The board & governance
The Executive committee of Master Painters & Decorators Australia is elected annually by financial members of the Association. The election is carried out by the Western Australian Electoral Commission and all financial metropolitan and regional members are eligible to stand. The MP&DA constitution of the Association is the ruling code for the management and operation of the Association. It is the duty of the Executive committee to ensure the rules of the Association are upheld. They are empowered to do this under the constitution. All members of the Executive committee are volunteers and dedicate their time for the betterment of the painting industry.
Mark Gale
Mark brings an extensive background in marketing and business development to the role of Chief Executive Officer with the MP&DA.
This encompasses the TAFE and tertiary sector, as well as considerable experience in an agency setting working with clients from a variety of industries.
Mark also draws upon wide experience managing media, sponsorship, and government relations.
A primary focus of this role will be to enhance member services, build engagement with the wider industry, advocate on behalf of the painting industry to government, and help attract apprentices to the trade through a close working relationship with MPA Skills and TAFE.
Mark encourages all industry stakeholders, and especially MP&DA members, to reach out with any enquiries or feedback on how he can help grow the industry.
Michael Houghton
Mick has over 39 years’ experience in the industry, owning his own business in the UK before moving to Australia in 2008 and continuing his businesses here as, A Painter.
Mick's daughter Charley has worked with him for 7 years and has completed her three year apprenticeship with a Cert 3 in Painting and Decorating with MPA Skills, and is now a registered painter.
Mick's son Mykie is in his third year of his apprenticeship with MPA Skills. Both Charley and Mick have been chosen as finalists in the MP&DA Apprentice of the Year Competitions.
Mick has completed many courses over the years to maintain a high level of knowledge about the products and materials he uses and how to best apply them - many of them being Spraying Techniques, Porters and Elite Crete Systems.
Alan Walters
Alan commenced working in the Painting and Decorating industry as an Apprentice Painter at the Government Railways, Midland Workshops in 1978. With more than 40 years of industry experience, Alan brings a strong technical and practical skill set to Master Painters and Decorators Australia.
During his time in the industry, Alan has worked for Major Paint Manufacturers in a variety of Sales, Specification and Management positions, as well as managing his own contracting business for more than 10 years.
Alan has a passion for training and development, committed to developing Apprentices as well as providing advanced training opportunities for Trades Men and Women.
Alan joined the Master Painters and Decorators Association in 2005, immediately joining the Executive and Management Committees, before being elected as President for a period of 4 years.
As a Director of MPA Skills, Alan is heavily involved with growing and improving Apprenticeship training and participation.
“Our Apprentices are the future of the Industry and we need to invest time and effort into the development of our next industry leaders”.
NEVILLE EASTABROOK
Neville has been a valued member of the Executive Committee for several years and has now moved into the role of Vice President.
Starting out in the painting industry 34 years ago through an apprenticeship with WAGR/Westrail, Neville has watched products and trends come and go. In his current role as Lecturer/Coordinator Painting & Decorating Studies at South Metropolitan TAFE, he is pleased to see products being developed with greater emphasis on safety and the environment.
Neville was prompted to join the Executive Committee in 2006 when he noticed changes being made to the training environment without sufficient consultation. By joining the Committee Neville was able to ensure that industry was aware of any proposed changes and with the strength and support of the MP&DA, he was able to lobby on behalf of the membership.
Training continues to be Neville's passion as he represents MP&DA on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the review of the Certificate III in Painting & Decorating (apprenticeship).
Neville is working hard to ensure that high standards are maintained in training, and that private RTO's and other forms of training that impact negatively on our apprentices and the industry in general, are actively opposed.
Jack Mast
Jack is a Life member of the Association, who has long served the members in a variety of roles. He has also been President of the Association and currently sits on the Board of MPA Skills.
Mark Hunt
Jarria Brooks
Jarria had a passion for painting and decorating from a young age, and completing a pre-apprenticeship confirmed that she was on the right path.
Painting was still a male-dominated industry at the outset of Jarria's apprenticeship, and she is proud to have been at the forefront of a cultural shift in an industry that is now recognised for the significant contribution of female practitioners and business owners.
A former Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Ambassador herself, Jarria now works as a Field Officer for MPA Skills nurturing the next generation of Master Painters.
She also has served as an Apprentice of the Year adjudicator and WorldSkills National judge and brings a valuable perspective to the Executive Committee that understands the pathways from apprentice training through to becoming an MP&DA member.
