Workplace Training & Development

Do you employee, engage with or support Pacific Islander and Māori employees in the workplace? Do you want to increase levels of employee satisfaction, productivity, cultural safety and understanding? Talanoa Consultancy Pty Ltd service the following sectors: Sport, Education, Agribusiness, Employability Skills Training (EST), Government & Associations, Technology, Health, Media, Tourism & Hospitality, Transport, Supply Chain and Logistics and Human Resources.

Our Values

We believe in the value measurement framework (VMF), meaning we strive to co-design and co-create shared, meaningful, enduring value with our clients. Our defined core values are important to us and stakeholder relationships.

  • Respect

    Talanoa Education values personal choice, culture and diversity. Cultural safety is our priority we respect who you are and who you want to become.

  • Authenticity

    Authenticity is explicitly linked to greater job satisfaction, confidence and wellness. We strive to generate a greater sense of personal and workplace fulfilment.

  • Innovation

    Innovation in the workplace matters. At Talanoa Education we seek to develop unique solutions to complex challenges while championing everyone's contributions.

  • Collaboration

    Collaboration is about listening and growing together for the sake of a collective goal. We seek to mutually boost productivity and creativity in the workplace.

Our Team

Managing Director Dr David Lakisa

Dr David Lakisa is of Samoan ancestry and proud alumni of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School where he completed his PhD in Pasifika diversity management in the workplace. He also completed his Masters at Southern Cross University and Bachelor of Education (secondary) from Queensland University of Technology. David is a former PDHPE and Business Studies teacher he was Australia's first Pacific Islander Coaching and Development officer for New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) as well as sessional academic at Western Sydney University in the School of Education for 8 years. He is currently an advisor to the Australian Pasifika Education Network, Independent Director on the QRL Southeast Region Board and official Pacific knowledge partner for Channel 9, Stan Rugby, and the NRL, to name a few. In sum, David has been heavily involved in numerous government and community-based initiatives for Pacific Islanders and Māori across the Oceania region for the past two decades.

Education Manager Wayne Lakisa

Wayne Lakisa is an 'experienced senior teacher' and learning and development manager of Talanoa Education. He is of Samoan ancestry and completed his Bachelors of Education (Secondary) majoring in English and Health and Physical Education from Griffith University and a Graduate Certificate in Middle School Mathematics from the Australian Catholic University (ACU). He has been an employee of Education Queensland for the past 24 years and has worked at various types of schools namely: Sarina SHS, Queensland Children's Hospital, Barrett Adolescent and Brisbane Youth Education Training Centre to name a few.