The Motor Trades Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) Training department has announced that one of its trainers, Robbie Cross, has been appointed as Chief Judge of Panel Beating for the National WorldSkills competition to be held in Melbourne in August 2023.
Cross has worked for the MTA NSW Training department for three years, starting as a Paint & Panel Trainer and more recently working as Paint & Panel Programme Coordinator. He began his panel beating apprenticeship at Killens Smash Repair in Armidale, New South Wales more than two decades ago, has owned his own smash repair business, and worked as a shop manager.
“MTA Training for me is a great way of giving back to an industry that has given me so much, and I have been involved in all my working life,” said Cross. “The training we deliver to our learners is one-on-one and on-site in their workshops. It’s a great way of focusing on each learner and their progression within their apprenticeship, helping them achieve great results for themselves and their employer.”
Cross has also been involved with the MTA NSW in Regional WorldSkills, where the association had eight competitors entered in the Panel & Paint skillset.
“I’m so excited to be involved with WorldSkills and I’m looking forward to working with their team,” he said. “I’m grateful to the MTA Training department for their support – not only to me in this role, but their support of WorldSkills. The WorldSkills competitions bring all trades into the spotlight, but for MTA NSW, automotive trades are what we are focused on.”