Local Jobs First

Chris has over 48 years’ experience relating to all sectors of industry including roles as a qualified boilermaker, engineering sales and marketing large fabrication and machining, as well as roles in consulting and business development and now one of our highly experienced Industry Advisers.
Joining the team in 2007, he has been instrumental in managing stakeholder engagement in a number of key projects, including the Australian cluster of suppliers for Team Australia Automotive (TAA) exporting into North America, secondment into the procurement team for the Victorian Desalination Project, working with the procurement team to maximise local content for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, coordinated the bimonthly Victorian ‘Local Content’ roundtable with the Australian Steel Institute, InfraBuild and BlueScope Steel.
Chris not only carries a broad wealth of experience but also possesses outstanding networking and customer relationship skills that can assist our clients in delivering procurement outcomes.

Peter McCracken is the Regional Industry Advisor for Barwon and Great South Coast. Peter has extensive experience in manufacturing – particularly in the automotive sector – with roles covering business development/sales, training, installation, and production. Peter has worked at the Ford Motor Company, at which he held a range of roles from electrical to plant supervisor. Peter then moved onto both technical and business development roles with companies such as Clipsal, Schneider Electric and Eaton Industries.

Colin Young is the Regional Industry Advisor for Gippsland. Colin has an extensive background in the energy sector, including more than 25 years as Engineering Manager at Victoria’s largest power station, Loy Yang A. As a long-term local resident of Gippsland, Colin has a passion for regional business with a particular focus on helping them transition to renewable energy opportunities as they emerge.

Noel Morton is the Regional Industry Advisor for Loddon Mallee. Noel has a strong background in the Defence sector and is passionate about the history of Australian manufacturing. Noel is a Fitter & Machinist by trade and spent around 28 years working for the Commonwealth Government Ordnance group and later Australian Defence Industries in Bendigo. Noel’s involvement during that time included designing and manufacturing heavy military ordnance and large civil infrastructure components, for example. Noel has also achieved an Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. During his time in the Defence sector working on specialist military vehicles, Noel had direct engagement with ICN Victoria (then the ISO) and could see the great value it had in supporting buyers on major projects as well as increasing opportunity for local manufacturers.

Garry Holding is the Regional Industry Advisor for Ballarat and the Grampians. Having lived and worked there most of his life. Garry’s working career has been in a diverse range of areas including business ownership and management, workplace training, managing an RTO delivering Government programs to business, business development, and manufacturing. Garry is passionate about helping local win. He thoroughly enjoys this role and being part of a dedicated professional team focussed on helping business grow is full of rewards.

Grant Jennings holds the role of Regional Industry Advisor for the Greater Shepparton and Hume region. Grant has extensive manufacturing experience within various sectors such as technology, biomedical, construction and recycling. This included several years located in the USA working for a large global technology company, including roles such as manufacturing manager and plant manager. Formal qualifications include a business degree from Charles Sturt University and Cert IV in Electronics from Box Hill TAFE. Growing up on a dairy farm in regional Victoria has provided the background to understanding regional living and the importance of opportunity and regional economic growth.