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 – Business 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 and trainer for the company.

Gregg likes to keep a hands-on approach to the business, and his background enables him to deliver a variety of training programs when required, including Generic Mine Inductions through to Supervisor Programs and Trainer and Assessor programs. Gregg has qualifications in safety, training and mining and has a comprehensive knowledge of coal legislation and the National Coal Competency package, which he has developed numerous learning and assessment packages for, including competency mapping to ensure quality outcomes are achieved against the recognised standards.

Gregg's background, role and responsibilities within the company ensure that Sharp Training moves forward with the industry to supply a valuable service incorporating the combined knowledge and skill of the company.

Fay Ormonde – Compliance & Development Manager

Fay has worked in various roles within the VET sector. Her current role as Compliance and Development Manager enables her to utilise the wealth of knowledge she has gained in her previous roles as Training Consultant and an AQTF Auditor. Fay brings to our company her experience in registration and audit requirements in relation to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and the traineeship system. Fay has developed and implemented a stringent quality review process to ensure the products and services offered by our company deliver quality outcomes while meeting industry requirements. With the rapidly changing skills required by industry it is imperative that we work towards developing strategies that will make the training system more flexible and responsive to industry needs.

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.

Stephen Renwick – Trainer / Assessor

Stephen is one of our most diverse trainers and is able to deliver the majority of the competencies on our scope. Stephen is a trade qualified boilermaker with 16 years of experience in the mining industry. He has worked at both surface and underground mining operations ranging from maintenance work on draglines to operating underground machinery. With this vast background Stephen is able to deliver basic programs from Generic Inductions through to more advanced programs such as Supervisor and Trainer / Assessor programs. Additionally Stephen's experience and knowledge also extends to such areas as Confined Space, Working at Heights, First Aid / CPR, Low Voltage Rescue and numerous equipment competencies.

Mark Rowland – Trainer / Assessor

Mark has a broad range of coal mining experience which includes both surface and underground mining operations. Through his career Mark has operated an array of plant and equipment which places Mark as our senior content expert and trainer for plant and equipment based training and RPLs. Complementing this knowledge and skill of hands-on operation at the coal face, Mark also delivers a range of training programs including the Generic Mine Induction Program, Lifting, Dogging, Non Slew Crane, Forklift and Elevating Work Platform, and can conduct RPLs for many coal competencies from Light Vehicle through to Haul Truck, Excavator and most heavy equipment in between.

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.

Geoff Fitzsimmons – Trainer / Assessor

With a vast underground mining career that spans 38 years, Geoff first entered the industry as an apprentice fitter / machinist and moved on to mining and gained his Deputies qualification in the mid 1970s. Since this time Geoff has worked at several underground mines as a Deputy and has been involved in all aspects of underground mining including pillar extraction, roadway development, secondary support / fall recovery and longwall mining.

Complementing this diverse mining career, Geoff has experience with the rural fire brigade and more currently as a training officer and skipper for the Volunteer Marine Rescue Service. Geoff has been with Sharp Training for a couple of years as a casual trainer delivering the Generic Mine Induction program.

Phil Wheatley – Trainer / Assessor

Phil's unique skill set enables him to provide statutory level training for our Certificate IV Underground Mining (ERZ Controller) program. With a broad mining career spanning nearly 40 years within the New South Wales and Queensland coal fields, Phil brings an experience and skill base to Sharp Training that ranges from Supervisory to Statutory positions including Surveying, Miner, Deputy, Undermanager, Safety / Training Coordinator, Longwall, Development and Production Superintendent roles at various mines.