From completing her electrical apprenticeship in 2012, Alex Lusty has used her can-do attitude to forge a successful career with NESMA member BE Switchcraft in South Australia.
Alex worked on the shop floor, out on site, spent six years as an estimator, then worked in switchboard design, resulting in a promotion to Design Manager in 2021.
“BE Switchcraft has been a really supportive and understanding business that feels like a family, so that has enabled me to productively spend the last 16 years of my career in the one company,” she says.
As a Design Manager, Alex is responsible for designing switchboards, working with customers, coordinating with different internal departments, and working closely with all relevant parties to deliver finished solutions. She currently leads a team of four drafters.
“I provide my team with guidance on relevant standards, compliance, and Service and Installation Rules (SIRs), which differ from State to State in Australia,” she explains.
“The role of the Design team is to develop a finished product that suits all the customers specs and requirements, and is also totally Standards compliant.”
An industry of opportunity
Alex sees a lot of different opportunities in the switchboard industry, and encourages everyone to explore options and see what’s out there.
“My best advice is to back yourself. Especially for other women looking to enter the industry – you’ve got just as much to offer as any other employee. If you build a good support network within your company, and outside of it, this will allow you to grow and learn, and it will open up many avenues for you in this exciting industry,” she says.
“At the end of the day, if you’re considering it – just go and do it. That’s the best way to push yourself towards success.”
“NESMA is a great way to engage with the broader community and to share knowledge across the industry. This is particularly important for Standards, so that we’re all on the same page with keeping people safe, but it’s also an opportunity to share general industry knowledge and lift the overall industry.”
“As the industry grows, we’re seeing more integration, more detailed builds, and more technology. Customers are looking for more data and insights, which means we need to build these into new switchboard designs. It’s always evolving, so I’m constantly learning on the job – something I really enjoy.”
Energy efficiency
BE Switchcraft also places a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, including installing new rooftop into a solar power farm that cuts its own power consumption by more than two-thirds.
“Energy efficiency is a major focus for so many of our customers, so I like that our Managing Director Anthony Spadavecchia is making it a focus internally as well as in projects we complete,” says Alex.
“We see this as the way of the future, with smart lighting systems, energy management systems, and building automation to proactively monitor and manage consumption.”
