2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors Set to Inspire Plumbers of Tomorrow

(From left to right) Penny Cornah, Executive Director of Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland; Warwick Royal, Director of Plumbaround Pty Ltd; Nick Anderson, Apprentice at Evermore Plumbing & Gas; Jacinta Marshall, Office Manager of Plumbrite Solutions; Hon. Dianne Farmer, Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development; Hon. Mick de Brenni, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement; and Kent Vickers, President of Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland

Three outstanding individuals from the plumbing and gas industry were named 2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors by Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) to help promote plumbing and gas fitting as a career and champion a sustainable future of the industry.

Warwick Royal, director at Plumbaround Pty Ltd; Jacinta Marshall, office manager of Plumbrite Solutions; and Nick Anderson, apprentice at Evermore Plumbing & Gas, were revealed as the ambassadors during MPAQ’s World Plumbing Day breakfast. The event was held on Friday 10 March 2023 at Rydges South Bank in South Brisbane.

2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors

Plumbers helping plumbers—this lies at the heart of MPAQ’s Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors program.

The plumbing trade is crucial to the health and safety of many Australian households; and while there is so much room for the industry to grow, there continues to be a shortage of skilled tradespeople. The ambassadors hope to be part of the solution and help promote plumbing as a valuable trade and career opportunity for students and career-seekers of all ages across the state.

Some of the key conversations that ambassadors want to spark are: raising awareness about plumbing as a professional career among the youth, engaging businesses to ensure the future of plumbing by training more apprentices, and educating the community about how the growth of the plumbing community can positively impact public health and safety.

The following ambassadors were chosen from an esteemed list of nominations for their passion for the industry and contributions as professionals and individuals.

Warwick Royal is a licensed plumber, drainer, and gas fitter. From working retail in plumbing supplies, he went on to complete a mature age apprenticeship, before eventually starting his own company, Plumbaround Pty Ltd. It’s been eight years now since Warwick started his plumbing business, and he believes that the future of plumbing is in the younger generation.

“I want to get our youth encouraged to join the plumbing industry and talk about Australia being the second most arid country in the world,” he said.

Jacinta Marshall wants to pave the way for women empowerment and more diversity in the plumbing and gas industry. As the current office manager at Plumbrite Solutions with more than nine years of experience in the industry, she has helped in the training and development of many apprentices, ensuring compliance with council and industry safety standards, and the hiring of female employees in the field.

“Apart from encouraging female participation in the industry, I want to pass along what I have learnt in the past and encourage more people to start their careers in the plumbing industry,” she said.

Nick Anderson found his way to the plumbing industry in search of a challenging and hands-on career. After completing his Certificate II in Plumbing, he went on to become an apprentice with Evermore Plumbing & Gas, where he has and continues to learn and gain more experience in the field. With a strong commitment to continue improving his skills, Nick wants to set an outstanding example to his fellow youth who are considering the trades.

“The plumbing industry is a valuable and rewarding career option for young people like me. I am eager to bridge the gap between the young generation and the industry to promote more uptake in apprenticeships,” he said.

Annual World Plumbing Day

Every year, World Plumbing Day is recognised all over the world on 11 March to celebrate and promote the link between good quality plumbing, health, environmental sustainability and, increasingly, economic prosperity. This international celebration was established by the World Plumbing Council (WPC), an international organisation that aims to achieve the best possible plumbing for the world through growth and development of the world’s plumbing industries.

Now on its 13th year, World Plumbing Day has become an avenue for people within and outside the plumbing industry to come together to learn from each other, share best practices, build networks, and find opportunities to grow the industry.

For MPAQ, World Plumbing Day Breakfast has become an annual social assembly for members and people from Queensland’s plumbing industry to meet, collaborate, and start new conversations on the current state and future of plumbing not just in the state, but in the whole country.  

About Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland

Master Plumbers' Association of Queensland (MPAQ) is the peak industry body representing plumbing contractors throughout Queensland, from sole operators through to medium-sized plumbing businesses and large contracting firms.

The plumbing industry makes an extraordinary contribution to human health and the environment; however, it is minimally recognised. Population growth, coupled with an increase in urbanisation, reinforces the importance of the management of water supplies and wastewater in Australia. In recent years, we have seen an increase in awareness in water and energy usage—and the plumbing industry is proactive in contributing to this shift, promoting the accurate and timely management of water supplies. It is for this reason that plumbers should be recognised for their hard work, education, and skills.

With over 120 years of experience and history in the industry, the association’s purpose is to drive professionalism in the plumbing and gas industry and provide quality services and support for the welfare of the greater Australian community.

For more information, visit the MPAQ website at www.mpaq.com.au.