Education Hub Speakers

Ian is Managing Director of the WOMA (Australia) Pty Ltd and Chief Executive Officer of All-Ways Training Services Pty Ltd (RTO 91523) based in Perth. Ian is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, of Manchester University and of Murdoch University. He holds Master’s Degrees in Business and Environment and maintains Training, High Pressure Water Jetting, Vacuum Recovery and other Industry specific qualifications.

Ian has been involved in the high pressure water jetting industry since 1998 and today directs the activities of WOMA (Australia) Pty Ltd, a company specialising in the provision of Engineering Design, Manufacture, Service, Support, Rental. Including the partnership with All-Ways Training Services additionally delivers Nationally Accredited and Technical Training in the subject specific areas of High and Ultra High Pressure Water, Vacuum encapsulation, Explosion Protection Systems, associated Robotics and Manipulators. Ian maintains an active involvement in the pump, robotics and related general industrial engineering services fields of expertise.

Ian is also a past Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Australasian High-Pressure Water Jetting Association and has represented Industry in a number of national and state committees and advisory panels. Ian remains an Honorary Member of the Australasian High-Pressure Water Jetting Association Ltd.

Ian was instrumental in the development of the Ausjet Class A training package. He was involved in the revisions to the Ausjet Industrial Services Induction courses and worked closely with the Industrial Foundation for Accident prevention in the formulation of Class B Training Skillsets. He was instrumental in the Ausjet development proposal for the revisions for AS/NZS 423 1&2 and was on the SF043 High Pressure Water Safety Standards review committee.

Ian continues to have direct, hands on experience in the development of advanced technologies, tooling and training to bring about the delivery of Training Packages, Safety Systems, National Standards and the safe design of robotic and other high pressure water jetting, vacuum encapsulation and explosion protection equipment to improve Workplace Safety

Karlo is an experienced and strategic manager with a proven track record within delivery services and processing environments across multiple industries. Karlo excels in challenging business environments and has made valuable contributions to the growth, direction and improvement of the businesses he has been involved in. Karlo is a firm believer in innovative technologies, particularly automation and has a strong background in all aspects of the waste management, industrial services, technical services, and corrosion prevention industries.

Karlo joined Hydro Tasmania in 2022 as Senior Project Manager, Civil Delivery and is responsible for the management of a number of significant remedial projects being rolled out as part of Hydro Tasmania’s Strategic Asset Management Plan over the next 10 years.

Kenneth R. Billingham
International Product Specialist
KEG GMBH

Ken Billingham is the International Product Specialist for KEG GMBH a German manufacturer of highly efficient pipe cleaning tools and camera systems as well as KEG Technologies Inc. the North American distributor for these products.

His responsibilities include customer and reseller support for all of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, France, and the Western United States.

The many years’of experience and the diverse knowledge of the many different collections systems throughout his area of responsibility are instrumental in helping him find solutions for the many challenges his customers regularly face.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, he was raised in Quebec and currently lives in Abbotsford, BC with his wife Judy, who often travels with him on his many extended trips.

As a health & safety, environment and quality professional from an operational background, Mitchell has 10+ years’ experience working on major contracts and projects around Australia that are of a high-risk nature.
His experiences incorporate health and safety management, supervision and leadership in the oil and gas, infrastructure, mining and FMCG sectors.

Prof. Aboel Naga is the Head of Engineering at La Trobe University Australia, Adjunct Professor at Chongqing University China and Visiting Professor at EPFL Switzerland. Previously, he was the Leader of Geo-Engineering group at The University of Manchester, UK; Senior lecturer at The University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Research fellow at Monash University, Australia.

Dr Aboel Naga has over 25-year experience in geotechnical engineering, specialising in soil behaviour under multi-physical coupled processes. Applications of this research area include but are not limited to nuclear waste disposal technology, methane hydrate mining technique, energy foundations, ground improvement and landfill lining system.

Dr. Avinash Baji is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Engineering at La Trobe University, specialising in advanced manufacturing, nanomaterials, composites, and material science.

He obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron (Akron, Ohio). Prior to joining La Trobe University, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sydney and as an Assistant Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

With over 20 years’ of research experience, Dr. Baji’s work has made significant contributions to sustainable materials development, the circular economy, and plastic recycling. At La Trobe University, Dr. Baji teaches Digital Manufacturing and Design for Manufacture to both undergraduate and graduate Engineering students. Dr. Baji has established strong collaborations with industry leaders and academic institutions, both within Australia and internationally.

Rodney brings together 30 + years’ in a diverse range of industries that cover, Engineering, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Civil Construction, Agriculture, Industrial Cleaning Services, and Equipment Support. With 18 years’ of experience specifically in the Vacuum and Jetting Industry.

Serving on the board of Ausjet between 2016 and 2023, has exposed Rodney to a range of contractors and suppliers allowing a plan to be developed to support the NDD industry with a focus on efficient and effective use of vacuum and water for Non-Destructive Digging.

In the last 18 months Rodney has made positive progress in the negotiation with Latrobe University for a program that will benefit the Non-Destructive sector of Industry.

Todays talk will cover where we are at and what we will bring to the industry once this program has been completed.

Simon Johnson is a Civil Delivery Manager, Field Services at Urban Utilities (UU).

UU employs over 1100 employees to maintain the infrastructure and provide drinking water, recycled water and sewerage services to 1.4 million residents and businesses in Southeast Queensland.

 Simon has over 25 years’ experience in management level roles from a diverse career background in hotel management, aviation operations and workplace health & safety.

Simon’s current role combines his passion for exceptional customer service delivery and organisational transformation to deliver safe and sustainable customer & community outcomes.

Clyde Dorman is boasting 37 years’ in the industry, 8 of which are as an industrial services technician in Adelaide. 

Clyde also took over running the Mobil Adelaide Refinery for Contract Resources until it closed. He then moved to Queensland to run the Caltex Refinery operations for Contract Resources. Before taking on the roll as Queensland and PNG Coordinator.

He is now working as an SME for Contract Resources.

Peter established Aqua Prep in 2012 to automate and engineer better solutions for clients with a focus on offering a safer, faster, and a more efficient way to do things. He has a natural ability to turn difficult issues into creative and innovative solutions.

With his technical yet practical approach, Peter is regularly sought out and engaged by a variety of industries to find the answers to a diverse range of problems with recognition of this innovation as a finalist in the 2015 WorkSafe Victoria Awards for “Best Solution to a Specific Workplace Health and Safety Issue”.

Peter is proud to say Aqua Prep’s successes have been brought about by our failures and he keeps on learning. Five years’ of development, including mistakes, disappointments, and the wins along the way have given us the Water Treatment Plant for recycling hydro demo water.

Lance McKay
Chairperson AUSJET / ADCVA

Lance has served on the AUSJET/ADCVA board since 2018 and was elected chairman in 2022, over this time he has worked with the board and staff to help deliver projects and outcomes that benefit their members.

He has 24 years’ experience with high pressure water jetting and vac loading in the industrial services industry, servicing contracts in municipal councils, water authorities, refinery, mining, offshore and CSG oil and gas.

Member for Scullin
Position – Minister for Skills and Training

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Scullin, Victoria, 2013. Re-elected 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
• Minister for Skills and Training from 29.7.2024.
• Committee service
  House of Representatives Standing: Indigenous Affairs served from 4.12.2013 to 19.10.2015; Environment served from 4.12.2013 to 19.10.2015; Privileges and Members’ Interests served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure and Communications served from 26.3.2014 to 13.10.2015; Environment served as Deputy Chair from 20.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure, Transport and Cities served from 10.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure, Transport and Cities served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Privileges and Members’ Interests served from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; Employment, Education and Training served from 31.5.2017 to 13.6.2017; Employment, Education and Training served from 14.6.2017 to 21.5.2018; Employment, Education and Training served from 21.5.2018 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 15.9.2016 to 1.7.2019
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 18.3.2014 to 9.5.2016

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Hons) (University of Melbourne).
• LLB(Hons) (University of Melbourne).
  Senior Associate at Holding Redlich.
  Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to Ministers G Jennings and L D’Ambrosio (Vic.).
• Electorate officer.
• Principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon from 2012 to 2013.

Jackson is an Occupational Hygienist (MAIOH), licensed asbestos assessor and senior OHS consultant at JTA Health, Safety & Noise Specialists who has worked in conjunction with MRPV to develop respirable crystalline silica risk profiles of personnel working within the construction industry.