Honouring legacy, achievement and vision for the future, this year’s event was the largest in A.G. Coombs’ history. It served not only as a celebration of the past but as a powerful reaffirmation of the company’s enduring values and future-focused vision.

A Culture of Excellence, Diversity and Shared Purpose

The evening was hosted by sports media personality and proud Warumungu/Yawuru woman Megan Waters, with roving coverage by journalist and sports commentator Tiffany Cherry. Their presence brought warmth and energy to a night that reflected the A.G. Coombs Group’s commitment to excellence through people and the community.

In his opening address, Russell Telford, A.G. Coombs Group Managing Director, welcomed invited guests including:

• Edward Tudor, CEO at Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS).
• Luke Murray, Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator at Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI) Richmond Football Club.
• Marcella Hunter, historian and author of the forthcoming updated 80^th anniversary edition coffee table book titled, “Perpetuating the Vision: A.G. Coombs – Bringing Buildings to Life”.
• David Rogers, CEO at Challenge – Supporting kids with cancer.

Russell spoke of the company’s strategic direction and the importance of its people in realising its Whole-of-Life model:

“Our focus on foundation strategies that support our vision of being Australia’s leading building services specialist is proving very successful,” he said. “What underpins this is people – most importantly great people – who bring our vision to life every day.”

Honouring Service, Commitment and Emerging Talent

The evening recognised outstanding contributions across all levels of the organisation:

• Five employees were honoured for 21 years of service:
  Anthony Armstrong, Grant Brown, Michael Crichton, Gregory Mullenger and Grant Warren.
• Paul Dorrity was celebrated for an extraordinary 40-year career with A.G. Coombs.
• Four retirees were acknowledged for their legacy:
  Stephen Banbury, Steve Brough, Gary Economos and Dale Reynolds.
• Graduating class of 26 apprentices across Mechanical Plumbing, Electrical, Refrigeration and Drafting disciplines — a reflection of
  A.G. Coombs’ long-term apprenticeship completion rate of 94%, nearly double the national average.

Celebrating Excellence Through Awards

The night also spotlighted individual achievements through two major awards:

• 2025 Allan Coombs Training Award
  Winner: Rainbow McIntosh, 4th Year Mechanical Plumbing Apprentice.
• A.G. Coombs Young Achiever’s Award
  Winner: Nicholas Walsh, Modelling Coordinator (Draftsperson)

These awards reflect the Group’s commitment to nurturing talent and championing progress across generations.

The awards is also a major fundraiser. Together, A.G. Coombs raised over $80,000 on the night for Challenge – Supporting kids with cancer, our longstanding foundation charity.

Every year, the A.G. Coombs Annual Dinner & Awards Night reaffirm our shared purpose and the strength of our culture. As A.G. Coombs looks ahead, the legacy of excellence continues — driven by great people, strong partnerships, and a vision that remains as bold and relevant as ever.