You're invited to the official launch of The Governance Shift in Vocational Education and The 8 Critical Drivers to RTO Success by Angela Connell-Richards.
Date
Wed 29 July 2026
Time
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Venue
The Velvet Room, Coogee Diggers
Capacity
50 guests only
Places are strictly limited to 50 guests. RSVPs close Friday 10 July 2026.
After years of writing, refining, and shaping these ideas into print, both of my books are finally moving into their final production stages. The Governance Shift in Vocational Education is in full design, and The 8 Critical Drivers to RTO Success is in layout.
To mark the moment, I'd love to invite you to the official book launch — an intimate evening with the community that's been part of the journey from the very beginning.
There'll be bubbles on arrival, canapés, readings from both books, a Q&A, and signed copies available on the night. The night will be hosted by my dear friend Kim Yabsley as MC, and we'll be joined by Natasha Denman from Ultimate World Publishing and 48 Hour Author, who has guided both books from manuscript to shelf.
I can't wait to celebrate with you.
— Angela
A practical guide for RTO leaders navigating the Standards for RTOs 2025 and the new era of governance accountability. Built around the principles of governance, integrity, and the rise of the Governing Person, this book reframes what compliance leadership looks like when the regulator stops asking "did you tick the box?" and starts asking "can you demonstrate the outcome?"
Pre-order The Governance Shift
A roadmap for RTO leaders who want to build a sustainable, growth-ready training organisation. Covering the eight critical drivers — Marketing and Growth, Leadership and Culture, Student and Client Engagement, Industry Partnerships and Networking, Systems and Innovation, Training Innovation and Alignment, Financial Sustainability and Growth, and Governance, Quality and Compliance — this book gives you the framework to assess where you are and the path to where you want to be.
Pre-order The 8 Critical DriversMaster of Ceremonies
Kim is a brilliant communicator, dear friend, and one of the early readers of both books. Her testimonials grace the back covers, and she'll be holding the room for us on the night with the warmth and humour she's known for.
Special Guest
Natasha is the founder of Ultimate World Publishing and 48 Hour Author, and the person who has shepherded both books from manuscript to print. She'll be joining us to reflect on the publishing journey and what these books mean for the VET sector — and to share some words of wisdom for anyone in the room thinking about writing their own book.
The Velvet Room is at Coogee Diggers (Randwick Returned Servicemen's Club), 2 Byron Street, Coogee NSW.
Limited street parking nearby and a paid car park around the corner. Allow extra time at peak hour if you're coming from the city.
Buses 313, 314, 353, and 372 all stop within a short walk.
An easy ten-minute Uber from Bondi Junction or Randwick.
If you can, we'd recommend a taxi or rideshare so you can enjoy the bubbles without worrying about driving home.
Places are strictly limited to 50 guests. RSVPs close Friday 10 July 2026.
Please complete the form below to confirm your spot. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly with all the details, and we'll send you a reminder a few days before the event.
Your information is safe with us. We'll only use it to manage your RSVP and send you updates about this event.
If you can't join us on the night but you'd still love to be part of the moment, you can pre-order either book here:
And keep an eye on your inbox — we'll be announcing more events, podcast episodes, and resources tied to the books in the coming months.