Major Convos

Around 82% of an apprentice’s learning happens on the job, with the tradesperson working beside them every day.Anthea Middleton, CEO of Powering Skills Organisation, explains why supporting the tradespeople who train apprentices is PSO’s next big focus. Better supervisors mean better trained apprentices and stronger support from the classroom to the job site.

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Sharon Wernowski has spent 20 years building apprenticeship programs, and she's now five months into reshaping early careers at Airbus. In this episode of Major Convos, Sharon talks through what it actually takes to recruit, mentor and retain apprentices and graduates in one of the most competitive corners of aviation, where one graduate role can draw over 300 applicants.

She shares the story of an apprentice who nearly didn't make it through his third year, why she thinks AI cover letters are easy to spot, and what she believes government, employers and mentors each get wrong about supporting young people into a trade.Enjoyed this episode?

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Simon Hislop joined Major Convos for his first ever podcastappearance, three months into his new role as CEO of East Coast Apprenticeships.

He talks candidly about what surprised him about GTOs, whyhe thinks the incentive system is due for a rethink, and what he learned from doing an ultra-endurance multisport race across New Zealand's Southern Alps.

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Major Training's Manufacturing and Engineering trainer Samantha Hurford opens up about the upbringing that built her resilience.

She talks candidly about emotional intelligence in the trades industry, how she grew into a natural social butterfly and why connection matters just as much as competence on the tools.

A story about growth, confidence and character.

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Brad Donald spent 25 years in professional rugby league. He captain-coached in the bush, ran elite programs for the Kangaroos, and coached the Jillaroos through the early days of the NRLW, back when there was no competition, no pay, and no blueprint.

In this episode, Brad talks us through what building a high-performance culture in professional sport actually looks like, and how those lessons now shape the leadership coaching work he does through his business. We get into networking advice for young professionals, why relationships matter more than trophies, and how to deal with people who have an opinion on your work and nothing better to do with their time.

If you lead people, this one's for you.

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From road cars to Formula 1 to aerospace, PWR Advanced Cooling Technology is one of Australia's great manufacturing success stories. This week, Matt and Corey sit down with Dave Camper, Training Manager at PWR, to unpack how a one-man band on the Gold Coast grew into a global operation supplying multiple F1 teams in pit lane, and why they're investing so heavily in growing their own people.We get into building the PWR Academy from scratch, why "manufacturing is dead in Australia" couldn't be more wrong, and the simple DNA (Respect, Passion, Teamwork) behind a 460-strong team.Whether you run five apprentices or a hundred, there's something in here for you.

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Matt just got back from a leadership retreat at Duke University hosted by entrepreneur Jesse Itzler, and the room included Tom Brady, Coach K and leaders connected to Berkshire Hathaway. In this episode he and Corey unpack what actually stuck.

The lessons are direct and transferable. Coach K on why values and standards separate leaders from commentators. How he built real relationships with Kobe and LeBron to get the best out of the US Men's Basketball team. Why being on time means being ready to start, no exceptions, not even for superstars.

Tom Brady on the three things every leader needs to balance: being loved, feared and respected. And the story of his horse that always came second, why great leaders show people what winning feels like before expecting it from them.

Plus how Warren Buffett maintains culture and accountability at a scale most people can't even imagine.

If you lead a team of two or two hundred, this one is worth your time.

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Matt and Corey are back after nearly a year off the air, and a lot has happened. New studio, business expansion into NSW, and a whole season ahead built around real stories from real people in the trades and RTO world.

In this opener they cover the rise of AI and what it actually means for tradespeople and career decisions, why doing your trade before university might be the smarter play, and how bringing Churchill Education into the group has opened up a genuine Recognition of Prior Learning pathway for people already deep in the industry.

There's also a sharp leadership conversation, Coach K on staying relevant as your team evolves around you, and a preview of what's coming in Season 3.

No guests this week. Just two people who've been building something, catching up honestly.

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This episode, we sit down with the powerhouse trio behind Future Lady Tradies - to unpack how three young women are reshaping the blue-collar landscape. From recruitment roots to building a national movement, FLT is all about supporting female apprentices, breaking down gender barriers, and building real change from the ground up.

We dive into:

• The origin story behind Build It Like A Tradie

• How a failed uni stint led to a bold mission

• The hustle of running events, getting kicked out of Bunnings, and delivering school programs with real impact

• What it’s like being young, underestimated, and ambitious

• The importance of mentorship and showing up authentically

📍Featured Guests:

Future Lady Tradies – Insta @futureladytradies
Linkedin

After a long hiatus, Corey and Matt return to the mic for Major Convos with their trademark mix of laughs, insights, and industry truths. From government contract chaos to personal milestones (hello, turning 40), the boys cover the year so far, unpack the human impact of sector changes, and share what’s ahead for Major Training and its newest venture, Churchill Education.

Also in this episode:

• Launch party highlights and hilarious mishaps

• Insights into the evolving apprenticeship landscape

• Racing laps, kitty litter spins, and the fastest lap controversy

• Why collaboration and laughter matter more than ever in training

This is the start of a fresh season—new guests, real stories, and plenty more to come. Let’s roll.