Jeff Smit

TaT director
Technical director
Technical editor
Training coordinator
Head trainer - technical and business development

Jeff is the consummate professional who believes passionately in the need for constant training to stay ahead in the automotive repair industry. 

He owns and operates two auto electrical, general repair and air conditioning workshops in Sydney.

Jeff spent many years as secretary of the Australian Association of Automotive Electricians (now merged with VASA), and he currently serves on the VASA board of directors. 

He has undertaken more than 45 post trade courses in all areas of mechanical and electrical.   He is a community college teacher in Sydney.

Started auto electrical apprenticeship at Bosch dealership in Brookvale, Sydney and achieved high results at TAFE (2nd in state 2nd year - top overall in 3rd year) and passed trade course with honours.

• Technician for privately owned BMW dealership service department
• Worked on all areas of BMW, became workshop foreman, undertaking many BMW courses
• 1986 started Mosman Auto Electrical
• Many post-trade courses in EFI, electronics, air conditioning
• 1994 expanded to second workshop, Cremorne Auto Electrical and Air Conditioning
• 2000 purchased run down mechanical workshop in Crows Nest, built up business and expanded
• Qualification to licensed mechanic in 2002
• 2002  RTA inspector
• 2012 Purchased second workshop in Brookvale NSW
• Has been nominated and won many small business, community and trade awards
• Finalist in Telstra Small business awards 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2001
• IAME full member auto electrical since 1992 and full member mechanical since 2002
• AAAE founding member and NSW state organiser 1994
• AAAE Secretary/Treasurer 1998 till 2007
• VASA board member since 2007-8
• Wire & Gas organising committee member since 1999
• Wire & Gas regional workshop presenter
• Local council and community college teacher - more than 20 Know Your Car courses
• 2010 Established specialised business training arm of Tat, TaT Biz, with business trainer Geoff Mutton
• 2010 successfully negotiated seriers of business training initiatives with the Capricorn Society
  

Deyan Barrie

TaT director
Technical research director
TaT assist team leader

• Joined the RAAF in 1971 as an adult trainee in aircraft electrical
• Completed RAAF technical training covering aircraft electrical mechanics and aircraft electrical fitter. Completed training in the first three years and graduated as an aircraft electrical fitter and leading aircraftsman
• Worked mainly on the Mirage and Caribou aircraft, some ground support equipment and Hercules equipment like AC generators and control modules. He also cross trained as instrument fitter and radio technician on Caribou.
• Spent some time in New Guinea as leading aircraftsman and part of the air crew. Left the RAAF in 1977 after six years with an honorable discharge
• Worked for Charles Auto Electrics in Hurstville then Purnell brothers in Bankstown. Was the only auto electrician in the complex and mainly fixed warranty jobs in the used car section. Had 18 mechanics that he assisted as required. Subsequently discovered that his position was previously filled by two auto electricians and they left due to work load and technical difficulty.
• In 1977opened Moruya Auto Electrics
• In 1978 opened a second workshop in Bateman’s Bay NSW, called Shoreline Auto Electrics. A friend from the RAAF days ran the Bateman’s Bay workshop and became his long term partner. 
• In 1981 sold Moruya Auto Electrics and started Barrie Auto Electrics in Hornsby NSW
  
• The business grew to a mid 1990s high of 20 staff including a secretary and a minimum of four apprentices. Over the years he has employed more than thirty tradesmen and trained almost as many apprentices.
  
  He found in those years that his RAAF training was superior to most, and he became the one who solved the difficult problems. He has never been stuck for an answer. When given enough time and data, every problem has an answer. The RAAF gave him advanced analytical and diagnostic skills.
  
  
• He has specialised in automotive air conditioning repairs, service and installation continuously since 1978. His workshop has become an EFI and AC specialist.
• Was president of the Australian Association of Automotive Technicians from 1997 through to its merger with VASA in 2007. He is now a member of the VASA board of directors.
• Has been the MTA councillor of the Auto Electrical division since 2000 and a member of the Wire & Gas organising committee.
• He is a specialist in remanufactured parts, and has a huge stock covering many vehicle makes. He is proud of the fact that his workshop has the skill to repair the majority of components that fail, meaning that he doesn't have to rely solely on replacement quality parts and imports.
• Barrie Auto Electrics has received many business awards
  

Ken Newton

TaT director
Corporate affairs director
Editor-in-chief

Ken turned a successful journalism career in newspapers, radio and television, into a long term corporate affairs and public relations practice as a specialist communicator and script writer. He specialises in distilling complex academic concepts, manufacturing processes or planning ideals into entertaining documentaries or printed material.

In private practice, his company, Newtons, has consulted to local government authorities and a range of private companies involved in technology, education, manufacturing, architecture, project development and regional planning.

His documentaries have promoted technologies and complex strategic planning and urban renewal concepts in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. He has travelled widely across Asia and India, and for a time was documentary consultant to the Institute Sultan Iskandar and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, based in Johor, Malaysia. He has written and produced documentaries on significant national concepts for presentation to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several documentaries promoting scientific discoveries.

He is currently CEO of VASA, representing AC and auto electrical specialists across Australia and New Zealand, and makes many presentations in influential boardrooms of the automotive and refrigerant industries. He writes industry newsletters and magazines and contributes many articles to publications.

• Cadetship and four-year study on Rockhampton Morning Bulletin daily newspaper
• Was senior journalist in the ABC for 10 years and was in charge of radio and TV newsrooms in regional centres in Queensland
• Was Gold Coast City Council's first Public Relations Journalist and wrote all of the city's major statements and speeches for six years under the reign of legendary Mayors Sir Bruce Small and Robert Neumann
• Began own PR practice and with a large staff managed most of the significant opening ceremonies and announcements in the city for many years, including the inauguration and management of the Gold Coast Architectural Awards for almost 22 years
• Still consults to major companies including SuperCool Group of Companies and VASA
• Travelled widely with engineers and planners to projects in Asia and India, writing and producing many video documentaries for government bodies and planning institutes.
• Regarded as an expert in video portrayal of otherwise complex planning, economic and urban renewal studies.
  
• Is an award winning columnist, so far taking one silver and two bronze in the business column category in the International Automotive Media Awards in USA for his features published in MACS Action.

Nick Murphy

TaT assist senior technician
TaT trainer
Author - Murphy's Law

Nick is a very hands on technician, managing a busy workshop on Sydney’s North Shore, but his background covers a wide range of activities from being a scan-tool trainer, writing technical literature for NRMA, training patrol officers and delivering TAFE training in scan equipment. 

He’s an automotive engineer, whose speciality is engine management systems. He’s done many courses in electronics and EFI and has been ‘on the tools’ for the past 32 years.

Nick contributes a technical article under Murphy's Law in every issue of TaT and is also a TaT trainer.

Jack Stepanian

TaT research workshop manager
Trainer and technical writer
Training development specialist

Jack has extensive sales, marketing, business and technical experience in the automotive industry. He is able to present sophisticated management concepts in simple ways. Originally an academic with the University of Sydney, involved in Communication and Education, he spent the first 14 years of his career with undergraduates and in the teaching and research environments.

He became involved with General Motors Holden (GMH) and the Institute of Automotive Engineering (IAME) and went on to train large groups of people in a variety of areas, including motivational, technical, sales and management.

The focus of much of his work has been in developing courses for the automotive industry, gaining a real grasp of the organisation and its departments, implementing specific programs to achieve ‘cultural change’.

He operated his own business, selling business franchises, associated business support, training and business equipment.

• University of Sydney Masters Qualifying Personality Variables and Academic Achievement
• University of Technology Bachelor of Arts Major in ‘Communication’ and ‘Electronics’
• Sydney Technical College Electronics and Communication Certificate Major in Digital Electronics & Communication
• Brookvale Technical College Automotive Trade Certificate Automotive Mechanical Engineer
• Repair industry Council Motor Repair Industry Fully Registered and Qualified Mechanic
• Repair industry Council Motor Repair Industry Fully Registered & Qualified Air Conditioning technician
• Jack has travelled widely, conducting new car launches to the trade, mainly SAAB and Holden, has been a keynote speaker at international forums
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Julian Hentze

TaT columnist
Sales and Marketing Director
Global Parts Distributors
GEORGIA USA

Julian is well known and respected in the AC and electrical aftermarket supply industry having worked in senior positions at Ashdown and ADAIR before moving permanently to the US in late 2007. He also served on the VASA Wire & Gas committee and gave a great deal of time and effort to industry associations. He currently works for a Parts Distribution company out of Georgia USA.

Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (Associate, retired)
Australian Association of Automotive Electricians (Associate)
Vehicle Air-conditioning Specialists of Australasia (Member)
Wire & Gas, Training Conventions and Trade Show (Committee Member)
Certificate in Automotive Light Vehicle AC
ARC (Australian Refrigeration Council) Holder of National Refrigeration Handling License and Authorisation
Safety Institute of Australia (Associate, retired)
Australian Safety Equipment Industry Association (Level One)
International Open Water Scuba Diver
Confined space entry certificate
Qualified Automotive Engineer, Trade
Diploma in Management, University of New England (focus on marketing and branding)

Former national product manager, Ashdown Queensland
Former district manager Queensland for K-Mart Tyre and Auto Service
Former national sales manager (2005-2008) ADAIR automotive air conditioning products

Gil Sher

TaT technical team member
Owner/manager Auto Service & Maintenance Bondi Junction Sydney
Hybrid trainer

Gil realised as long ago as his apprenticeship in a low level auto repair shop, that if he didn't do something for himself, he would never succeed. The question he asked himself when he finished his apprenticeship was "Do I know it all or do I want to know it all?"

He invested in an Allen engine analyser and spent every Saturday morning, in his own time, hooking it up to different cars belonging to friends and family, learning how to use it and to diagnose faults.

Gil's view is that anyone who thinks they know it all, can probably exist in the trade for another five years, moving to the bottom of a steadily descending slope.

Those who intend being in the trade for an indefinite number of years need to be committed to pursuing continuous life-long education which is not always easy. It requires dedication, plus an ongoing investment of time and money. Gil personally invests hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each year on education, training and practical experience.

He has also learned how to persevere against a number of obstacles including often uncooperative vehicle manufacturers. Vehicle manufacturers are reluctant to provide technical information to independent workshops. In many cases they deny them access to even purchase their scan tools. Persistence, ongoing interaction with like minded mechanics, and attending as many trade courses and conferences as they can, is a way of life for Gil and his staff.

He is a firm believer that flying his mechanics interstate to attend courses, and sending them to the USA to attend international conventions is definitely an essential investment for the future of his business.

• Apprenticeship with a very low tech local repair shop
• Spent a few years working for Mitsubishi and Porsche
• 1989 bought a workshop which employed one motor mechanic, one brake mechanic and had only one hoist
• Today, that same building houses six new hoists, ten scan tools, two big-box oscilloscopes, three digital oscilloscopes and his Allen Engine analyser for old times sake
• Gil owns the property, has three qualified mechanics, two apprentices and an office manager
• Was the first Australian technician to attend the ACDC hybrid training school in the USA in 2006
• Took self and two employers to Jim Linders ‘Lindernapolis’ Indiana Indianapolis 2006
• Took self and an employee to IATN Convention 2004
• All staff are invited to all auto techs courses in our area and regularly travel to Melbourne for Bosch training school
• Friday morning tea , suppliers come and give product knowledge sessions to the techs after which Gil provides lunch
• The rule in the shop is ‘If you learn something new teach everyone else’
• The lead tech regularly emails interesting links that he has found after work that will help everyone do a better job
• Most of Gil's technician are IATN members and he encourages them to regualy participate

Hayley Windsor

TaT columnist
Consultant - People and Organisation
Ernst & Young
Former champion gymnast
Traveller

Hayley has experience beyond her years in the corporate communications world.

She was representing her country in international sport at the age of 12. High academic achievements at tertiary level were followed by an ambitious round of media and sports engagements, which took her around the world.

She wrote articles for a year for a major magazine publishing house in Thailand. In post-tsunami days, she produced major features on the devastation and rebuilding effort of coastal villages in Asia.

She has presented news on radio and television, crewed on yachts in many foreign waters, spent a year in Scotland as a teaching assistant at a primary school, wrote and illustrated a children’s book and was once commissioned to anchor yachting documentaries to be aired on Fox Channel 4.

• Bachelor of Journalism majoring in Politics and Public Relations
• Award for Journalism in Student Magazine (2005)
• Short-listed for MEAA Student of the Year awards (2005)
• Invitation to join Golden Key Society (2003, 2004 and 2005)
• District, state, national and international medal winner for gymnastics, tumbling, sports aerobics and sports acrobatics (1991 to 2001)
• Member of the Gold Coast Titans senior elite dance troupe and a coach for several acrobatics classes at Ikin Dance Australia and Star Performance Studios