Our team

Arvind Sampath CEO

Arv has over 25 years of experience in managing large teams and delivering technology programs in the Higher Education, Publishing, Construction and Engineering industries. He has been with UNSW for over 10 years, helping to develop and implement the university’s 2025 strategy and now as CEO of Mentem, has taken on a leadership role in driving and implementing UNSW’s lifelong learning strategy. Outside of work, Arv is passionate about cricket, rugby league, politics and cooking.

Steve Crooks Head of Product

Steve has over 15 years’ experience in education and digital product management, having built edtech teams and innovative programs across a variety of sectors worldwide. At Mentem Steve leads a team responsible for the research, design, development and evolution of our digital platforms and tools. In his free time he runs marathons and the occasional ultra.

Liz Smith Learning Director

Liz has more than 25 years’ experience in learning design and the student experience in higher education. She has designed some of Australia’s most innovative and highly regarded learning programs and received national recognition for her work. Liz developed the Mentem learning model and FIRST principles and leads the learning design team who ensure Mentem programs meet client and learner needs. In her spare time, Liz is a keen cyclist, hiker and café and coffee research assistant.

Garth Crossley Client Relationship Director

Garth has 15 years experience in Talent mobility, diagonistics and Implementing large scale upskilling programs. Some of the projects he’s most proud of include developing a framework and solution for a global telecommunication client to be able to identify the level of digital acumen of the entire workforce and; working with Suncorp to build a talent academy to protect the knowledge of hundreds of employees and help them develop skills for the future. He love’s a challenge no matter how big.

Jayne Wilkins Senior Learning Designer

Jayne designs, develops, and implements engaging and effective learning experiences for diverse learners across various modalities. With diverse experience in the learning and development field, Jayne has a strong background in curriculum development, instructional strategies, and learning management systems. Jayne is passionate about applying her PhD and research excellence in anthropology to create learner-centric solutions that spark behavioral change. Jayne has received a ARC DECRA Research Fellow award, Taffy Gould prize, and a Merit Award for Teaching for her innovative and impactful work. Jayne's engaging style and passion-driven commitment resonates with learners and sparks behavioral change.

Peter Winkler Senior Learning Designer

Peter Winkler, an experienced Senior Learning Designer from Montana, USA, specialises in creating engaging and effective learning experiences across various projects, including corporate training programs and e-learning modules. His professional journey has equipped him with a strong foundation in learning theories, curriculum development, and multimedia integration. A creative thinker who thrives on collaboration and innovation, Peter also enjoys travelling, volunteering, and attending live music events. Passionate about helping others, he fuses his interests with his work to enhance learning for everyone

Gina Smith Senior Learning Designer

Gina has a strong background in high school education and the learning design industry. Gina’s expertise lie in creating engaging and effective educational content that meet diverse learning needs. She is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for all students through innovative design and thoughtful instructional strategies. Gina also values collaboration and fostering relationships with all team members and clients.

Natasha Krüger Client Success Manager

Natasha Krüger is highly regarded for her exceptional communication skills, attention to detail, and extensive knowledge. She has a talent for quickly understanding and conveying complex ideas with clarity. Natasha consistently goes above and beyond to support her team and clients, demonstrating a proactive approach in identifying and addressing potential issues. Her commitment to personal and professional growth is evident in her continuous pursuit of knowledge and staying up-to-date with industry trends. Natasha is a valued collaborator who sets clear expectations and excels under pressure, consistently delivering outstanding results.

Eloise O'Dwyer Client Success Manager

Eloise is a results-driven professional with a proven track record in client management, strategy implementation, and team leadership. She brings a unique skill set with a background working with enterprise clients across the recruitment space and working in public relations. She is dedicated to fostering meaningful partnerships and elevating organisations through strategic learning and development initiatives. When working hand in hand with clients, Eloise provides ongoing support, addressing challenges promptly, and proactively identifying opportunities for enhancing the overall client experience. She often goes the extra mile to ensure program delivery excels.

Gary Mitchell Enterprise Account Executive

Gary is an experienced and successful enterprise sales professional, passionate about helping organisations improve their capability through technology and skills development. He has played both a significant role in growing businesses from the ground up and as Vice President of Shootsta ANZ, had the privilege to lead a team of 40+ employees in region. The most rewarding part of his sales career to date has been to see the technology and services he's sold gain adoption and grow, to become business critical tools throughout some of the world's largest known brands. Gary's approach to sales is very human centric. He looks to foster truly inter-dependable relationships in order to both exceed a client's expectations and deliver upon business objectives. Gary enjoys continued learning and is curious to ask and challenge the accepted norms. When not working as an Uber driver to his 3 teenage boys, Gary heads under the ocean to scuba dive or into the bush with his border collie.

Philip Ip Tech Lead

Philip has a proven track record of delivering award-winning, cutting-edge solutions to prestigious clients in government, banking, and universities. He also founded an EdTech startup backed by a global venture capital firm. With more than 18 years of professional experience in the IT industry, his expertise covers frontend/backend/mobile development, data engineering, data science, and infrastructure management. Philip is driven by a strong commitment to innovation and aims to create impactful solutions that drive societal transformation.

Jenny Shao Customer Experience (CX) Designer

Meet Jenny, a seasoned CX/UX designer with over 9 years of experience across diverse industries, including education, architecture, and finance. Her passion for design is matched only by her love for collaborating with others and working in agile environments. Jenny’s creative and analytical approach to problem-solving has helped her bring fresh perspectives to every project she’s worked on, resulting in outstanding outcomes for her clients. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys exploring architecture, hiking, photography, sketching, and cooking

Key Hui Architect & Senior Software Engineer

Key is a highly experienced full-stack software engineer with over 16 years of experience in implementing software solutions that meet the needs of businesses and organizations across a wide range of industries. He is proficient in a variety of programming languages and serverless frameworks on AWS. In his leisure time Key enjoys running and playing soccer.

Andrew Truman Full Stack Engineer

Andrew joined the Mentem team at the start of 2023. He’s an experienced full-stack engineer who has worked across development and systems admin roles in a range of start-ups and sectors. Outside of Mentem, Andrew is a dog person and has worked with foster animals.

Eva Zhang Project Manager

Eva is a project management professional focused on delivering excellence to all her projects and collaborations. She embraces the ethos of lifelong learning and development, a belief that drives her to constantly refine her skills and expertise while staying up-to-date with new learning and industry trends. When she's not immersed in project management, Eva indulges in her passion for scuba diving, exploring the depths of the ocean and the wonders it holds.