Window Shading

Straight out of High school I applied for a job with a major window furnishing retailer, never believing I would get the job, but I got it and I absolutely loved it as it was such a challenge. After working in retail for many years I transitioned into the window furnishing wholesale market. 

It was there that training retailers became a large part of my responsibilities, travelling around the country delivering anything from one on one training to larger scale structured training. After many years experience and a brief hiatus Frontline Academy approached me offering me the role of a lifetime. Through them I gained my Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security screens and Grilles and the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment that allowed me to eventually become the Lead Trainer for the program in Victoria.

Over the last 5 years I have developed as a trainer of not only Apprentices but also of other Trainers. A very recent highlight for me was participating in presenting to a large group of 88 Apprentices their Certificate III in Blinds and Awnings in a dedicated graduation ceremony attended not only by industry leaders, but by members of the Australian Federal Government who fully support our training initiatives.

I started in the window furnishing industry in 1995, with a manufacturing business in Christchurch, New Zealand. Starting in the despatch area, I moved quickly into operating 15mm venetian slatting machines, then as an installer, installing roller blinds and venetian blinds. After moving to Australia, I worked in production management roles and as a contract installer, and then owned and ran my own business, operating in sales, manufacturing and installation. 

Combining my experience and knowledge gained in the dairy farming industry, finance industry, window furnishings manufacturing, sales, installation, and business ownership, I have gained a very diverse, and extensive knowledge base which is backed by hands on experience, to pass on to businesses and students.

My first involvement with Frontline was at the BMAA Blinds SuperExpo in 2019. I was keen to get my staff and myself qualified, gain better problem-solving techniques, assist with more consistent quality standards in line with industry guidelines, and gain some knowledge and experience from experienced trainers. All of which the Certificate III Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles, offers.

During my training in Certificate III Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles, I realized that training/qualifying students is a great way to support the industry, by improving knowledge, improving quality and improved skills. 

Frontline supported me in completing my Certificate IV Training and Assessment, after which my confidence and skills grew. Now, I enjoy visiting my students, and businesses, passing on my knowledge, seeing them grow in confidence, challenging themselves while doing things they never thought they could do. Seeing the sense of achievement when a student gets to the end and graduates is a very rewarding moment. 

I started in the Window Furnishings industry as a junior sales rep in the late 90’s, selling blind and awning components, and machinery. My boss at the time insisted that I learn to use the products that we sold, so there I learned to make slimline Venetian blinds using a hand crank machine to crown the slats, a single hand punch to punch the head rails, and route holes etc, and the same methodology was used teach me about all the other products that we sold.

From the junior sales role, I was lucky enough to progress into sales management, then senior management and business ownership. In the early 2000’s one of the businesses in which I had a management role started making and selling security screens and doors, and I learned about these following once again the same process, from the base level methodologies as my previous boss so wisely insisted on.

I have always thought the noblest professions were, Healers, Defenders, Farmers and Educators, and the Certificate 111 in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles, has given me a great opportunity to pass on what I have learned. Rabindranath Tagore once said that 'A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself'.  A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame.

…  So I can honestly say, while I am passing on my knowledge, my knowledge increases daily, as my students teach me. 

My entry into the window furnishing industry began over 20 years ago has consisted of numerous roles from wholesaling to manufacturing and even retailing. Within these roles, I have worked alongside colleagues at various stages within the industry. All these interactions and experiences have provided me with a unique skill set and has allowed me to manage a retail business working closely with installers, training staff and problem solving for end customers.

After having one of my staff members successfully complete their Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles, I realised that this was the pathway for me as I can now train and share my experiences with new apprentices. 

I believe this program is a great way to grow the industry by improving knowledge and standards and also making it a desirable career choice.

I started my association with the industry about 8 years ago, I came in with 20 years of experience as a trainer and zero knowledge of window furnishings. Over time I have learned the ins and outs of the end to end process from the initial sales enquiry through sales, measure and quote, manufacturing, installation and reworks / maintenance. I decided to be a trainer because I enjoy building people’s confidence and watching them grow and learn. I think adult education is just as important as primary and secondary education and that it’s been undervalued for a long time. I love seeing lightbulb moments where people grasp a new or challenging concept and can then apply it to their work, and even their every day life. I started out teaching First Aid to volunteer first aiders in the late 1990s and worked my way through corporate training roles, eventually landing on a role here at Frontline Learning that combines training delivery with analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation, so once again immersing myself in the end to end process, rather than just aspects of it.

From my earliest work after leaving school to current times I have had a close association with the building and construction, furnishing and design industries associated with where people live and work.  

Subsequently, I have for many years with Frontline undertaken the development and facilitation of a wide range of learning strategies and programs on behalf of companies and governments, and in the process have designed and facilitated forums, seminars, short courses, coaching and mentoring for business, industry, and government leaders, from more than a dozen countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, North & South America, and the Asia Pacific. 

My longstanding passion is skill development at the frontline especially frontline management plus …

• Leadership development for frontline to executive

• Individual and team capability appraisal (linked with EQ, Belbin, personality profiling)

• Business development, reset and growth, people management

• Governance and risk management

• Organisational transformation and change

• Quality assurance

• Coaching and Mentoring Leaders

More importantly, I am supported by our team of 17 Frontline personnel all with leading capabilities in their field.