Tom Quinn honoured by Australian Steel Institute
07 December 2022
The Australian Steel Institute spotlight of excellence has shone brightly on GFG Alliance as Liberty Primary Steel apprentice Tom Quinn took out the South Australian Young Designer, Detailer, Tradesperson award for 2022.
Tom, an apprentice electrician in this third year at the Whyalla Steelworks, was honoured at the Australian Steel Excellence Awards in November for his work in the Liberty Primary Steel (LPS) apprenticeship program which delivers 25 projects as part of their skills development.
The awards promote excellence in Australian steel, profiling the beauty and versatility of Australian steel as a design and prime building material while recognising high standards across the steel supply chain.
“This is an amazing achievement for Tom to be recognised at these prestigious industry awards”
Tom’s award recognised teamwork, communications, results, resilience, attendance and punctuality, motivation (passion to learn), responsiveness and problem solving.
With the state awards presented virtually in November before the national awards night in Sydney, Tom accepted his award via a video speech before being presented with a certificate of recognition and a $500 voucher for tools by LPS Managing Director Tony Swiericzuk and senior leaders in Whyalla.
“This is an amazing achievement for Tom to be recognised at these prestigious industry awards,” Tony said.
“It is a credit to him for his hard work and dedication to his training and work at LPS.
“It is also recognition of our apprenticeship program that was recommenced in 2020 and will now employ even more apprentices next year.”
A Whyalla local, Tom is now into the third year of his apprenticeship as an electrician with his current rotation in Steel Products electrical maintenance. In his acceptance speech, Tom was quick to acknowledge his colleagues while praising the LPS Apprentice program.
Amrit Mangat, Manager Steel Products. Picture: Supplied
“This award was made possible by GFG Alliance and Liberty Primary Steel recommencing the apprenticeship program in 2020 and all the stakeholders involved,” Tom said.
“That includes my fellow apprentice Aaron Kwaterski, Supervisor Scott Hockey and Apprentice Lead Stephen Pearce.
“I have been able to build up a foundation of knowledge to complete my work at a high standard while building my skills in the electrical trades space”
“It is great to recognised with this award and I’m ecstatic to win it.”
Read more and watch Tom’s acceptance speech on the Australian Steel Institute website.
Main image: Tom Quinn is presented with his award by Tony Swiericzuk, Managing Director, Liberty Primary Steel. Picture: Supplied