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Weld Australia's 2025 Queensland and Northern Territory Awards Celebrate Excellence in Welding

Weld Australia

Australia’s welding community took centre stage last night as the 2025 Queensland and Northern Territory Welding Excellence Awards recognised the innovators, leaders and rising stars shaping the future of the industry.

 

Hosted by Weld Australia, the annual Excellence Awards are more than a celebration of achievement. They spotlight the people and projects driving progress in fabrication, training, safety and technology. This year’s event in Brisbane brought together industry leaders, apprentices, educators and suppliers to applaud the extraordinary efforts that keep welding at the forefront of Australian manufacturing.

 

Weld Australia CEO, Geoff Crittenden, said the Awards highlight the strength and diversity of the sector. “Our 2025 winners are proof that welding in Australia is not only world-class, but also vital to the nation’s sovereign capability. From ground-breaking projects to grassroots training initiatives, these Awards recognise the talent, ingenuity and determination that make our industry thrive.”

 

"The calibre of entries this year was exceptional. The winners are setting new standards for safety, quality and innovation, and inspiring the next generation of welders to take up the torch,” Crittenden said.

 

Hanlon Industries and NEACH were joint winners of the 2025 Company of the Year Award - Fabrication. Hanlon Industries is a leader in structural steel fabrication and installation. They deliver complex infrastructure, commercial, and digital media projects across the state. Recent projects include three major infrastructure builds for TMR and Queensland Rail, each requiring strict compliance with welding, safety, and delivery standards. Hanlon offers a full turnkey solution from design and drafting through to fabrication, surface treatment, and site installation. Their workshop is CC3 qualified under AS/NZS 5131 and AS/NZS ISO 3834. This framework, supported by a team of IWI- and IWS-qualified welding professionals, ensures every project meets the highest standards of compliance, traceability, and safety.

 

NEACH celebrated 50 years in business in 2025. The company provides structural steel drafting, processing, fabrication, installation, surface treatments, and custom metalwork. Significant projects that NEACH has supported include Cross River Rail – Exhibition Station, Hope Island Station, and Clapham Yard works; Caboolture Hospital upgrades; Gallipoli Barracks; Bruce Highway upgrades; Tier 1 reservoirs; and large-scale warehousing. These projects demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver at scale and in highly regulated environments. NEACH’s client base spans Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors, as well as state and local government. The trust of these organisations reflects NEACH’s proven ability to deliver complex, safety-critical projects to specification, on time and with exceptional quality.

 

HVAC Australia won the 2025 Project of the Year Award for the for the Stockland Birtinya Pedestrian Bridge. The 130 metre Stockland Birtinya Pedestrian Bridge, valued at $27 million, will create a new walking and riding experience for pedestrians around Lake Kawana. HVAC Australia supplied, fabricated, and installed the steel structure for the project. Founded with a reputation for excellence in steel fabrication and construction, HVAC Australia offers a full suite of services, including design support, precision cutting, welding, assembly, and installation. Over the years, the company has successfully delivered projects across commercial, civil, and industrial sectors, earning recognition for technical capability, reliability, and innovative solutions. HVAC occupies a 25,000m² site at Redbank with 6,000m² under crane.

 

Russell Mineral Equipment won the 2025 Health and Safety in Welding Award. Russell Mineral Equipment was one of the first companies in Australia to adopt the new Welding Fume Exposure Guidelines, investing in workplace hygienist testing. The company has made the use of PAPRs mandatory in their workshop, equipping their entire team with the latest gear. They have also we’ve invested in tools and systems that remove their people from harm, including: auto-feed plate deburring tools, pneumatically driven tapping arms, automated plate identification devices, ergonomically designed jigging tables, and numerous low-volume air dusters. As a result, their injury trends are well below industry benchmarks, reflecting the effectiveness of their proactive safety culture.

 

Air Liquide won the 2025 Company of the Year Award - Supplier. Air Liquide has a long history of supporting Australia’s fabrication and automotive sectors with safe, reliable, and innovative gas solutions. Drawing on global expertise while investing locally, the company partners with workshops and manufacturers to improve safety, productivity, and supply security. In 2024, Air Liquide commissioned the Longford CO₂ facility in Victoria. With a capacity of 190 tonnes per day, it is the largest plant of its kind in Australia and a significant milestone in strengthening national supply resilience. This investment addresses the CO₂ shortages that have disrupted industries, ensuring fabrication and automotive businesses can operate with greater confidence.

 

The Outsource Institute won the 2025 Training and Education - Organisation Award. Established in 1998, Outsource Institute (AUS) is a nationally recognised RTO and engineering college, delivering specialised qualifications and skill sets across welding, engineering, and technical trades. The Institute supports the mining, defence, manufacturing, and engineering sectors through practical, workplace-based training that builds real-world capability. Their specialised skill sets cover high-demand areas such as hydraulics, pneumatics, advanced welding, and computer-aided design.

 

The three winners of the 2025 Welding Professional of the Year Award were: Craig Evans from iScope for the Welding Coordinator category; Jeffrey Celestino from MC Quality for the Welding Inspector category; and Mark Sullivan from Certified Welding Company for the Welding Supervisor category.

 

Jake Camm from All Fab was named the 2025 Young Trades Person of the Year. Jake is a dedicated and talented fourth year apprentice in Sheet Metal Technology, training at TAFE Queensland. Jake demonstrated all the hallmarks of an outstanding tradesperson: strong technical skills, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a proactive approach to learning. His journey from labourer to high-achieving apprentice was defined by determination, self-discipline, and a willingness to challenge himself at the highest level. Last year, Jake came second in the WorldSkills Regional Competition, earning him a place at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships.

 

Greg Reece from Russell Mineral Equipment was named the 2025 Trades Person of the Year. Greg consistently demonstrates an exceptional level of skill, knowledge, and craftsmanship in his role as a boilermaker at Russell Mineral Equipment. With over 22 years of experience, Greg is known for his ability to deliver complex, high-precision work to the highest standards. One standout example of Greg’s craftsmanship was his involvement in the fabrication of RME’s largest-ever mill relining machine. This project required intricate welding across multiple heavy components, demanding not only technical precision but also deep knowledge of material behaviour and structural integrity. Greg’s work was instrumental in ensuring the machine met both performance and safety standards.

 

Tasvir Singh from TAFE Queensland won the 2025 Training and Education - Individual Teacher Award. With over 30 years in the engineering and fabrication industry, Tasvir brings extensive technical expertise and hands-on experience to every training session. His teaching style is hands-on, and learner focused, with a strong emphasis on safety and real-world application. Tasvir currently serves as the Regional WorldSkills Coordinator for Engineering and Fabrication, and acted as Chief Judge at the 2025 WorldSkills VETiS Medals Competition in Brisbane.

 

Michael Kotchovsky won the 2025 VET in Schools Student of the Year Award. Michael is a highly motivated Year 11 student currently enrolled in the Trade Industry School program in the Sunshine Coast region. With a deep passion for welding and metal fabrication, Michael is emerging as a standout young talent in the engineering field. A key example of Michael’s craftsmanship is the recent community project he participated in, where he and his classmates manufactured 16 sand-filling stations for the Sunshine Coast Council. Michael played a leading role in this initiative, applying welding and fabrication skills to assemble functional and durable units that are now ready to be deployed during future flood events. His attention to detail, precise welds, and commitment to safety helped ensure the success of the project.

About us:

About Weld Australia

Weld Australia represents the welding profession in Australia. Its members are made up of individual welding professionals and companies of all sizes. Weld Australia members are involved almost every facet of Australian industry and make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy. The primary goal of Weld Australia is to ensure that the Australian welding industry remains locally and globally competitive, both now and into the future. Weld Australia is the Australian representative member of the International Institute of Welding (IIW). For more information or to join Weld Australia, please visit: www.weldaustralia.com.au.

 

Contact details:

Sally Wood on 0434 442 687 or [email protected]