Our Team
We are constantly looking for people who are as passionate as we are. Our constantly-growing team is made up of creative people who love to teach others and share their passion. We are a close-knit team who do life together. In the same way we do with our students, we aim to support, grow, and inspire each one of our team in their own personal journey. If you want to join our team in inspiring the next generation in your field, contact us and tell us about yourself or visit our Join the Team page.
Gordon
Leather & Automotive
Gordon Kelly is the founding director of Tactile Learning. Gordon is a highly skilled craftsman in both leather-craft and automotive mechanics. With over 30 years of industry experience, Gordon has a passion for empowering young people to take their future into their own hands. Gordon has a leather-craft studio at his house where he makes custom made footwear and runs hobby shoe-making courses. Although leather work was Gordon’s main trade, he has worked on cars and engines since he was a young man. Gordon’s favourite car is a 1937 Woody Speed-wagon and he is passionate about vintage cars and the development of hybrid and electric vehicles. Tactile Learning embodies Gordon’s vision and heart for helping people and giving them the opportunity to grow and learn. Gordon believes that with support and encouragement, people can dictate their own futures.
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Contact: gordon@tlcentre.com.au
Dale
Automotive
Frequent trips to Lakeside Raceway and Archerfield Speedway with his father and brothers, dreaming of working on high-powered racing cars and one day racing those high-powered cars Dale had a goal to become a mechanic from quite a young age. After completing high school Dale started his apprenticeship at Metro Ford in Brisbane. During his 25 years in the automotive industry, Dale worked as a mechanic, costing clerk, warranty clerk, service advisor, and workshop manager, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Whilst the automotive industry has kept him regularly employed, he discovered fairly early on his career that working on cars all day everyday was not his passion. Throughout his career Dale found enjoyment in working with young people and apprentices that worked under him. Dale is passionate about training, having an impact on young people’s lives, and sharing the knowledge he has gained through out his career. Dale still dreams of racing high powered cars and one day hopes to incorporate this into his training in the future.
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Contact: dale@tlcentre.com.au
John
Hospitality
John began his career tending bar in a small New Farm venue before promotion to Bar Manager in his early 20s. With exemplary customer service and hospitality skills, John developed a career that saw him managing a café, bistro, and fine dining venues all around Brisbane as well as the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, before pursuing a career in training. John has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge and skills to his employees, so it was only natural that his career paved towards the training arena. John is currently enjoying imparting his love and knowledge of the hospitality skills to young people.
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Contact: john@tlcentre.com.au
Joana
Administration/Compliance
​Joana was born and raised in a small town in Einhausen, Germany. Throughout her teenage years, she developed a passion for travelling throughout Europe and the United States of America, until she ended up settling down in the beautiful city of Brisbane. Having always had a knack for attention to detail and dealing with numbers, working in administration and finance is second nature to her. Joana has been working as the bookkeeper for Tactile Learning since 2012 and in 2021 has taken on more responsibility in RTO compliance and administrational tasks. When Joana is not at work, she is enjoying life with her husband and 3 children, or you can find her volunteering for the P&C at her son’s high school.
Contact: joana@tlcentre.com.au
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Alex
Automotive
Alex Gonzalez grew up in Bogota, Colombia, where he learned from an early age that if he wanted something, he had to work for it. In 2009 Alex and his wife Maria moved to Australia in the hope of new opportunities. In Australia, Alex was able to follow his passion and become an Automotive Mechanic. Alex’s favourite car is a Lexus GS and he enjoys keeping up-to-date with new technologies in the automotive field and sharing his knowledge and experience. Additionally, Alex is passionate about mentoring new generations for their future. Alex works at Tactile Learning Centre because he believes that everyone needs someone in their life to believe in them. Alex believes in each one of his students and challenges them to live up to their full potential.
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Contact: alex@tlcentre.com.au
Isaac
Footwear / Leather
Growing up as the son of a shoemaker, Isaac has been exposed to shoemaking/repair and leather craft his whole life and started working as a bespoke bootmaker at the age of 15. His busy life has taken him on a journey from the hospitality industry as a talented barista to working for a landscape construction company all the way to teaching. Isaac is driven by his passion to impart creativity within the leather industry to the next generation and keep a small niche industry alive in Australia. On the weekend you will find Isaac in the outdoors rock climbing, camping, or spending time with his favourite, adorable dog Milo.
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Contact: isaac@tlcentre.com.au
