From Apprentice to Global Solutions Engineer, Daniel Kelly Gives Back

Twelve years ago, Daniel Kelly was an apprentice studying a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Building Services with Box Hill Institute.

He is now a Solutions Engineer with Aritech, a leading provider of security and life-safety solutions, which is in the Carrier Fire and Security division of Carrier Global, a worldwide provider of sustainable building and refrigeration solutions, listed on the American Stock Exchange.

When Dan was completing his apprenticeship in electronic security, Box Hill Institute was the leading institution focussed on this area. Now, Dan wants to give back to Box Hill Institute, by engaging with today’s apprentices throughout their course and he has also donated a large volume of equipment for use in the course.

Dan said, "I am grateful to Box Hill Institute and Carrier for allowing this rewarding experience in my professional life. Much the same as the students of today, I sat in those seats where I began my journey. The opportunities for these students are endless.”

One of Dan’s most important memories from his time studying at Box Hill Institute was patching telephone lines into a Krone block, an experience he had not had as part of his apprenticeship. A few years later, that experience earned Dan a job in Darwin for a networking company. He said, "I then moved into the team leader and trained the apprentices within that company how to patch data. Without Box Hill Institute training, I wouldn't have had this skill set."

Today, Dan finds that there are even more hands-on opportunities than were available to him, although these have been impacted by restrictions around COVID-19. Dan said, "I am impressed by the training facility. In particular the wide range of products, which are on offer to learn."

The focus on this specialised field provides endless possibilities and the Box Hill Institute facilities attracts students to its security course.

Dan said the future of security is exciting, with the growth of technology and data, and particularly the Internet of Things and 5G. He believes electronic security is an industry that can take full advantage of what the future holds.

Dan uses his experience to guide today’s apprentices and said, "Opportunities are there for the brave who choose to take them."