MAE Protected Cropping, Beekeeping & Electrotechnology Showcase Day – Leaders’ Profiles
INDUSTRY LEADERS & SHOWCASE DAY PRESENTER PROFILES
Protected Cropping and Beekeeping
Dr Nadine Chapman: Nadine is a researcher at the University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Nadine works closely with the beekeeping industry, co-leading the national honey bee breeding program Plan Bee and working on other industry-funded grants. She has a passion for scientific communication, giving talks to beekeeping groups and sharing knowledge via the ExtensionAUS Professional Beekeepers website.
Bruce White OAM: Bruce has decades of love and dedication to the rewarding beekeeping industry, spending forty-one years in NSW Department of Primary Industries retiring as Technical Specialist (Apiculture). He is the past Educational Specialist and Biosecurity of the NSW Amateur Beekeepers Association. Bruce has vast experience both overseas and here in Australia, presenting at World Beekeeping Congresses and head judge of honey at the Royal Easter Show . He co-wrote the Certificate III in Beekeeping and has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to beekeeping in 2011 . He has trained 100’s of budding beekeepers all over the world. Bruce is keen to promote best management practices for the success of the industry in the future every season is different and rewarding. He also looks after the Governor General David Hurley’s bees.
Dr Lamorna Osborne: Lamorna has been a medical Doctor for 45 years and a commercial beekeeper for over 15 years. Specialising in the medicinal honey she has a passion for the medical properties of honey and its application. Her business BioHoney specialise in packaging medical dressing with Australian manuka honey and is pioneering in this area. She has been the President NSW Amateur Beekeeping Association and a board member of the NSW Apiarist Association.
Nicky Mann: Nicky Mann is the past Chair of Protected Cropping Australia, a 2017 Worshipful Company of Farmers Member and a 2014 Nuffield Farming Scholar – with her 2 year study topic being “Intensive Berry Production using Greenhouses, Substrate & Hydroponics”. Nicky is currently part of the management team at Family Fresh Farms – specialising in the Labour & WHS management for the fast paced production facility based at Peats Ridge in New South Wales. Family Fresh Farms grows 5ha of high tech high-wire mini snack cucumbers employing 85 Pacific Island Workers & 10 back-packers plus 12 local staff. Nicky, alongside her husband, Wade also have their own mixed greenhouse business growing blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, figs, dragon fruit, ginger and turmeric, with a keen focus on using honey bees effectively for pollinating their fruiting crops within multi-span greenhouses. Nicky & Wade used to provide consultancy services on intensive greenhouse production of numerous crops with clients in Mexico, California, China & New Zealand. Nicky is a passionate advocate for protected cropping and sustainable horticulture.
Energy and Electrotechnology Showcase Day Leaders
| Amy Caldwell | Zone Substation Electrical Technician | Electrical | Essential Energy |
| Amy is a Zone Substation technician for Essential Energy. She completed her electrical trade in 2021 and is now studying an Advance Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering to further her career. Since joining Essential Energy 5 years ago, she has been passionate about supporting women in field-based roles like herself and has worked hard to fight for improved working conditions for women within her industry. |
| Jennifer Perkins | A/Director Infrastructure, Energy & Construction | Electrical | TAFE NSW |
| Senior organisational leader with strong industrial management skills. Jennifer is currently the Director Construction and Energy with TAFE NSW. She is committed to excellence in vocational education and providing lifelong learning to learners. Jennifer has extensive experience working within a Registered Training Organisation as well as large scale manufacturing and is a licensed electrician with significant experience in the trade in industrial environments. Her career started as an apprentice electrician in the newspaper industry, later moving into food manufacturing as an electrical technician then evolving into manufacturing leadership roles. After working in the manufacturing environment for around 15 years she decided it was time to share her acquired knowledge and skills, so she commenced working for TAFE NSW as a teacher of Electrical Trades, this provided her with the opportunity to share her technical skills with apprentices. Jennifer is proud to work for an organisation that makes an impact to and influences the careers of so many people. |
| Karina Kiley | Powerline Worker | Powerline | Essential Energy |
| Karina has been a Powerline worker for the last 6 years, completing her trade with Essential Energy. The role is very male dominated. Karina decided to change careers at 30 years old with 3 children and started her apprenticeship then. Karina is passionate about helping get women into trades. It’s never too late to try something new. |
| Kailee Standen | Apprentice Lead | Delivery | Electrical | Transgrid |
| Kailee began as an Electrical Apprentice with Transgrid based in Newcastle in 2014 and completed her apprenticeship with them in 2016. She was retained at Transgrid as a Tradesperson Substation Technician for 2 years, before moving on to become a works scheduler for their Skilled Secondary Systems and Telecommunications Technicians across NSW. She then progressed into leadership positions within the business – firstly as a Resource Leader, leading a team of 20 Transmission Lines, Cables and Power Workers and our Secondary Systems, Telecommunications Technicians all based in Sydney. More recently, she is currently managing Transgrid’s 34 Female and Male Apprentices, ensuring that they get the appropriate support and development that they require to progress through their apprenticeships and become the best Tradespersons that they can be. Kailee has completed the Certificate 3 in Electrotechnology, Advanced Diploma of Business, Advanced Diploma of Management, Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management and is currently studying the Certificate 4 of Training and Assessing. |
| Tara Koot | Organiser | Electrical | Electrical Trades Union (ETU) |
| Tara is an organiser with the Electrical Trades Union NSW/ACT Branch and looks after Transport and Apprentices. She spent 9 years working for Ausgrid (Sydney based electricity distributor) where she completed her electrical trade. She is passionate about encouraging women into trades and works hard to fight to improve conditions for women in the electrical industry. |
| Amy Upton | Gas Service Technician | CIII in Gas Supply Industry Operations | Zinfra |
| Amy has had 5 years experience working in the Gas industry, 3 as an apprentice and 2 qualified, with no previous trade experience. Before working in the gas industry, Amy worked as a mushroom farmer. She is currently furthering her skillset at zinfra with her secondary certificate (high pressure) as its another step in her career. Her accomplishments include: – Training apprentices in daily work – Finalist In the nsw training awards – Speaking in a panel for international women’s day – Guiding new apprentices through the company “Zinfra has helped guide me to be the worker I am today, with a skillset and knowledge which has made me confident in myself and working in a team. It’s a great feeling to be part of such an inclusive company and be regarded as one of the team. I don’t know if I would be where I am today without the opportunities my job has provided me with. I love my job and urge anyone who is interested to have a go. |
| Terri Latimer | 2nd Year Apprentice | CIII in Gas Supply Industry Operations | Zinfra |
| Originally from England and emigrated to Australia 7 years ago. Terri is currently a 2nd year apprentice completing a Certificate III in Gas Supply Industry Operations. Her previous work background was administration. She had no previous experience in any trade prior to starting at Zinfra. Completing an apprenticeship at Zinfra has provided her with hands on learning opportunities with continuous guidance from knowledgeable mentors. She has been given flexibility to gain exposure to different areas of the organisation that may be of interest for future placements. She thoroughly enjoys the opportunities and variable experiences the work provides. |
