December 18, 2025 in News
Celebrating Excellence at the 2025 AMCA National Indust...
A.G. Coombs is proud to announce that six of our team members have been recognised at the 2025 AMCA National Industry Excellence Awards, held in Melbo...
December 5, 2022
Hosted in Brisbane, the 2022 Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association National Industry Excellence Dinner honoured distinguished industry service and recognised the achievements of emerging leaders, apprentices and trainees.
A.G. Coombs Group Managing Director, Russell Telford was recognised as an Honorary Life Member for his contribution to the AMCA and the HVAC industry.
Six A.G. Coombs employees were nominated as award finalists with three successful in their categories.
Russell Telford – Life Membership Honour
In one of the highlights of the evening, AMCA Australia President Michael Anthony presented Honorary Life Membership of AMCA Australia to Russell Telford of A.G. Coombs Group – a fitting acknowledgment of the contribution and achievements of one of our industry’s finest leaders.
For over 40 years, Russell has displayed outstanding leadership, commitment and dedication to the development of the HVAC industry.
Russell is the immediate past AMCA National President as well as the Chairman of the Victorian and National AMCA Training, Learning and Development Committees. He is a founding member of the BIM-MEP AUS Project Board, as well as a member of the RCCC Roundtable and other industry committees.
With a longstanding passion for industry development and training, Russell was instrumental in the establishment of the Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence at Box Hill Institute and the HVAC Centre of Excellence at Holmesglen.
His business acumen and leadership has been instrumental in the ongoing growth and development of the A.G. Coombs Group. His proactive and customer focused leadership style, with an emphasis on cooperation and communication, has been acknowledged as a key attribute in the successful delivery of many large and complex projects across Australia.
He is also heavily involved in a range of community and charity projects.
In accepting the award, Russell acknowledged AMCA Australia’s role in providing him with 30 years of professional and personal development, and in helping him to form many relationships and friendships along the way.
Congratulations Russell.
Nicholas Kropf – Young Achiever Award
Nicholas commenced his career in the industry when he joined A.G. Coombs as a Graduate Engineer in January 2019. As part of his graduate training program, Nicholas has worked in a variety of roles on a variety of jobs, providing him with a thorough understanding of the industry and the organisation.
Nicholas has excellent leadership skills and is fast developing a reputation within the company as a sought after team member. Nicholas has completed many qualifications, including a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce.
“To be nominated for this award, delivered by such an integral and high-standing organisation within the construction industry is a privilege in itself. I see myself as a future leader and believe I have a great foundation of knowledge, patience and empathy to become an advocate and mentor for young people.”
Nathan Waugh – Future Leader Award
Nathan commenced an apprenticeship in hydraulic plumbing in 2006. After moving into estimating, operations manager and construction manager roles, he joined A.G. Coombs in 2020 as an estimator and quickly transitioned to project manager.
Nathan has shown his perseverance and commitment as well as the intellectual acumen to continue to progress his journey in building services and is progressing through the A.G. Coombs structure on a management pathway. His drive and determination will likely result in his continued success and progress through the building services industry.
“Knowing I have the support from my management team by being nominated for such as an award hits me at a level much deeper than many could imagine. Being able to tell my partner and family I have been nominated for this award is a career highlight and something of which I am proud.”
Charlie O’Connor – Joint Trainee / Apprentice of the Year Award
Charlie commenced as an apprentice mechanical plumber with A.G. Coombs in June 2018. Charlie works on diverse projects, from large installations with a big team such as a new hospital, to small jobs such as replacing equipment in an existing building working with just one other tradesperson.
A.G. Coombs values Charlie’s work ethic, saying he always gives 100%, is enthusiastic thinks outside the square, is personable, consistent and his work is well thought out and detailed. Charlie won the 2021 A.G. Coombs Allan Coombs Training Award and is recognised as being a well-respected future leader of the industry.
Charlie was a joint winner of this category with Dylan Hannam, PEER Group Training.
“Winning this award means a lot to me. I appreciate not only the recognition from my own company but also from the AMCA which looks to improve the quality of tradespeople and apprentices coming through the system, and I am a product of that.”
A.G. Coombs Finalists included Project Engineer Pawel Nowicki, Technical Support Specialist, Paul Inglis and Refrigeration Apprentice Kyle Sikacek.
