Pool industry CEO joins refugee and migrant board

Elena Gosse, CEO of Australian Innovative Systems (AIS), has been appointed to the board of Access Community Services Limited (Access).

Access is one of Australia’s leading community-based, not for profit organisations providing settlement, employment, training and youth support services to migrants and refugees in Queensland.

Access CEO, Gail Ker says the organisation was thrilled to welcome Elena, whose journey as a Russian immigrant to CEO of a successful Queensland company makes her a stand-out addition to the Access board.

“Elena brings a wealth of business experience and expertise to the table, as well as an intimate understanding of some of the challenges new immigrants face,” Ker says.

“Elena’s story is compelling – from arriving in Australia as an immigrant not able to speak a word of English, to gaining TAFE and tertiary qualifications and then rising up through the ranks of AIS to lead the company as CEO to its highest level of business success.”

Gosse says the services Access offers are vital to helping support migrants and refugees to empower individuals and communities to shape their own futures.

“What initially attracted me to Access was the fact that I understand first-hand how important training and settlement support services are to migrants and refugees, particularly those who are from non-English speaking backgrounds.

“These services are absolutely essential to help identify and match skills with prospective employers, secure long-term employment and help new settlers successfully integrate into their new home and business communities. That ethos is something I’m proud to say we’ve managed to instil at AIS,” she says.

Gosse’s background has inspired her to assist immigrants in her own business by encouraging and embracing diversity in the AIS workplace including employing a multi-cultural workforce, mature-aged people and people with disabilities.

Today AIS boasts employees from more than 14 different countries including Russia, the Ukraine, Lithuania, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Vietnam, the Philippines, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Mexico.

“I feel privileged to have been invited to join the Access Board and I’m excited at the opportunity to help continue and strengthen the great work they deliver in the Queensland community,” she says.