The Employee Mobility Institute forms new Immigration Advisory Group

Workforce management practitioners are set to benefit from a new Immigration Advisory Group (IAG), established by The Employee Mobility Institute (TEMi) - the industry body representing the talent mobility sector.

The IAG will provide a coordinated Australasian-led talent mobility industry voice on immigration matters, ensuring the sector remains informed and well-positioned to respond to policy changes impacting the movement of talent across borders. 

As businesses compete globally for skilled talent, immigration frameworks are playing an increasingly critical role in enabling workforce strategies and accelerating business outcomes. 

The formation of the IAG will bridge the communication gap between talent mobility professionals, industry partners and government, ensuring the collective voice of the mobility sector is both unified and influential. 

"TEMi has played an important role in facilitating constructive policy dialogue across the global workforce management community for over a decade, fostering industry collaboration through its roundtables, forums and events," TEMi Founder Deborah de Cerff said.

"The formation of the IAG, operating under TEMi to ensure neutrality, will create a trusted conduit between industry and government, enabling knowledge exchange and collective advocacy on the issues that matter most to the sector as a whole."

"This initiative will give workforce management professionals greater access to timely, trusted immigration insights and more opportunity to shape advocacy efforts, enhancing productivity and making moving talent across borders easier and more effective."

The Department of Home Affairs will be a key stakeholder for the IAG. 

"The Department looks forward to engaging with the IAG to add value to the wider talent mobility community", said Servet Brennan, Director Business, Industry & Regional Outreach (BIRO), Department of Home Affairs.  

The IAG will:

• Facilitate structured forums for sharing insights, identifying industry-wide immigration pain points and shaping advocacy priorities;
• Monitor and interpret emerging immigration policies, to inform the sector; 
• Coordinate input into government consultations, policy submissions and advocacy papers reflecting broad industry perspectives; and
• Convene regular meetings with the Department of Home Affairs.

Chaired by TEMi and governed by terms of reference to ensure integrity, the IAG will be supported by a panel of senior talent mobility practitioners and immigration partners from across the sector, including an Immigration Liaison Officer to act as correspondent to the Department of Home Affairs.

TEMi has appointed Jamie Lingham, CEO of Absolute Immigration and an immigration practitioner for over 24 years, to the role of Immigration Liaison Officer.

Other IAG panel appointments include:

• Ashley Croxford, HR Governance, Transformation & Strategy, University of Queensland
• Cynthia Dotigny, Mobility Coordinator, Seek
• Eva Tanner, Manager Global Mobility, Performance, Reward & Governance, Westpac
• Jackson Taylor, Partner, Roam Migration Law
• Karoline Chandler, Talent Migration Manager, Ramsay Health 
• Nicky Brophy, Global Mobility Team Lead, BAE Systems
• Matt Gilford, Mobility Manager Performance & Reward, Woolworths
• Rachel Daly, Global Mobility Performance and Reward, Telstra
• Rowena Fagan, Mobility Senior Manager, Kingwood Mallesons

Mr Lingham said he was proud to be part of an initiative so crucial to advancing the industry.

"Immigration is a fundamental pillar in the broader mobility landscape, but without a coordinated approach, we have been seeing missed opportunities, inconsistent messaging and fragmented feedback," Mr Lingham said. "Opening a proactive dialogue where industry and government can provide opinions and share ideas will significantly benefit both sides, as well as the industry as a whole." 

"The IAG will reinforce industry-wide collaboration, support collective advocacy and enhance information dissemination. This will help highlight the positive impact that a robust immigration program can deliver to Australia, especially during a time where negative immigration stories are increasingly dominating the narrative."

INFORMATION FOR MEDIA



Deborah de Cerff and Jamie Lingham are available for interview, photo and vision opportunities. Please contact Catherine Miller to arrange a time.

Catherine Miller

Principal Consultant, Script PR 
E: catherine@scriptpr.com.au  
P: +61 422 071 256

ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE MOBILITY INSTITUTE (TEMi)

The Employee Mobility Institute (TEMi) is Australasia's peak membership body for global workforce management and talent mobility professionals. Representing practitioners across Australia and New Zealand, TEMi is the professional home for HR and mobility leaders, tax and immigration specialists, relocation providers, and business executives committed to advancing workforce mobility in the region.
 

For more than a decade, TEMi has fostered professional growth and community connection through qualifications, development programs, mentoring, and networking. As the collective voice of the mobility profession, TEMi equips its members with the knowledge, relationships, and influence to anticipate disruption, shape organisational strategy, and elevate the impact of mobility in a globalised economy.
 

The Quest TEMi Australasian Workforce Management Awards are the region's most prestigious recognition of excellence in talent mobility and workforce management. The program provides a powerful platform to showcase innovation, best practice, and people-first approaches to mobility, while honouring the outstanding individuals and organisations setting new benchmarks for the profession. Each year, the Awards attract entries from multinational corporations, local enterprises, and service providers across diverse industries — reflecting the breadth, influence, and impact of the mobility community in Australasia.
 

TEMi's flagship Mobility Exchange Summit is Australasia's premier retreat for mobility leaders, which provides an immersive environment for practitioners to explore emerging trends, strengthen professional connections, and gain the insight and confidence needed to navigate the shifting landscape of global talent and mobility.

ABOUT THE TEMi IMMIGRATION LIASON OFFICER
 

Jamie Lingham, the CEO of Absolute Immigration Group, which includes Absolute Immigration, Absolute Immigration Legal, and Absolute Immigration New Zealand, has been appointed as TEMi Immigration Liaison Officer. 

Active in the industry since 2001, Jamie takes a holistic approach to the overseas immigration and relocation process, specifically looking at ways to educate clients in order to reduce issues faced by business sponsors and visa applicants moving to Australia and other destinations.He has extensive experience developing immigration policies, compliance and strategies for the attraction and retention of overseas workers. He has undertaken significant compliance projects for state government departments, multinational organisations and ASX-listed companies in both Australia and New Zealand.

For more information about TEMi, visit www.temitalent.com.au.