It takes skill to win the Tradie of the Year Award and Elliot Rogan has it in abundance.
Elliot has showcased his abilities on a range of platforms from competing in WorldSkills to winning a scholarship with the Air Conditioning Mechanical Contractors Association.
Elliot is also the first Tradie of the Year Award winner to specialise in industrial refrigeration.
“I was attracted to the industry for the diversity of work. We do electrical, plumbing, mechanical, making us a jack of all trades,” he says.
“The trade made a big impression on me straight away.”
When Elliot first left school he joined the Navy and as soon as he was discharged began working in the HVACR industry. His first job was at Chilledrite, a company which specialised in CO2 racks and working with supermarkets.
Asked about the biggest challenges facing the HVACR industry, Elliot says it is definitely the skills shortage.
He says so many places are under-staffed. “A lot of people don’t even know that refrigeration is a trade, let alone being aware of particular areas of the industry like industrial refrigeration,” Elliot says.
He says a positive change in recent years is the uptake in natural refrigerants which are replacing HFCs.
While at TAFE Elliot was placed third in WorldSKills and discovered his passion for the trade.
He is currently working as a technician at Australian Refrigeration Services which has provided him with the opportunity to work on ammonia plants.
Australian Refrigeration Services prides itself on delivering highly specialised and unique applications as well as refrigeration design, engineering performance reviews and after-sales service.
Elliot’s immediate goal is to continue working and learning about the industrial sector.
Away from the tools Elliot enjoys motorbike riding, camping and pizza.
Sponsored by Temperzone, the award winner was announced by Temperzone’s national customer care manager, Mark Howcroft.