Our People
- CEO: Michael Solomon
- General Manager: Tim Legge
- Director – Education Services: Gill Fletcher
- Director – Technology: James Vulling
- Finance and Business Manager: Kavin Patel
- National Manager - Strategic Partnerships: Prudence Pascoe
MICHAEL SOLOMON
CEO
Learning Seat
“There is no future in any job. The future lies in the individual that holds that job.”
~ Anonymous ~
Michael Solomon is neither a stranger to the intricacies of Business nor the fundamentals of Change Management and engagement programs; and the impact these programs can have on a company’s bottom line.
Having worked extensively in Australia, and around the world, including Dubai, USA, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, and France, Michael knows that people are the most important asset to any organisation. This belief is reinforced by a strong conviction that people are the business.
Michael’s approach is simple, “Look after the people, and they will look after your business.”
With over 20 years’ experience in people and business management, Michael demonstrates a clear understanding of engaging his workforce and delivering results through focusing on people and their development. This has been reflected in his broad based achievements across a diverse range of industries.
Michael is currently the Executive Director of Emerging Businesses for News Digital Media and holds a number of roles, including;
- CEO and Director of online learning business - Learning Seat
- Executive Director of ticketing company - Moshtix
- Chairman of online shopping comparison site - GetPrice.com.au
- Chairman of grass roots sporting site - Sporting Pulse
- Board member web-based recruitment software provider - Recruit Advantage
- Full financial responsibility for News Digital Medias investment in Singapore based travel site, Wego
He holds a Diploma in Business and an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources, as well as being a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the World Speakers Association and Australian Speakers Association.
TIM LEGGE
General Manager
Learning Seat
“The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.”
~ Bruce Feirstein ~
With over 15 years in sales, consulting and management Tim was a great fit when he joined Learning Seat in 2008 as Director of Sales. In that role Tim went about establishing in the team an absolute focus on the customer in everything that we do – and making sure we have fun while we’re doing it.
Tim knows that real success comes only to those who dare to take risks. This is a philosophy that Tim continues to embed throughout the Learning Seat business.
Tim holds degrees in Science and Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.
GILL FLETCHER
Director – Education Services
Learning Seat
"There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”
~ J. Krishnamurti ~
Gill Fletcher is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their full potential; the eight years spent consulting in Human Resources and four years in e-learning attest to this.
Boasting a strong background in recruitment on an international scale, Gill is familiar with individual assessment consulting, as well as recruiting at Senior Finance levels, and understands the importance of keeping skills current in all aspects of industry training.
Her time in London has seen her rubbing shoulders with the BBC, where she was exposed to high volume international recruitment campaigns. This stint has reinforced her belief that relevant training and expertise enhances an individual’s marketability in the industry.
Post-recruitment, Gill expanded herself into the field of training where she studied behaviour-based training principles, specifically in OH&S, concentrating on the most effective ways of turning safe behaviours into habits. As part of her role, she undertook extensive industry research into the relationship between leadership style and safety culture, the results of which guided the direction of the leadership training within the company. She also researched the validity and effectiveness of safety perception surveys and helped develop a new survey tool more relevant for Australian industry today.
As Director – Education Services with Learning Seat, Australia’s leading supplier of online training and compliance management solutions, Gill is constantly ensuring that the company’s course offerings provide a unique and interactive learning experience, thereby engaging the target audience, addressing skills gaps relevant in today’s market, and giving practical tools that participants can utilise immediately in the workplace.
Gill has various major achievements throughout her career, including winning awards for outstanding business growth, and recognition for academic excellence in the area of psychology. She is now furthering her studies into the area of Instructional Design.
JAMES VULLING
Director – Technology
Learning Seat
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
~ Steve Jobs ~
James Vulling is no stranger to innovation. Always hungry for dynamic yet practical ways to elevate systems and procedures that break the boundaries of conventional technology, James is constantly on the lookout for the new, the edgy, and the gutsy.
James taps into his software engineering and development experience and his primal love for all things technology to surpass his peers within his industry.
What sets him apart is his ability to see the big picture, which almost always means a drive towards doing ‘for the better good’. This attitude is adopted in all aspects of his life – for his team, his work, his career, his lifestyle, his family, and his personal goals.
A passion for software development, business intelligence, and project management compels James to consistently drive for excellence within his field.
Always an advocate of quality development, James possesses a dedication that is transferred into all arms of any role within his career. This commitment was particularly witnessed during his tenure as Development Manager, where James worked on the implementation of a streamlined, agile environment that propelled the company to yield more efficient and higher quality output.
A solutions-focused individual, James is now Director – Technology of Learning Seat, Australia’s leading supplier of online training and compliance management solutions, and is determined to take the company’s level of course development to new heights.
James holds a degree in Software Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
KAVIN PATEL
Finance and Business Manager
Learning Seat
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
~ Dalai Lama ~
Always an advocate of exploring new horizons, Kavin Patel had applied for a position in the United States, in addition to a position in Melbourne, Australia. As luck would have it, he got the job in Melbourne, Australia, which is the last place he expected to be. Five years on, having overcome various obstacles, Kavin now calls Australia home.
Never one to shy from challenges, Kavin displays a dedication to perfection that is showcased in his ability to juggle numbers despite the adversity of company restructure.
With a strong spiritual background, Kavin is not your typical finance guru. Channelling his spiritual learnings into his daily life and showcasing an acute level of patience, Kavin has an apparent ability to tackle the toughest clients, suppliers and vendors.
But his calm exterior camouflages a quick, experienced mind. Accumulatively, Kavin has over 10 years’ experience in Finance/Accounting within Australia and internationally.
Kavin’s talent exceeds the parameters of Finance/Accounting. As Company Accountant at Kinetic Education Australia, Kavin supported the company in establishing a market within the UK and US. During his tenure there, Kavin increased company profitability by 30%.
Originally the Financial Accountant of Learning Seat, Australia’s leading supplier of online training and compliance management solutions, Kavin now reports directly to the CEO and Board as the company’s Finance and Business Manager.
Kavin’s commitment to professional excellence is backed by his belief that a positive attitude, coupled with an investment in professional growth, can provide the individual with the right platform to leverage from.
Kavin holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Masters in Accounting and a CPA. He is also accredited as Company (Chartered) Secretary.
PRUDENCE PASCOE
National Manager - Strategic Partnerships
Learning Seat
“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.”
~ Albert Einstein ~
Prudence Pascoe is not your average, run-of-the-mill individual. A true believer that motivation brings out the best in others, Prudence is an advocate of leading by example. And she has done this over the last decade, and continues to do so. Always ready for a challenge, she is often the first to roll up her sleeves to achieve targets when the going gets tough.
As Field Sales Manager at Brown Forman, she led her team to exceed its sales targets over two consecutive years. During her time at Diageo Australia and Carlton & United Beverages, Prudence was responsible for building, developing and managing blue-chip relationships, maximising opportunities and building long-term volume growth, giving her the ability to provide analysis for both a tactical and strategic sales approach.
Now National Manager Strategic Partnerships at Learning Seat, Australia’s leading supplier of online training and compliance management solutions, Prudence continues to unleash the full potentials of her team through motivation and mutual respect. Since her inauguration, she has grown the team sixty-five percent to include an Adelaide team and a full-time representative in Queensland.
Prudence holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing and International Marketing) from the Edith Cowan University.