Zinfra has partnered with Engineers Australia in a national push to reinvigorate the energy engineering workforce and prepare for the seismic scale-up required by Australia’s energy transition.
The infrastructure services provider will collaborate with the peak engineering body to create new career pathways, support technical upskilling and champion diversity across the sector. Through webinars, development opportunities and sector-wide engagement, Zinfra aims to support a generation of engineers ready to lead the shift to a cleaner but more complex energy system.
Zinfra Managing Director Peter Iancov FIEAust said partnerships like this are essential if the sector is to keep pace with change.
“The future of our energy sector lies in a skilled and diverse workforce, and a collaboration with Engineers Australia will ensure we can reach engineers across the nation,” Iancov said.
“This is about creating opportunities for engineers to thrive in the energy sector and address the skills gap, particularly in the renewable energy sector.”
“Through Engineers Australia’s extensive network of skilled professionals, we want to reach the next generation of engineers who can drive the future energy transition. There is ample opportunity for engineers to be at the forefront of a new and emerging energy network.”
Critical shortages across key roles
Iancov says the skills shortage is affecting multiple layers of the energy workforce, from graduate engineers through to specialist trades and experienced team leaders.
“There is currently a shortage across all core skill areas including project and construction managers, high voltage trades (linesmen, fitters, jointers), testing and commissioning technicians, and engineers with field experience,” he said.
“Projects rely on the right balance of these skills, and shortages can lead to delays, errors, and increased risk. It takes over four years to develop a competent tradesperson or engineer, and several more years in the field to reach autonomy.”
According to Iancov, the gap is sharpest in technical disciplines – electrical, mechanical, civil, and communications – but there’s also an urgent need for the leadership skills needed to lead teams, drive outcomes and own project delivery.
“Future gaps will widen as the industry scales rapidly to meet energy transition demands unless action is taken now to build both technical and leadership pipelines.”
A call for practical, hands-on learning
As part of the partnership, Zinfra and Engineers Australia will create opportunities for professional development through knowledge sharing, including through a series of webinars.
“This is about having important discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector and sharing insights on technologies and processes driving the industry forward.
“We are investing in the capability of Australia’s engineers through our apprentice, trainee and graduate programs with a focus on building a skilled, adaptable workforce supporting the communities they live and work in.”
It’s part of a push for stronger alignment between educators and industry that Iancov said is essential if Australia is to rise to its opportunities.
“We need better alignment between TAFEs, universities and the real-world needs of the energy infrastructure sector. Every state should have access to modern, purpose-built training centres where students and professionals can learn by doing – not just via online modules or theory.”
Demand an opportunity to right imbalances
Zinfra is also continuing to invest in gender equity across its workforce. In 2025, one in four of its apprentice cohort will be women – and half of its graduate engineers.
“This result wasn’t accidental – it came from deliberate changes in how we positioned engineering careers and told our story to early-career talent,” Iancov said.
“Strategically, we set a clear goal to create a more inclusive workforce. From there, we focused on building an environment where women feel welcome, supported, and valued. We shifted our messaging to highlight purpose, impact, and people – not just technical tasks. This helped counter the perception of engineering as male-dominated or unrelatable, and made it more appealing to a broader audience.
“In short, we were intentional not just in where we advertised, but in what we said, how we said it, and who said it. We’re proud of the outcome and committed to building on this momentum as we know there is still more to be done to foster lasting gender equity in the sector.”
Zinfra is also a silver sponsor of Engineers Australia’s International Women’s Day event series.
Whether you’re embarking on your career or seeking a new professional challenge, explore the rewarding opportunities available at zinfra.com.au and take the next step alongside industry leaders.
