The detailed profile of the founder.
Barbara feels that training is to be expanded and be able to reach people in ways that have never been available before.People can achieve so much when they have the right information, learn to believe in themselves and dream big.
“I am always amazed at what people are capable of achieving when they are encouraged to follow their dreams and to believe in themselves.” It is never too late to learn.
Passing on her knowledge and experience is her goal so that others can benefit from her past experience. Hence, Barbara creates this website to provide innovative and effective value driven learning to individuals and to employees in small businesses and organisations by helping them realising their own potential through the development of their knowledge and skills and by changing their beliefs and ways of thinking through the miniModules.
Philosophy:
“The more you include your passions and skills into your work the happier you will be”
History
Graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management, Barbara Burdon with her skills in the field of personnel and training has worked for major hotel chains, including Trust Houses Forte, the Sharjah Continental in the UAE, Pan Pacific, and Hyatt International. During her career, Barbara has had the chance to work in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia, before settling in Australia. In Australia, Barbara was Director Personnel & Training for Hyatt Australia, responsible for opening four new hotels and managing Hyatt on Collins – now the Grand Hyatt, before opening her own business in 1990.
Achievements:
1. Hotel Openings – Opening 5 international +5 star hotels , one in the Middle East and four in Australia.
2. English Language Training– Developing an English language training program for hotels - now used worldwide.
3. ANZ - designed a training program, teaching ANZ key employees the skills required to create CBT (computer based training).
4. Cinemedia – conducted training needs analysis, developed a training plan, set up project management skills training and identified key milestones linked to the opening of Federation Square.
5. The Windsor of Melbourne - designed an interactive orientation program for the hotel in responses to its need to provide an orientation program accessible to all newcomers at any time – day or night
6. CMIS (Coles Myer Information Services Call Centre) – conducted a training needs analysis, set desired levels of performance, set up an internal induction program and a systematic approach to on the job training; also designed four training programs on telephone techniques, customer service and resolving problems and facilitated these programs over a two-year period.
7. Le Meridian - conducted a needs analysis and created a framework of events/actions to address these needs. This involved: working with department heads and employees to identify, and record the standards of performance and conducting a Train the Trainer program for employees; designing and facilitating a customer’s service program for all employees; organizing an outdoor team building weekend for senior management which addressed key issues that affected business performance; designing and conducting a series of supervisory skills sessions for senior employees over a six-month period covering the key skills required by their organization.
8. Deakin Prime - developed learning programs to meet the needs, specifications and competencies required by their major corporate clients including Western Mining Corporation, Siemens, ANZ, ATO, Crown Casino and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria
9. RMIT - conducted a needs analysis for automotive/ aerospace industries and, based on these results, developing a five day industry program on applying GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance). Also worked on the design and development of a web site providing an overview of the automotive industry for school leavers. Another project involved the development of a training program to commercialise a new micro technology product developed by RMIT’s research laboratory.
10. The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance- Developed workshops run for their members, and updated and organized the production of an insurance industry training video for schools.Worked with subject matter experts in updating distance learning modules and adapted several modules for the China market conducting a survey of learning and content management systems and adapting learning materials for both online courses and online professional development learning modules.
