ABOUT US
Affinity Electrical Technologies (AET) is a Canberra owned and operated electrical company located in Mitchell. We have been part of the business community since 1999, delivering exceptional electrical projects throughout the ACT and surrounding NSW.
The AET team consists of 35 service technicians – both licensed electricians and apprentices – who work alongside many local civil contractors as well as the ACT Government to deliver street lighting, traffic signal projects, as well as commercial and domestic services of any size.
AET has always focused on civil electrical works and we specialise not only on the installation but also the maintenance of external works.
Our fleet of more than 20 on-road servicing vehicles can regularly be seen on Canberra’s streets as they provide services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Lighting Up Canberra
- Established in 2000, with 20 years’ experience in the ACT
- ACT Government prequalified for works up to $5 million
- Secure Local Jobs Code certified
- 25 on-road servicing vehicles
- More than 30 qualified service technicians
- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Fully covered for Workers Compensation and Public Liability up to $20 million
- ACT and NSW electrical contractor licences for electrical works
- Blue Book accredited staff members
- Austel and Master Cablers licences for communication and data
With years of project management expertise, we are well planned, well drilled and confident in our ability to meet our client’s expectations across any size project.
Our team includes:
- project managers
- estimators
- electricians
- administrators
- draftspersons
- accounting staff
QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE MATTER
We listen to our clients and provide them with quality information so they can make informed decisions about the products they need. We aim to fully understand our client’s expectations and exceed them by providing high-value, efficient and professional electrical solutions.
OUR COMMITMENT
TO OUR STAFF AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
At AET, we believe the physical and mental wellbeing of our employees, and the people affected by our business activities, are our greatest responsibility. We consider the health and safety of our staff and the general public during all work performed.
The companies that form AET Group are committed to removing or reducing, as far as reasonably practical, workplace injury and illness. It is essential, and not negotiable, that staff members comply with:
- all relevant health and safety legislation
- company processes and procedures
- project-specific safety plans
Staff must also report all hazards or unsafe situations as soon as they arise.
View the AET Group work, health and safety policy
TO OUR CLIENTS
We are committed to listening to our clients. We aim to provide quality information so our clients can make informed decisions about the products and services they need. By fully understanding client expectations, AET aims to exceed them by providing value for money electrical solutions.
TO THE ENVIRONMENT
AET is committed to sustainable principles and practices. We aim to positively shape and benefit the environments in which we operate. We are committed to delivering all our services in an environmentally responsible manner.
AET signed a 3-year Environmental Protection Agreement with the ACT Government to highlight our commitment.
We are also aligned with Ecocycle for all our lamp and tube recycling. Ecocycle is Australasia’s state of the art licensed lighting and mercury recycler.
THE TEAM
Meet the Affinity Electrical Technologies team. Experts in commercial electrical solutions for Canberra and the surrounding region.
BRENDAN READ
DirectorBrendan is the founder of Affinity Electrical Technologies, a business he started at the age of 23, with one van and two staff members. More than 20 years later, AET Group has over 100 staff members and a fleet of 50 vehicles. Brendan’s industry experience has resulted in extensive knowledge and networks, as well as the ability to generate innovative solutions for electrical issues. Growing a business is not without…
KELVIN AUMONT
BUSINESS MANAGER/CFOKelvin joined AET in March 2013 as CFO following 11 years in senior financial and general management roles at UGL Services/DTZ. Kelvin is responsible for the commercial, financial and operation activities across the AET Group and has been involved in the growth and expansion of the AET Group through the integration of related companies Arrow FM, Arrow Projects and JRC Electrical. With a strong background in property services, facilities…
JEREMY KERNS
SITE SUPERVISORJeremy started with AET as a first-year apprentice back in 2007. Jeremy has a wide range of skills and knowledge across commercial electrical maintenance and installations. He specialises in fault finding for street/pedestrian and traffic lighting. Jeremy has provided extensive wiring and project management work for the National Multicultural Festival since 2009, Jeremy has delivered numerous armoured cable upgrades and…
George Dethridge
PROJECT MANAGERGeorge has worked in the electrical construction industry since 2017, achieving his qualification in 2021. George specialises in street, sport, and traffic lighting operations across Canberra and the surrounding region, George’s skill set also sees him managing some of the Capitals major civil electrical projects. George was identified early in his apprenticeship as having a great eye for detail and…
TERRY WILKINS
STOREMAN/FLEET MANAGERTerry started in March 2018 and immediately re-organised the warehouse to better accommodate the growing workloads of the various work groups. Terry is responsible for the mechanical maintenance of the fleet and ensures each vehicle is compliant with various work groups. Terry is responsible for the mechanical maintenance of the fleet and ensures each vehicle is compliant with various WH&S…
History
Brendan Read was only 23 years old when he founded Affinity Electrical Technologies in 1999. With an office set up from his home, one van, two staff and no contracts, Brendan worked tirelessly to achieve success. He landed his first major installation project in 2000 for the Bowral Ambulance Station.
Early years
Affinity relocated to a commercial space in O’Connor and proceeded to win contracts in various areas including Housing ACT. A strong work ethic, eye for detail and business acumen resulted in Brendan gathering many business associates and clients.
In the early days, AET completed works in and around Canberra with solid design and innovative solutions, including:
- 2002 – Bega Court landscape lights
- 2003 – Hobart Place
- 2004 – first street lighting contract
- 2006 – awarded the National Film and Sound Archive electrical contract
- 2007 – awarded the Spotless Defence contract
Established presence
The company grew from strength to strength, with the AET office relocating to its current location of 53 Grimwade Street in Mitchell in 2008.
A major office refurbishment was necessary in 2012 to accommodate additional administrative staff.
During this period of time, AET undertook major projects, including:
- 2010 – implemented an Advisory Board
- 2011 – awarded the national Australian Tax Office electrical contract
- 2010–2013 – awarded Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations, Department of Finance, and Parliament House electrical maintenance contracts
- 2013 – completed the Manuka Oval lighting towers in January
From humble beginnings, AET now employs about 60 people. Together, Brendan and his team continue to light up Canberra and the region.
AWARD-WINNING COMPANY
National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) – Energy Efficiency and Environment Award for Chifley Library (2014)
National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) – Commendation for Manuka Oval lighting (2013)
20 YEARS OF AFFINITY
Affinity Electrical Technologies has given me plenty of opportunities to meet people and work on some fantastic projects. It hasn’t all been easy, but it has been a challenge that I accepted 20 years ago and I haven’t shied away from that challenge since.
Canberra as a city has been really good to the Read family – not just me but my father and brothers have all owned businesses here – and we have been able to ride on the success that the city itself has produced.
AET has worked on many and varied contracts from ACT Government housing through to ANU Facility & Services. We have worked on roads, ovals, hospitals and even Telstra Tower, and continue to learn and appreciate the opportunities this city offers us today.
The electrical industry is fast-moving and unless you are willing to keep pace you fall behind pretty quickly, so if we are standing still we are actually going backwards. AET has made a few acquisitions along the way, the most notable being JRC in Wagga Wagga.
I have found that business is the same anywhere: you need good people pulling in the one direction then you can solve any problem facing your team.
Brendan Read, Director
HIGHLIGHTS
- Manuka Oval stadium lighting upgrade
- National Multicultural Festival lighting over several years of the event in the city
- City fairy lighting
- Duxton refurbishment
- Telstra Tower coloured lighting
- Shine Dome (Australian Academy of Science) lighting
CLIENT FEEDBACK
ACCREDITATION
As well as our continual focus on meeting timeframes, AET’s quality and safety systems support us to deliver only the best.
Staff competencies
All AET staff are provided with WHS training on commencement of their employment, with an emphasis on their obligations under legislation to provide and support a safe and healthy work environment.
AET values its employees and supports their professional development by providing relevant training across all levels of the company. As such, many of AET’s office-based employees and managers hold industry-specific competencies to support their management of onsite workers. Competencies held by office and management staff include (but are not limited to):
- Electrical Licence
- Work Safely at Height
- Asbestos Awareness
- First Aid
- Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials
- General Construction Induction (White Card)
ACT Government prequalification
AET has been granted ACT Government prequalification for works up to $2 million. To achieve the prequalification, AET was required to demonstrate technical and financial capacity to undertake works, as well as having appropriate management systems in place such as quality assurance, occupational health, safety and rehabilitation, environmental and industrial relations. We are currently applying for national prequalification.
Integrated Management System Certification
AET operations are governed by an Integrated Management System, which provides a formal, structured, and systematic framework for the management of WHS, quality, and environmental aspects of our operations. AET is committed to the continuous improvement of its management system and has achieved third-party certification to verify the system’s compliance with various legislative requirements.
AET is proud to confirm third-party management system certification to the following Australian standards:
- AS/NZS 4801:2001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
- AS/NZS ISO 9001:2016 – Quality Management Systems
- AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 – Environmental Management Systems
- AS/NZS ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (which will replace the superseded AS/NZS in early 2021)
AET trade staff (including electricians, electrical apprentices and trade assistants) also hold a wide range of competencies and/or qualifications to support their onsite work and ensure consistency in quality, safety, and environmental management. These include (but are not limited to):
- General Construction Induction (White Card)
- Asbestos Awareness
- Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials
- Electrical Licence
- High-Risk Work Licence; including Vehicle Loading Crane, Forklift, Elevated Working Platform >11m, Rigging)
- Elevated Work Platform <11m (Yellow Card)
- CPR and Low Voltage Rescue
- First Aid in an ESI Environment
- Traffic Management and Control, including Implement Traffic Control Plans and Traffic Controller
- Work Safely Near Live Electrical Apparatus
- Work Safely at Height
- Other specialty training as required
SYSTEMS GIVE ASSURANCE
- Fully covered for Workers Compensation and Public Liability up to $20 million.
- Accredited for compliance in Environmental Management Systems, Occupational Health, Quality Management Systems, Safety Management Systems, and Industrial Relations and Employment.
- Licensed with ACT and NSW electrical contractor licences for electrical works.
- Licensed with Austel and Master Cablers licences for communication and data.
- Secure Local Jobs Code certification.
- ACT Government prequalification for works up to $5 million.
- ACT Government accreditations such as SLIC and Working with Vulnerable People.