The Team

Meet our team of qualified and experienced trainers.

Peter Sharp – CEO / Principal Trainer

Peter Sharp, Director and Principal Trainer of Sharp Training, started the company in 2001 after recognising the industry need for a training provider with relevant industry experience and skills.

Peter (known as Sharpy) has 40 years of mining industry experience across various roles. A third generation coal miner, Sharpy started as a 15-year-old underground cadet miner and continually developed his career from Machineman Miner, Deputy, Training Coordinator, Production Superintendent and was appointed as a registered Mine Manager. Sharpy has also been involved with surface mining operations throughout his career in roles such as Operator, Open Cut Examiner and Shot Firer.

Sharpy's training involvement within the mining industry has been integral to the development and improvement of training for the industry with contributions on such major projects as the National Coal Standard. He was a member of the Queensland Training Task Force that worked on the development of the Competency Unit Learning Packages (CULPs) for the black coal industry and also a member of the Course Development Advisory Committee for the Generic Induction Program.

Sharpy's involvement at all levels within the mining and training industry will ensure Sharp Training continues to deliver quality training programs incorporating current industry knowledge and best practice.

Gregg Jones – General Manager

Gregg Jones has a strong safety and training background within the mining industry, including working at the face as an underground coal miner initially and further developing his knowledge and skill over the past 18 years. Gregg has held various roles, including mining, technical services, control room, supervisory and management positions, enabling him to be a diversified manager.

Gregg has qualifications in safety, training and mining and has a comprehensive working knowledge of coal legislation and appropriate training packages and competency units.

With this grounded background, Gregg's role and responsibilities as General Manager will ensure that Sharp Training moves forward with the industry to supply a valuable service incorporating the combined knowledge and skill of the company.

Barry Jones – Trainer / Assessor

Barry started his mining career as a fourth generation miner in the New South Wales underground coal fields as an apprentice fitter in 1959. Through his time in New South Wales, Barry has worked as a fitter, miner driver and mechanical supervisor at various mines working traditional mining methods. Barry moved to Queelnsland in the mid eighties working as a fitter, and was soon promoted to shift engineer and surface supervisor. While working in these roles Barry gained further experience with roadway development and longwall mining methods, including longwall relocation / salvage and associated equipment. It was during this time that Barry first became involved with training and assessing.

From 2001 Barry was employed with various contracting companies as Mechanical and Mining Supervisor on Roadway Development and Longwall Relocation / Installation and Salvage projects. Barry is currently the longest serving employee of Sharp Training and has worked for the company on a casual basis since 2005. He brings a vast background in Mining and Training (some 40 years) to our company and clients alike.

Glenn Coppo – Trainer / Assessor

Since starting in the coal mining industry Glenn has developed his career from underground miner, mine deputy, undermanager through to safety and training management roles. Glenn has 20 years of experience in the mining and training industry, and during this time he has worked for various mining companies, contractor companies and training organisations.

Glenn has an extensive background in mines rescue which spans 11 years and includes competing at an Australian level. This mining, rescue and training background enables Glenn to deliver a range of programs from Generic Mine Induction, Supervisor Programs, Trainer / Assessor through to Confined Space, Heights, Breathing Apparatus, Lifting, Dogging and machinery competencies such as Elevating Work Platform and Forklift.

Kevin Notting – Trainer / Assessor

Kevin has been training and assessing mining and heavy industry personnel fulltime since 2007. He has drawn on his previous 15 years of underground mining experience to pass on the required skills and knowledge for people to safely fulfil their roles. Through his positions as both contractor and permanent employee with companies throughout the Bowen Basin and New South Wales, he has gained experience operating a wide range of equipment in many different facets of underground mining from roof support, fault drivage, and belt installations to miner driver co-ordinating face activities in a panel.

Kevin's years of hands-on mine site training and assessing on machinery has transferred well to the environment of a progressive RTO.

Brett Gumm – Trainer / Assessor

Brett Gumm has worked in the mining industry since 1986 in both opencut and underground mining and maintenance operations. Qualified as a Heavy Equipment Diesel Fitter maintaining mobile plant, drills and draglines, construction of maintenance of preparation plant and member of mines rescue team.

Has worked in many roles including operator, fitter, trainer and assessor, shift supervisor and control room operator working with deputies (ERZ controller) and management to maintain a high work/safety standard.

Apart from the mining industry, Brett is also involved as an Auxiliary fireman with Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, trained in road accident rescue, fire fighting and senior first aid.

Lance Beard – Trainer / Assessor

Lance is an experienced underground miner and began working in the mining industry in 2005. He began his career in low seam coal mining and has experience with ventilation control devices (VCD's) and the operation of specialised low seam mining equipment.

From here Lance moved on to various underground mines within the Bowen Basin and Hunter Valley regions, working with a specialist ventilation company with a range of work which included VCD's, goaf seals, final seal-ups and outbye work such as infrastructure, supplies, panel extensions, emergency response including cavity filling and specialised ground consolidation.

Lance has experience working as a crew Supervisor on secondary support and ventilation work.

Elliott Brunker – Trainer / Assessor

With experience in underground mining, mining recruitment, and the last 3 years training for a Registered Training Organisation, Elliott has a sound understanding of industry requirements.

During his underground employment, Elliott's duties varied from out-bye services such as roadworks, panel extensions, secondary support and building stoppings to all tasks associated with development drivage, spanning 6 years contracted to various companies throughout the Bowen Basin.

Michael Odger – Trainer / Assessor

Michael has worked in open-cut mining for the past 5 years as a heavy diesel fitter, leading hand, supervisor and trainer/assessor.

Prior to his mining career, Michael owned a mobile mechanic business for 11 years before moving to Mackay and commencing with Sharp Training in March 2011.

Colin Carvolth – Trainer / Assessor

Colin has extensive experience in the sugar industry, achieving his trade as a boilermaker in 1991. He has 7½ years experience working in the coal industry with various contracting companies in the Bowen Basin covering site procedures and inductions.

As a leading hand for a major local engineering company for 2 years, Colin was responsible for implementing company policies and procedures relating to coal mine contracts.

More recently, Colin was a TAFE Tutor/Teacher for 7½ years, developing courses and materials, scheduling classes, developing and scheduling apprentices, and holding a Quality Assurance Officer’s role maintaining compliance for programs.

Paul Johnson – Trainer / Assessor

Paul Johnson has 30 years of experience in the coal mining industry, including 12 years underground and 18 years open-cut. He is a qualified diesel fitter, OHS representative and has vast mines rescue experience.

Paul moved into the training industry full time in 2007 and with his vast experience is able to train and assess a huge range of machinery, first aid, confined space, fire training and low voltage rescue to name a few.