundation of good, robust partnerships.

“At Frontline Human Resources, we’ve been able to put literally thousands of young people through apprenticeships, collaborating with both private and public sector to ensure they get the best experience and training possible. Last year we had apprentices out working on some of Victoria’s largest infrastructure projects. We couldn’t have done that without connecting private enterprise with government to solve each other’s problems. And the outcome is a whole lot of people with a lifelong career ahead of them.

“I am personally thrilled to be an IEP Fellow. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, an enormous pool of knowledge and talent. But it’s also another place to build cross-industry connections and collaborate with common objectives. I’m someone who likes just getting stuck in and fixing the problem. I think this is a great community for doing that.

“We can learn from each other’s challenges and success, and then be pioneers of better economies with people at the centre.”