Our training team
Nina Laitala | Training lead
B Music, M Education (Music), Dip Gov, FICDA
After completing her Master of Education, Nina discovered her passion for working with communities and empowering them through music-based education programs. In 2016, Nina joined the Victorian Student Representative Council as a training and project manager, and she was later appointed CEO. As CEO, she led the organisation through a time of significant change, from being an auspice agency to becoming a charitable company limited by guarantee. It was during this time that she honed her skills as an executive manager, educator and advocate with a strong focus on strategic planning, mentoring and governance.
Nina excels in strategic and change management, particularly in bringing diverse stakeholders along for the journey. Her agile management style and unwavering energy and commitment enable her to build strong teams that thrive under challenging situations.
Nina is a passionate advocate for ensuring all people, particularly those from marginalised communities, have accessible platforms, opportunities and spaces where they can be heard and supported to create positive change in the world.
Nina works with the training team to develop new training materials and deliver the full range of ICDA programs, including the Diploma of Governance.
Jon Staley | Trainer, governance and community leadership
BA (Hons), DipEd, Certificate IV (Training and Assessment), Dip Gov, FICDA
Jon has a background as a teacher, trainer, social entrepreneur, filmmaker and writer. He began his career teaching at Melbourne's Northland Secondary College, where in 2000 he was awarded the Peter Clarke Teaching for Reconciliation Award based on his work with the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community at the school. He spent several years being mentored by and working alongside Gunditjmara artist and filmmaker Richard Frankland and together they developed a cross-cultural education program, Planting Seeds, which shone a light on the invisible load that Aboriginal communities in Australia have carried in the wake of colonisation.
In 2008 Jon founded the not-for-profit youth media social enterprise Youthworx, which uses creative and commercial media to work with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and he led the organisation until 2020 when he joined Our Community.
Chloe Hall | Trainer, governance and community leadership
MBA; IECL Level 2 Organisational Coach; DiSC, MBTI & Hogan accredited
Chloe brings a rare combination of commercial acumen, creativity and organisational development experience to her work with not-for-profit leaders and boards.
A qualified organisational coach, Chloe helps values-driven organisations build cultures where people feel safe, heard and empowered to contribute their best. Whether focusing on culture change, governance or leadership development, she brings warmth and rigour to every learning experience.
Drawing on cross-sector experience and a broad toolkit, Chloe meets participants where they are and delivers impactful training that genuinely hits the mark. Her path to this work has been unconventional, including an earlier chapter writing songs for film and television and releasing original music internationally - which perhaps explains her instinct for connection and storytelling.
Kate James | Trainer, governance and community leadership
BA, LLM (Juris Doctor), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Certificate III (Investigations Certificate IV (Government Investigations), NMAS Mediation Skillset
Kate (they/them) has a professional background spanning commercial law, government, private investigations and management consulting. They’ve worked with community groups of all shapes and sizes, including by providing legal and regulatory advice, conducting cultural reviews, and facilitating restorative processes. Kate’s diverse experience has given them a nuanced outlook and thorough technical understanding of the sector.
Kate has a long-standing interest in capacity-building; in 2017, they were awarded by the Law Council of Australia for their research in this area. A qualified mediator, Kate also has special interests in conflict resolution, trauma-informed practice, and psychosocial safety.
Kate’s hyper analytical tendencies are balanced with an inherently human-centred approach. Their training style is grounded and pragmatic, with a focus on building connection and confidence.
Ian Coutts
Ian worked in marketing at the Age newspaper and Syme Magazines before moving into sports administration in 1990 with the North Melbourne Giants in the National Basketball League. In 1992 he joined the Carlton Football Club administration, starting in the marketing team before becoming the first media manager of an AFL club in Victoria.
In his 20-year association with the Carlton Football Club, during which time he was part of the executive team, he developed the club’s media and communications structure and strategies. He built exceptional personal communication and relationship management capabilities through his experience across complex management and board structures and is regarded as an expert at cultivating and managing sensitive stakeholder relationships and interests.
A graduate of the ICDA Diploma of Governance, Ian is a great supporter of, and has a long association with, community groups – his past and present roles include board member, advisor and volunteer. He is also a co-founder and director of a not-for-profit organisation that promotes reconciliation through sport.
Ian joined Our Community in 2020 and delivers training for Class B Cemetery Trusts.