about us – ESITC

ESI Training and Consulting has been created by Rob McDowell, a trainer with over 30 years experience in the Electrical Supply Industry, who identified a need for tailoring training services to meet the needs of industry rather than industry having to adjust to fit in with the requirements of an educational institution.

Our reason for existence

ESI Training and Consulting is a specialised training provider serving the needs of businesses in the Electrical Supply industry (ESI) and related industries. With the move toward renewables this role has expanded to meet additional needs in transmission and battery technology infrastructure. This is a specialised high risk industry. One of the key means of minimising this risk is implementing a regime of both initial and refresher training for all personnel working in this industry. These training requirements include both Nationally Recognised Training and Industry Specific Training. Visit our links page for a breakdown of who requires what training!

In the Electrical Supply Industry this training is administered, and paid for, by businesses/employers operating within the industry. If not managed effectively the costs of administering these training requirements can be considerable. ESI Training and Consulting works with employers to deliver training to meet their needs in a cost effective manner. Whilst there are specified requirements that must be met, we will:

Train at your premises or another location of your choosing (1) to minimise your travel. To assist we have trainers based in Hallam and Geelong.
Deliver both Nationally Recognised and Industry specific training
Analyse your requirements and package up training to minimise duplication and revisits,
Reduce downtime, including, where possible, carrying out assessments on your worksites.

Note (1) After ensuring that the venue is suitable for training delivery

Please visit our Nationally Recognised Training and Industry Training pages for details of training we can deliver.

Our Company

ESI Training and Consulting is a Proprietary Limited company. It holds the following insurances:

Workcover
Public Liability, $20M
Professional Indemnity, $2M

Our Trainers

Our trainers all have over 25 years experience in the electrical industry both in Australia and overseas. Their combined experience includes:

Overhead and underground distribution linework
Civil (underground) works
Vegetation Management around electricity
Transmission stations and maintenance
Design
Auditing

Rob McDowell

Rob commenced his career with the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) and has extensive experience across many aspects of distribution and transmission sectors within Australia, both as a network operator and service provider. Outside work you might find Rob riding his bike on one of the many rail trails around Victoria.

Bruce Elam

Bruce commenced his electrical career in South Africa in 1982 before moving to Australia in the early 2000’s working across Victorian and NSW networks. He is an electrical lineworker with over 40 years experience in both overhead and underground networks. He completed his Cert IV in Training and assessing in 2013, before joining ESI as a trainer/assessor in 2020. Bruce also likes riding, but no push bike for him, he’ll be on his Yamaha motorbike.

Robin Boughen

Robin commenced his career in the UK working in civil construction for several years before emigrating to Australia. He has over 20 years experience in overhead and underground electricity networks, including a vast array of experience in vegetation management. He has run his own business, Arboreal Training, providing training resource development services as well as training and assessment services to RTOs. Robin holds a Diploma of Education and Training and is recognised as an industry leader in regard to education in the electrical industry. When not at work Robin likes to brew his own beer, unfortunately he can’t share it at work these days.

Steve Verrall

Steve commenced his electrical career in South Africa before moving to New Zealand, and now Australia. He has been an electrical fitter, lineworker, engineer and Project Manager before settling into his role as an award winning Trainer / Assessor. Don’t mess with Steve, when not at work you can find him pumping iron at the gym.

Tony Hanna

Tony has been involved in civil (including electrical) construction for over thirty years working on some of the largest infrastructure projects around Melbourne. He has now started on a new phase of his career passing this knowledge along to others. Tony enjoys getting away in his caravan and seeing less travelled parts of Victoria with his partner and dogs.

Our Consultant

Rob is also our consultant. Over a long and diverse career he has been involved in many aspects of running businesses in the electrical industry. This has resulted in Rob being involved in carrying out expert consultancies in and to the electrical industry, including as an expert witness.

Please visit our Consulting page for more information.

If you have any inquiries or would like some additional information please contact ESI Training and Consulting.