Meet the team behind our IRATA training centre – a team of highly skilled, passionate, and experienced rope access professionals dedicated to developing the next generation of technicians. With diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to safety, quality, and mentorship, our instructors bring a wealth of industry knowledge to every course.
We asked them a few questions to help you get to know the faces behind the harnesses – read on to hear what they had to say.
Read Dan’s answers here.
Meet Steph:
How long have you been working in the rope access industry? 12ish years
What originally drew you to rope access as a career? I spotted some RA window cleaners in the cbd long before I became qualified and was intrigued about what their daily POV was like. Then I came across a gumtree ad looking for ‘trainee abseilers’ and the rest is history
What’s your background before becoming an IRATA trainer? I started in the Perth cbd doing general maintenance, signage and facade inspection – my boss at the time had a real passion for chimney stacks , so I was lucky enough to travel around aus a bit to work on power stations around the country. From there I went on the iron ore shutdown circuit and also spent a decent amount of time on a few high profile construction scopes
What do you enjoy most about being an IRATA trainer? I take a lot of satisfaction in witnessing the evolution that happens between day one and four. Candidates can come in very unsure of themselves – learning systems that are completely foreign to them. And within 72 hours a fluidity, familiarity and confidence develops. It’s really encouraging to see what happens when people persist
What’s one thing you always try to instill in your trainees? You are more than capable if you invest yourself – engage with the training and we can cross the line together
What advice do you give to someone going for their Level 1/2/3 assessment? Slow it down, keep your systems clean, seek clarification – and try and enjoy yourself!
If you weren’t in rope access, what do you think you’d be doing instead? I would have loved to become a firefighter
What do you like to do when you’re not training or working at height? Running, gymming, spending time with my lil family
Coffee or tea? Monster energy zero ultra
City views or remote cliffs? Cliffs
Most-used piece of kit? Helmet
Favourite climbing destination or location you’ve worked in? Vertech training centre, Osborne park of course
