What is Connect Group?

Connect Group was founded to provide the farms that feed Australia with a reliable, affordable and sustainable labour solution through the original Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme back in 2009.

As every farmer knows, the performance of your workforce affects whether your enterprise thrives or falters.

Whatever your product and whatever your workforce time frame requirements are, Connect Group are able to provide seasonal crews for between 4 and 9 months under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), or more permanent team members for between 1 and 3 years under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).

All of our employees have the capacity to return under a new visa, so you can be confident in providing onsite training once only and having the same crew return season after season.

A HIGHLY
EXPERIENCED TEAM

ACCREDITED AND FULLY COMPLIANT

APPROVED EMPLOYER FOR THE SWP
SINCE 2009

With a wealth of combined experience in the field of
labour sourcing & people management,
we have formed partnerships that are highly respected
by farmers & regulatory bodies alike.

What that means for you
is assurance of receiving the right advice based on real world experience,
sensible pricing that fits your budget and 100% compliance.
This is a Federal Government initiative
designed to get your product from the farm to your buyers safely & successfully.

Here’s the dedicated team that’s making it happen!

Meet the Connect Group Management Team

Michael Fryszer

Founder & Managing Director

With more than thirty-five years in the frontline of people management across Australia, Michael is highly knowledgeable regarding labour mobility programs from around the globe.
Michael founded Connect Group in 2009, specifically to promote and be a leader in assisting our horticulture and broader agriculture sectors to embrace the very viable SWP and in recent times the PLS, both of which are solutions to an old labour supply problem. Michael is a respected commercial realist in a regulated world.

Kevin Khiev

Director & CEO

Kevin has 25 years’ experience in senior HR management, contract engagement and management, talent and performance management and recruitment. With additional specialist skills in information technology and e-business transition and marketing, Kevin has been instrumental in Connect Group’s organisational growth and change and our business and leadership team development.

Pam Gray

Administration Manager

With over 45yrs in HR and Administration, Pam has been with Connect Group since their inception. In her role as Administration Manager, Pam oversees all administrative functions and the administration team, including the development and implementation of internal administration policies and procedures and managing all aspects of finances, payroll and accounts.

Neil Thompson

General Manager - HR/WHS/QA

As our People & Culture Manager, Neil brings first-hand experience as an “end user” to the Connect Group. As the General Manager of one of Australia’s most respected Growers for six years he introduced the Connect Group and drove the new “Compliance and Respect” culture. Prior to this Neil has held senior roles in HR/WH&S/QA across some of Australia’s largest Public Companies and most successful Private companies.

Timothy Currell

Shared Services Manager

With extensive experience in Pastoral Care roles, including living and ministering in the Pacific Islands for five years, Timothy is committed to Connect Group’s continuous improvement in our working relationships with both clients and employees.
Timothy is passionate about developing our bright and flexible Operations team, in order to provide excellent service for all stakeholders now and into the future.

Rumesh Dunuwille

General Manager - Operations

Rumesh is an experienced professional that has held Management roles within the Not-for-profit (NFP), Human Resource (HR) and Government Contracts industries. In addition to his primary job functions, key areas of interests include people development and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance business processes and performance.

Sam Samarasinghe

Operations & Training Manager

Sam comes from a training and employment background where he has held various management level positions. He was involved in the federal governments “Work for the dole” program as a regional manager and in his last role managed a job services site in the Inner Melbourne metro region. Sam brings a mixture of skills to the operations team in the areas of training, stakeholder management and business relations.

Ready to learn how you could benefit from the SWP or the PLS with Connect Group?

Get In touch