Employer: TAFE NSW - Illawarra Institute

Troy is the Head Teacher for Bricklaying, Building and Construction, Civil Engineering, Surveying and Mapping at TAFE NSW - Illawarra Institute.

With over 20 years' experience in the national and international bricklaying industry, Troy has many achievements, including his Gold Medal Award for Bricklaying from the Clay Brick and Paver Institute, and recently being appointed as Australian Apprenticeship Ambassador by the Australian Government.

Troy volunteers with WorldSkills Australia as the Worldskills International Chief Expert for Bricklaying. This year, Troy travelled to the International Worldskills Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil where Skillaroo Sam Spong was awarded a bronze medal for bricklaying.

Troy has used his connections within TAFE NSW – Illawarra Institute for the bricklaying students to work in collaboration with architecture students, allowing students to work closely with the designers of the buildings.

Passionate about using his skills to help communities in need here and overseas, Troy will also be building a village school hall complex near earthquake-devastated Nepal in April 2016.