- Cronulla Triathlon Club
- Cars, Fixing them, and teaching others how to fix them
- Open water swimming
- Road and Mountain biking
- Cooking
- America Football and basketball
- Hiking, Camping and Kayaking with my wife
- Art , especially portraiture
Eric Thurston
Kirrawee
Summary
Dynamic team management professional with a proven track record in fostering collaboration and driving results. Expertise in strategic planning, conflict resolution, and performance improvement facilitates effective navigation of complex challenges. Recognized for reliability and adaptability in fast-paced environments, complemented by exceptional communication skills that inspire and motivate teams toward shared objectives. Committed to cultivating a positive team culture that prioritizes growth and success, with extensive experience in adult training and a background as a paid public speaker.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Higher School Certificate Support Worker
New South Wales Educational Standards Authority
09.2025 - Current
- Trained new staff on operational procedures.
- Working collaboratively with a team of 60 to achieve our goals
- Processed over 30 difficult tasks per day.
- Have less than a 1% error rate.
- Oversaw administrative tasks, ensuring compliance with company policies and standards.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by efficiently addressing and resolving support inquiries.
- Handled sensitive information with discretion while maintaining confidentiality according to established protocols.
- Ensured adherence to company policies and procedures through diligent compliance monitoring efforts.
- Identified potential safety issues and corrected them,
- Assisted colleagues with various tasks during peak periods or absences to maintain optimal workflow efficiency and achievement of targets at all times.
- Demonstrated excellent attention to detail in proofreading documents before distribution or submission.
Teacher, Trainer and Team Leader
Ranger Jamie Tours
07.2024 - Current
- Working collaboratively with other “Rangers” in teams of 2 to 6 who supervise and teach groups of 30-200 schoolchildren in line with the NSW curriculum.
- These teams change daily, so I have the ability to work with large range of people in a very high pressure, high ambiguity job.
- Holding and getting groups of schoolchildren excited about geography, science, culture, science and history in both excursions and in-school activities all around Sydney.
- Appropriately disciplining school children in this age group.
- Being in charge of a team of 2 to 6 other “Rangers”, which includes training them before-hand, organizing the excursion day, assigning tasks and timings to the other rangers, giving feedback to other rangers and liaising and working with the teachers for the excursion, especially the head teacher.
- Every days is different, in this job, so I have shown the ability to work under calmly pressure and manage any emergencies that occur.
Director, Trainer, and Team Lead, Year 13 Program
Sydney Anglican Youthworks
01.2022 - 12.2023
- Administered and met a budget of $1.4M
- Implemented performance management systems to enhance employee productivity and accountability for a team of 5 employees and 8 p/t volunteers.
- Designed, delivered and assessed adult training for 6 hours per week for 30 students at at TAFE level.
- Gave a a 25 min talk each week to 60 people.
- Trained 30 others in public speaking.
- Head of 'pastoral' care for 70+ 18 year-olds.
- Designed promotion and then delivered it to up to 300 people in a group.
- Increased participation in program from 40 to 65.
- Responsibility for maintaining and upgrading a physical conference site of 4 acres in Loftus which accommodates 60 people.
- Created and improving curriculum and delivery systems, including online teaching and training systems. (Moodle)
- Ran 2 intense training weeks as well as overseeing a mid-year 4 week mission to Fiji for 70 people.
- Was part of the Youthworks executive team.
- Initiated a professional development program for the staff team as well as staff retreats and training days for the first time in the organisations history.
National Director of Training
Ministry Training Strategy (MTS)
01.2018 - 12.2021
- Analyzed training needs assessments to identify performance gaps and opportunities for improvement.
- Recruited and chaired a team of 10 to run a week-long national training conference with more than 200 attendees, both trainers and trainees.
- Started the Mandarin MTS in Sydney for Mandarin speakers. More than 30 people have gone through this program so far.
- Ran a weekly hour long training zoom meeting during Covid.
- Initiated a formal vetting then onboarding program for new trainers for the first time in the organisations history. MTS has more than 150 trainers Australia-wide.
- Found and recruited potential MTS trainees and MTS trainers.
- Started a formal "info night" system at local churches to promote MTS. More than 80 churches have used this program so far.
- Trained more than 100 trainers over 4 years.
- Created and improved curriculum and delivery systems for trainees.
- Supervised the MTS events coordinator and assistant events coordinator.
- Lead and trained teams of up to 10 volunteers
National Director, Head of Training and Team Lead
The Artizo Institute
01.2006 - 12.2017
- Lead and grew the Artizo ministry in Canada as National Director from 4 ministry trainees to 19 and from 3 training “bases” in 1 city to 10 across Canada.
- Established standards and best practices for training management, ensuring timely execution of national campaigns.
- Was in charge of the continous improvement of the Artizo program improving the Artizo ministry internship program.
- Expanded the Artizo program into two Asian bases.
- Was in charge of all promotion including annual fundraisers and awards ceremonies.
- Lead 3 part time staff.
- Oversaw the training and mentoring of 107 Artizo trainees across Canada. More than half of these are in current full-time ministry.
- Sat on the national boards of 3 ministries.
Assistant Minister
The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd
01.2011 - 12.2017
- Lead and mentored 4 youth leaders and helped them plan the youth program of 40 young people.
- Lead and mentored 6 young adults and and lead the young adults ministry of 30.
- I Lead the English speaking service of about 100 people for 7 years.
- Regular preaching to about 100 people.
- I organised services and trained of service leaders and small group leaders.
- I lead the youth and young adults ministry. Approx. 40 youth and 30 young adults.
- Planned and executed youth and young adult retreats.
- Was part fo the planning and training committee for community outreach.
Assistant Minister
St. John's Vancouver Anglican Church
01.2006 - 12.2011
- In charge of outreach to young adults at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
- Young adults ministry co-leader to 140 Young adults.
- Regular preaching, service leading, pastoral care of youth and young adults and their leaders.
- On Churche's executive and decision making team.
Assistant Minister
Glenmore Park Anglican Church
01.2003 - 12.2005
- Youth leaders to 120 youth (yr 7-12).
- Overseeing, training and pastoring a team of 12 youth leaders.
- Young adults minister. Approx. 100 young adults (post high-school to 28 years old).
- Was main church trainer trainer of our 3 trainees
- In charge of outreach to our local schools years 3, 4 and 9.
- Led all aspects of our Sunday 5pm service (approx. 50 people) and 7pm service (approx. 150 people).
- Regular Preaching, service leading etc. at all services.
- Management of Staff and volunteers.
Process, Safety, Quality Control, Logistics Engineer and Trainer
CSR Building Materials
12.1996 - 01.2001
- Training employees in Quality and Process control.
- Materials and process trouble-shooting to rectify problems (Motorola 3 sigma training).
- Materials development to both maximize profits and satisfy Australian standards.
- Safety program design, training and implementation.
- Quality control program design, training and implementation.
- Technical trouble shooting and remediation in CSR factories.
- Logistics contracting and quality control.
- Factory database design and implementation
- Enforcement of delivery system recovery of shipping assets from sites (ie pallets & other shipping material).
Process, Safety, Quality Control and Blasting Engineer
Trans – Canada Pipelines
12.1995 - 12.1996
- Led our crew to a perfect safety and zero defect record.
- Technical blasting advice and design with a blasting crew.
- Led engineering projects in blasting to enhance operational efficiency and streamline processes.
- Developed innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges, improving product reliability safety
Education
Certificate IV - Work, Health And Safety BSB41419
LET Training Courses
Sydney, Australia03-2026
Certificate I - Provide Basic Emergency Life Support HLTAID010 :
National First Aid Courses
Sydney, Australia06-2025
Certificate I - Provide First Aid HLTAID011
National First Aid Courses
Sydney, Australia06-2025
Certificate I - Training WHS Reqs Pol. in Const Ind CPCCWHS2001
Alert Training
Sydney Australia03-2025
Certificate I - Prepare Work Safely in The Construc. Indus CPCWHS1
Alert Training
Sydney Australia02-2025
Certificate IV - Training And Assessment TAE40122
Pinnacle Training
Sydney, Australia08-2024
Doctor of Ministry -
Carey Baptist College
Vancouver, Canada01.2016
B.Divinity (Hons 2b) - Theology - Pauline Theology
Moore Theological College
Sydney, AustraliaDiploma in Ministry - Practical Ministry Practice
Moore Theological College
Sydney, AustraliaEngineering And Management (Hons 1B) - Mechanical / Biomedical
McMaster University
Hamilton, CanadaBachelors in Business And Commerce (Hons 1A) - Economics And Accounting
McMaster University
Hamilton, CanadaSkills
- Instructional design and training for adult learners
- Guiding team performance
- Collaborative teamwork abilities
- Understanding cultural nuances
- Strong organizational skills
- Continuous process evaluation
- Focused goal achievement
- Leadership development expertise
- Health and safety awareness
- Provide emotional support
- Customer focus
- Motivational skills
Professional Development
- Training others in 6 Sigma Quality Control (Motorola)
- Course Design for Online Training (University of Edinburgh)
- Design of Online Training for Adults (University of Edinburgh)
- Basics of Adult Education in a Classroom (University of Edinburgh)
- Video Production for Online Training (University of Edinburgh)
- Design of VET training for Online and In-Person Training (Alison online training)
- Assessing Training needs (Alison online training)
- Project Management Essentials (Howard University)
Software Experience
Highly proficient in the MS Office Suite, Highly proficient in the Google Online Suite, Moodle, Proficient in MS Power-point, Proficient in Articulate '360', Proficient in Articulate 'Rise', Familiar with Adobe 'Activate', Highly Proficient in Apple iMovie, Familiar with Apple 'Final Cut Pro', Proficient in 'Monday', Proficient in 'MS Project', Familiar with 'Folio'
Interests
National Security Checks
- Working with Children Check : WWC1647904E, expiry 21/05/29
- National Police Check: 10300067, issued 11/8/25
- NDIS Worker Check : 65339754, expiry 2/9/30
Athletic Coaching Accreditations
- Canada Basketball Association, Level 2 Coach
- Canada Field Hockey Association, Level 1 Coach
- Canada Track and Field (Athletics) Association, Level 1 Coach
- Canada Water Life-Saving / Swimming, Level 2 Instructor
Timeline
Higher School Certificate Support Worker
New South Wales Educational Standards Authority
09.2025 - Current
Teacher, Trainer and Team Leader
Ranger Jamie Tours
07.2024 - Current
Director, Trainer, and Team Lead, Year 13 Program
Sydney Anglican Youthworks
01.2022 - 12.2023
National Director of Training
Ministry Training Strategy (MTS)
01.2018 - 12.2021
Assistant Minister
The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd
01.2011 - 12.2017
National Director, Head of Training and Team Lead
The Artizo Institute
01.2006 - 12.2017
Assistant Minister
St. John's Vancouver Anglican Church
01.2006 - 12.2011
Assistant Minister
Glenmore Park Anglican Church
01.2003 - 12.2005
Process, Safety, Quality Control, Logistics Engineer and Trainer
CSR Building Materials
12.1996 - 01.2001
Process, Safety, Quality Control and Blasting Engineer
Trans – Canada Pipelines
12.1995 - 12.1996
Certificate IV - Work, Health And Safety BSB41419
LET Training Courses
Certificate I - Provide Basic Emergency Life Support HLTAID010 :
National First Aid Courses
Certificate I - Provide First Aid HLTAID011
National First Aid Courses
Certificate I - Training WHS Reqs Pol. in Const Ind CPCCWHS2001
Alert Training
Certificate I - Prepare Work Safely in The Construc. Indus CPCWHS1
Alert Training
Certificate IV - Training And Assessment TAE40122
Pinnacle Training
Doctor of Ministry -
Carey Baptist College
B.Divinity (Hons 2b) - Theology - Pauline Theology
Moore Theological College
Diploma in Ministry - Practical Ministry Practice
Moore Theological College
Engineering And Management (Hons 1B) - Mechanical / Biomedical
McMaster University
Bachelors in Business And Commerce (Hons 1A) - Economics And Accounting
McMaster University