The 2026 cohort of gas and electrical apprentices and trainees joining Zinfra show an impressive increase in participation from women and First Nations Australians.
The energy infrastructure provider has welcomed 77 new apprentices and trainees to their program, including 25 women and five First Nation employees who are starting their career in energy.
Zinfra managing director Peter Iancov said the appointments reflect the company’s long-term commitment to building a skilled, diverse and future-ready energy workforce.
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“Achieving a record 32% female participation and 6.4% First Nations participation across our full program shows that when you invest early in your workforce, remove barriers to entry and genuinely back people, you open the door to talent that might not otherwise see a future for themselves in this industry,” Iancov said.
The new intake includes 62 apprentices and 15 trainees, spanning across the power and gas disciplines of Zinfra’s operations. This year’s cohort have diverse career backgrounds including a former flight attendant, traffic control crew members and former members of the public service.
Melanie Haymen is starting her career in energy after years in the aviation sector and says working on local infrastructure has changed how she views energy.
“You don’t realise how critical the network is until you understand the consequences. I wanted my forever job and wanted to do something impactful but different each day,” she said.
Iancov said encouraging and supporting participation from women, First Nation Australians and those outside of the industry is fundamental to addressing the industry-wide skills shortage.
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“We are intentionally widening the entry points into energy careers and backing that with the right training, mentoring and strong leadership support,” he said.
This year, Zinfra has also onboarded 84 new mentors, expanding its capacity to provide hands-on guidance and strengthening support available to apprentices and trainees.
“Our apprentices and trainees will be on the ground as our energy network experiences major changes. Ensuring we have the right training programs in place means Zinfra continues to play a role in keeping Australia connected to essential services today, while also preparing for a renewable future,” Iancov said.
