Join us for breakfast at Acacia Ridge TAFE and hear from a number of great guest speakers who will be sharing their knowledge and advice. This free event is for apprentices to find out what’s happening in the electrical industry, hear about the new safe working and supervision guide, the importance of speaking up and more.
If you’re unable to make it in person, the forum will also be livestreamed.
Places are limited for the in-person event, so register now to secure your spot.
Host your own event via online stream
If you’re a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation and would like to livestream the event to your electrical students, contact us to arrange one of our electrical safety inspectors to attend for your own Q&A session and we can supply the food! Email us at events@oir.qld.gov.au to get involved.
8am
BBQ breakfast for in-person attendees
8.15am
MC welcome (livestream commences)
Chris Bombolas
8.20am
Safe working and supervision guide for electrical apprentices
Keith McKenzie, Commissioner for Electrical Safety
8.30am
Effective isolation (preventing shock and arc flash)
Jane Darling and Mark Pocock, Electrical Inspectors, Electrical Safety Office of Industrial Relations
8.45am
Mentally healthy workplaces
Nick Thompson, CEO, MATES in Construction
9am
It’s safe to speak up
Veronica Mauri, Consultant, first female electrical contractor in Queensland
9.10am
Panel session (Q&A)
All speakers
9.30am
MC and event close
*Program subject to change
Speaker information
Mark is a lead inspector in the compliance team at the Electrical Safety Office.
He is a passionate subject-matter expert when it comes to electrical risk management having worked in domestic, commercial and industrial electrical industry sectors.
Mark began his trade journey in 1999, starting with entry level pre-vocational trade training and progressing through each level of the electrical industry - apprentice, electrical worker, electrical supervisor and now an electrical inspector for the last seven years.
Through his involvement in community sport and taking on leadership roles, Mark’s experience provide a thorough perspective on workplace and team culture, and risk management strategies that can not only help individuals but help businesses achieve greater success.
Before joining the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) as a senior electrical safety inspector, Jane worked as a sparky and has been in the construction industry for nearly 30 years.
Jane has been with ESO for over five years now and continues to be a powerhouse in her industry. She’s also a strong advocate for young women in the electrical trade.
Nick Thompson joined MATES in 2019, working with the building and construction industry to operationalise the Blueprint for Better Mental Health & Suicide Prevention in the Building & Construction Industry. With Post Graduate Qualifications in Social Work, Men’s Behaviour Change and Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery, Nick brings over 15 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector both in leadership and direct practice roles. From working with First Nation’s Communities in the Northern Territory, to Managing Domestic & Family Violence Programs for Relationship Australia Queensland, Nick brings significant leadership experience from his time as the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Family Legal Service, Southern Queensland. The son of an electrician, Nick is passionate about making sure that workers voice, and the evidenced knowledge of Blue-Collar Workers and their experience of workplace mental health, is a strong part of MATES program logic.
Veronica is a Training and Safety Consultant and has extensive experience in training and safety in the electrical industry, a Diploma of Electrical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Business Management. Veronica has been the technical expert of the Electrical Licensing Committee since 2008 and holds a licence as an Electrical Fitter Mechanic.
Keith started his electrical career in 1986. After gaining his electrical fitter and mechanics licence he worked for a number of companies on domestic, commercial, hospital, petrochemical and industrial projects.
He has served on a range of board and committees in the area of apprentice training, construction, training competencies, workplace health and safety and Australian standards and has been a member of the Electrical Safety Board and Electrical Licensing Committee since 2011.
Prior to his role as Commissioner, Keith was the President of the Queensland and Northern Territory Electrical Trades Union branches.