EWPA Board of Directors

John is the National Service Manager at Onsite Rental Group a role he has held since 2015.  Prior working at Onsite Rental Group, John held roles at Force Access, JLG Industries, The Royal Australian Air Force and Quick Access.

John started attending EWPA meetings in 1998 and joined the NSW State Committee in 2007 becoming the NSW State President in 2012. John held the position of State President until November 2022 when he was appointed EWPA National President.

As a Board Member, John looks forward to representing the members, leading a highly experienced board, and working with the EWPA National Office to deliver on the 5-year strategic plan.

John says “With so many years’ experience in repairing and providing technical advice for elevating work platforms, I am passionate about fleet performance and safety.” A true industry-leading expert, John looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience around service performance, fleet availability, fleet procurement, major inspection programs, parts procurement, technical training and all aspects for fleet servicing.

Prior to working in the access industry Doug Rawlings was an electrician and professional rugby league player. Doug often used EWP’s in his role as an electrician. Fast forward several years to 1998 Doug moved across the country from NSW to WA, and began his career in access working for an EWP hire service and sales company in WA – WA Access and WA Forklifts, which is now United forklift and Access Solutions. Doug is currently State Manager for WA – home of the largest branch (Perth) in Australia.

Joining the EWPA Board over 20 years ago, Doug wanted to help the industry in WA as well as learn as much as he could to drive safety, compliance and best practice within United and the companies he worked with.

Doug says “I love the sharing of knowledge in the industry. This not only improves the perception of the industry, but also improves efficiencies, productivity and profitability for those within the industry. I also love the dynamic nature of the industry and how priorities can change quickly based on changing demands and what are customers are asking for.”

Tim is the Managing Director of Access Hire, a position he has held since 2004. Tim started working in the industry when he was 21 years old and his previous positions include 20 years at Wreck Air, JLG (as Vice President and General Manager of Australia) and Ready Hire.

Tim has been involved with both the EWPA and HRIA for many years. Becoming Victorian EWPA Vice President at a time of some industry instability, Tim then held the position of EWPA National President for 5 Years and is currently National Vice President.

Tim says “As a Board Member my objective is to provide leadership to the industry and try to convey what our predecessors had set as a standard when the industry was forming.” Tim continues push this message as well as work as a part of the EWPA Board with Regulators, OEMs, other International Associations and end users to create a safe and sustainable industry.

Bob is the General Manager of Almac Pacific, a position he has held since 2020. Bob joined the industry straight from school, working for Wreckair Hire where he spent 3 years in Brisbane and then a further 10 years in Sydney. Other roles have included Gillespie’s Cranes in their Access division, then over 23 years working for OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers), 4 years at Haulotte and 15 years at JLG.

Bob was NSW State President back in the early 2000’s, a role which he enjoyed. The EWPA Board has many experienced and knowledgeable members and Bob enjoys being a part of this Board to assist members with key issues that members face in their businesses. Being able to give back to an industry he has been involved in his whole working life is extremely rewarding.

Bob says “It is the people and the relationships I have built over many years with people from all parts of the industry, that keeps me motivated. This is what I love the most about our industry. I am very focused on the “Customer Experience” and strive to make the experience the best that I can. I have formed  some wonderful friendships with those I have met in the industry over the years, some of whom are now close personal friends.”

James is the Product and Training Specialist at Skyreach. In his current role he is the main Trainer completing Yellow Card Training and VOC’s (Verification of Competency) for our customers, in addition to being the Product Specialist, so I provide information on the machines to our guys out in the field.

Starting out in the industry in 1989, James previously held positions at Wreckair Hire, Force Access, ELS (Equipment & Lifting Solutions), AAH (Australian Access Hire and Alfasi Hire as well as Skyreach where he has held positions of Business Development Manager, QLD Sales Manager and National Sales Manager before moving into his current role.

When asked why he joined the Board, James says “I have always been involved with the EWPA throughout my career. I joined the National EWPA Board in 2017 because I felt that I have something to contribute to the EWPA members and I also wanted to have a say in how our industry moves forward and embraces the future. I believe the young people in our industry have much to contribute and we need to give them a strong voice.”

James loves the projects he has been involved in from major construction projects including stadiums, convention centres, hospitals and prisons to major resources projects such as mining infrastructure. He has also spent a considerable amount of time in the movie and tv industry on major films and tv project. This industry has given him opportunities to travel and meet people from around the world.

Tony is responsible for technical sales for Lincon Logistics, the Australian agent for Palfinger Platforms & Barin Underbridge inspection Units. He started working for Lincon in 2004 as Workshop Manager & moving into the technical sales role in 2015.

Tony started his working life as an apprentice plant mechanic working for an earthmoving company on the South Coast of NSW, moving to QLD is 1988 working with Walter Wrights which lead me into the crane industry. Since 2004 Tony has worked for Lincon in the truck mounted MEWP industry.

Tony says “The nomination to the EWPA board & Standards Australia committee has been an honour. The committees have seen a need for further representation from the MEWP truck mount arena, and I hope in my position assist. I am only too happy to assist with any knowledge I can pass on.”

Tony says that the hire and access industries have taken me to places and allowed him to meet people from all around the world. For all of us the most important thing is seeing their workers go home safe to their families each and every day.

Peter has been in hire industry for over 40 years’ having started as an apprentice plant mechanic at Coates in 1983.

He has been a member of the Coates Executive team since 2017 and is currently Executive General Manager – Asset Services.

In this role, Peter leads the Asset Services team in fleet life cycle management including capital equipment strategic planning, equipment compliance, maintenance and end of life disposal.

Peter has been a member of the Australian Standards committee for MEWPs since 2005 and has also participated on International Standards committees advocating for improved global safety standards for MEWPs including secondary guarding and consistency of controls.

Peter has been involved with the EWPA since 2010 and has been a Board member since 2014. He is passionate the continued growth, technical innovation and safety awareness of MEWP usage in Australia.

Peter Wenn has worked in the access industry wince 1979 starting work at Abbey Equipment – who designed and manufactured insulated truck mounted MEWPs and Aerial Fire Appliances. Peter is currently Director at Wenn Wilkinson & Associates – Consulting Engineers. Wenn Wilkinson was started in 2007 and specialise in providing engineering services to industries represented by the EWPA and TSHA.

Peter also has extensive involvement with Australian Standard committees and much of his work involves working with regulators and standards. Peter is a believer in reducing red tape by trying to facilitate uniformity across Australia and Internationality.

Peter sees his role as technical director on the EWPA Board as liaising between the Regulators, Standards and the Association for the benefit of the whole industry.

When asked why he enjoys about working in the access industry Peter says “I am impressed with the innovation of the industry combined with the strong focus on safety”.

Stuart works for Manitou Group a company he has worked for since 2005. Prior to that, Stuart worked for a Manitou dealer for 10 years after backpacking around Australia and falling in love with this amazing country. Today Stuart’s role is Managing Director of Manitou Australia.

Stuart sits on the EWPA Board as the President of the Telescopic Handler Association (TSHA), his second term in this role. Stuart was instrumental in the establishment of the TSHA back in 2009, and has held the position of President for a total of 10 years.

Stuart says “Being involved with the EWPA and the TSHA is a great honour. I love working with like-minded people who are prepared to give back to the industry. People who are all committed to ensuring that we create and promote a safe vibrant industry to build and support Australia.”

Stuart loves the fact that our industry serves so many different parts of the Australian community and enjoys being an active participant in all EWPA and TSHA activities.

“As a passionate Master Jedi of Materials Handling, I just love working with like-minded passionate people representing and promoting our industry” says Stuart.

Luke is the Technical Services Manager for ANZ at JLG Industries. Luke started working for JLG as an electrical apprentice in 1999. Since then Luke has performed various roles from manufacturing, service, field service, technical support and until his current role.

Luke is an active member of the Australian Standards committees for both MEWP’s and Telehandlers and had also been a part of the EWPA Technical committee for a number of years prior to joining the EWPA Board as a committee member and most recently and NSW State President for NSW. In addition to adding to the experience and knowledge of the Board members, Luke also took the position to build on personal and professional development.

“The size of the industry is surprising to the unacquainted. It is the opportunities it provides and the willingness of people to help each other that I love about the industry” says Luke.

Richard is the Territory Sales Manager for NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory at NiftyLift Australia. In his role he is responsible for selling, supporting and delivering the Green machines to clients across these territories.

Before working at NiftyLift, Richard was at Genie in a similar role for 5 years, and prior to that worked at Haulotte, which is where he started working in the EWP industry back in 2007. Before working in the EWP industry Richard sold farm machinery in western Victoria  after a career in hospitality managing hotels for 15 years.

Richard joined the Board to represent members from all around Queensland and to help share knowledge and information to help navigate issues that are impacting our industry. Richard says “The wealth of experience and industry knowledge from fellow Board member is a valuable resource to be able to access.”

When asked what he loves about working in the EWP industry Richard says “I really enjoy dealing with people in our industry, and love that no two days are the same.“

Ray is State Manager South Australia for All lift Forklifts & Access Equipment.

Ray started working in the access industry when he was 19 years old, and previous positions have included working at Kennards’s Hire, Coates as well as and 9 years at JLG before joining All Lift Forklifts and Access Equipment.

The newest member of the EWPA Board, Ray is the South Australian President of the EWPA.

Asking why he joined the EWPA Board Ray says “I joined the EWPA Board to represent the  South Australian members at a national level and work with the national team to promote and create awareness to future generations of this fantastic industry.”

Keith Clarke is the General Manager at Haulotte Australia, where he has worked since 2010. Keith has been working in the Access industry for over 20 years and prior to that worked in the crane industry.

Keith started attending EWPA meetings finding it a great environment to learn from others in the industry the ‘older’ generation then (although I am now older than those guys who I thought were old!). Keith says “At that time there was no young professionals in the industry so I just listened to what these guys were talking about in the industry and tried to absorb as much as I could from them.”

Keith then joined the state committee, then the National Board in 2012 taking up the position of VIC President in 2017. Since becoming more involved he has even more passion for the EWPA.

When asked what he loves about the industry Keith says “No two days are ever the same. I have been lucky enough to go into some amazing places to see machines being used and it still amazes me every day.”

Will is the GM/Director of Access Rentals Australia Perth, a part of the Access Group where he has worked since 2001. Working in the access industry for over 25 years, Will has been the EWPA WA President since 2011.

Will’s aim in joining the EWPA Board was to tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge of the other members of the Board to assist in his own learning as well as take back to other members in WA.

Will says, “Each state has different challenges and getting insights from across the country will assist members in WA. I enjoy learning and sharing knowledge and experiences with others.”

Asking Will what he loves about the industry he says “I love the camaraderie and support within the industry. It is a specialised industry that attracts and retains some great people who are passionate. Every day is a different and brings unique challenges.”