6/08/2026
We are delighted to introduce Nyssa de Waard, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at CoAct, who has joined the IEP Fellowship.
Nyssa holds executive responsibility for major national employment and training programs at CoAct, and helps lead one of Australia’s largest collaborative networks of employment service providers.
Her portfolio spans service strategy, program performance, operational reform, partner capability and the implementation of complex government-funded contracts across disability employment, mainstream employment services, youth employment and apprenticeship support. She works across policy, governance and frontline delivery to ensure service models are commercially sustainable, operationally effective and capable of delivering stronger outcomes for participants, employers and communities.
Nyssa has led large-scale service transitions, performance improvement programs and organisational change across diverse provider networks. A central focus of her work is strengthening collaboration between organisations, improving the capability and professional standing of the employment services workforce, and using evidence from delivery to shape better policy and program design.
“Fellowship provides an opportunity to engage with international models, contribute to the development of the sector and bring a broader evidence base to policy discussions,” Nyssa said.
“I am particularly interested in how research, operational experience and shared learning can be brought together to influence policy in a credible and practical way.”
Collaborating Beyond Competitive Boundaries
For Nyssa, one of the most valuable aspects of Fellowship is the opportunity it creates for organisations to work together outside the usual competitive dynamics of the sector.
“There is also significant value in creating spaces where organisations can collaborate beyond competitive boundaries through joint research, testing new approaches and openly sharing what works,” Nyssa said.
“For me, Fellowship is about contributing to stronger collective thinking, building meaningful international connections and creating opportunities that no single organisation could achieve alone.”
About the IEP Fellowship
Fellows of the IEP are a community of passionate and influential professionals from within the Employability sector. They work to share best practice across the sector, and to support the vision and mission of the IEP.
Fellows are usually expected to have been working in Employability or a related sector for at least seven years, to have participated in or supported activities across the sector, to be prepared to play a role in advancing the sector, and to be committed to Continued Professional Development. Candidates undergo a professional development interview, which is vital to the professional standing of the IEP.
Interested in applying for IEP Fellowship? Find out more and apply at the IEP Australia website.