About Us

Who we are

What we do

Industry Centre

Future Energy Skills (FES) is a not-for-profit charity organisation that was born from industry for industry.

It is driven by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the National Electrical Communications Association (NECA). We collaborate closely with sectors including electrotechnology, renewable energy, new energy, and electricity generation and supply. Together, we work to ensure a highly skilled, future-ready workforce – building skills for the future.

Our Directors

FES is led by a Board of Directors made up of representatives from our two founding sponsors, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the National Electrical Communications Association (NECA).

Our current Board of Directors are:

ETU Representatives

Danny Filazzola

Victorian Branch President

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Alex Del Grosso (Board Chair)

OHS Coordinator & Trainer

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NECA Representatives

Mike Purnell

NECA Director

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John Taufer

General Manager – Careers (VIC) & OHS

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Left to right:
Alex Del Grosso, Mike Purnell, John Taufer and Danny Filazzola.

Our Team

FES is proud of its supportive and inclusive workplace culture, led by our Executive Officer, Michael Cullen. FES has several different specialist business units that each have responsibility for their own area of expertise, including assessments, training and workforce development.

As a small team FES values the input of each team member, and we collaborate regularly through biannual “FES Days” where we come together to ensure every staff member is actively engaged and on board with our strategic plan.

Michael Cullen (FES Executive Officer) and the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP

The FES Team at the opening of the new Industry Centre.

At FES, we address the workforce development needs of the electrotechnology, renewable energy, new energy, and electricity generation and supply sectors.

Assessments

As an Energy Safe Victoria (Energy Safe) approved licensing and assessment centre we administer assessments required for candidates to obtain their electrical license in Victoria, ensuring a highly skilled and compliant workforce.

We offer assessments for a range of electrical licences, please see the Training and Assessment section for full details.

Assessments are run on both weekdays and weekends from our brand-new, purpose-built Industry Centre in Clayton. Our regional assessment centre in Maryborough also extends these services to support education and licensing assessments across regional Victoria, ensuring accessibility and equity for all.

We are proud to provide a relaxed and inclusive environment designed to put candidates at ease and ensure their best chance of success. Our highly knowledgeable and professional team of assessors ensure a fair and unbiased process throughout.

Training

FES also supports licensing candidates by offering tailored refresher training and preparation for licensing assessments, to equip them with the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

By practising in the comfortable simulated environment of our Industry Centre, candidates have the chance to reduce their levels of nerves and stress prior to their assessment(s). FES has a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable trainers who are passionate about education and setting others up for success.

For full details on the training offered, please visit our Training and Assessment section.

Workforce Development

The Workforce Development and Projects team collaborates with industry and government bodies to conduct research, identify current and future skills and training requirements, manage projects, and address workforce development needs, ensuring the sector remains future ready.

Our industry engagement activities include providing Executive Officer services to the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) Industry Advisor Group (IAG) for the energy sector, as well as participating in Powering Skills Organisation’s Strategic Industry Advisory Body to connect the needs of industry with workforce planning.

FES has managed, and continues to manage, a range of workforce development projects funded by both the state and federal government and directly for entities such as Energy Safe Victoria.

The Workforce Development & Projects team has a wealth of experience in research, project management with qualifications including PhD and bachelor’s degrees as well as PRINCE2 project management accreditations.

For details of what we can assist with, how we engage with industry and projects we have worked on, please visit the Workforce Development section.

FES recently moved into a brand-new, state of the art industry centre in Clayton (south-east Melbourne), which was proudly opened by the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for Climate Action, Energy & Resources and the State Electricity Commission) on Friday 21^st February 2025.

The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP cutting the ribbon with FES Board Chair, Mike Purnell

The industry centre was architecturally designed, and purpose built to suit the specific needs of electrical training and assessments and provide a space for industry engagement events.

Assessments

The assessment facilities are candidate focused, from the welcoming waiting area in reception on arrival, to the secure lockers to store possessions during assessments. The whole centre has been designed to provide an environment that is relaxing and inclusive to facilitate a smooth process that sets candidates up for the best chance of success.

Candidate waiting area in reception.

Industry Centre Reception

Candidate lockers for secure storage during assessments.

Candidate lockers for secure storage during assessments.

Training

The training facilities have also been designed with candidates as the focus, to ensure that they have the chance to train in a relaxed and comfortable environment that fosters learning, whilst also making use of simulated environments that accurately reflect the assessments.

Theory and practical assessment rooms.

Theory and practical assessment rooms.

Theory and practical assessment rooms.

Theory and practical assessment rooms.

Practical and theory training facilities

Practical and theory training facilities

Practical and theory training facilities

Practical and theory training facilities

With a dedicated candidate lounge and kitchen space, candidates can relax and enjoy their own food during breaks in their training. We are also handily located opposite the UniPark café where candidates purchase a range of hot and cold food and drinks.

Candidate Lounge and Kitchen

Candidate Lounge and Kitchen

Candidate Lounge and Kitchen

Candidate Lounge and Kitchen

Friendly UniPark café located in the building opposite FES

Friendly UniPark café located in the building opposite FES

Workforce Development

The industry centre has also been designed as a space for industry engagement and events. The Workforce Development and Projects team have a dedicated space including a large boardroom with interactive conferencing facilities. The space has also been flexibly designed with contractible walls to enable the hosting of medium to large events.

We would love to hear from any industry partners who would like to make use of our facilities. Please feel free to contact us.

FES Event Spaces

About Us

About Us

On this page

Who we are

What we do

Industry Centre

Future Energy Skills (FES) is a not-for-profit charity organisation that was born from industry for industry.

Our Directors

ETU Representatives

Danny Filazzola

Victorian Branch President

Alex Del Grosso (Board Chair)

OHS Coordinator & Trainer

NECA Representatives

Mike Purnell

NECA Director

John Taufer

General Manager – Careers (VIC) & OHS

Our Team

At FES, we address the workforce development needs of the electrotechnology, renewable energy, new energy, and electricity generation and supply sectors.

Assessments

Training

Workforce Development

Assessments

Training

Workforce Development

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