NECA ACT Excellence and Apprentice Awards

Local electrical contractors and apprentices were recognised at the 2009 NECA ACT Excellence Awards, which encourage and reward excellence and professionalism within the electrotechnology industry.

Lindsay Le Compte, NECA ACT Chief Executive said: “We’re seeing, year on year, a constant raising of the bar by our members. This year is no exception. There’s innovation, quality workmanship, OHS achievements and excellent examples of how good communication and project management add up to make satisfied customers and jobs well done. Most importantly, we’re seeing a flourishing electrotechnology industry with ACT professionals winning ACT jobs.”

Judging criteria included quality of work, management systems, technical innovation, work practices, OHS and training.

Excellence Awards winners were:

• Environment and Energy Efficiency
  • Winner: Brooks Marchant Industries and Delta Building Automation for Majura Office Park, Canberra Airport
  • Commended: O’Donnell Griffin for Aeropark Offices, Canberra Airport
• Occupational Health and Safety
  • Winner: Martin Donnelly for Attorney-General’s Department
• Voice/Data Small Project
  • Winner: Intravision for National Gallery of Australia
• Voice/Data Large Project
  • Winner: SECOM Technical Services for Bimberi Youth Justice Centre
  • Commended: Multisystem Communications for Attorney-General’s Department
• Commercial Small Project
  • Winner: Shepherd Electrical (ACT) for Australian Medical Council, Canberra Airport
• Commercial Medium Project
  • Winner: Shepherd Electrical (ACT) for National Gallery of Australia
• Commercial Large Project
  • Winner: O’Donnell Griffin for ANU John Curtin School of Medical Research
  • Commended: Network Electrical Services for Royal Australian Mint

Regarding the Apprentice Awards, Le Compte added: “It’s vitally important to continue developing and skilling apprentices to ensure a talented pool of qualified individuals is available in the future, despite the economic downturn.

“These apprentice awards exist for that purpose. This is particularly the case at a time when Australia is experiencing significant skills shortages, and yet many employers may be holding off employing new apprentices due to economic uncertainty. Without apprentices our industry has no future, so we need to foster that talent.”

Apprentice Awards winners were:

• Commercial/Domestic:
  • First: Geoffrey Hepburn from Network Electrical Services
  • Second: Robert Cruikshank from Electrotechnology Industry Group Training
  • Third: Mick Rose from Network Electrical Services
• Industrial:
  • First: Joe Zappulla from Control & Electric
  • Second: Brett Rutten from Control & Electric
  • Third: Peter Egan from Control & Electric
• Industrial Automation & Communications:
  • First: Samuel Zutt from Canberra Connections

The first-place winners are eligible for the National Awards, announced in Melbourne on 26 November.