Born and educated in the UK, Smith joined Kopex South Africa in 1994 as senior test technician, with responsibility for testing high-voltage overhead line protection relay schemes and transformers for use throughout the country’s national grid.

Appointed engineering manager at Kopex SA in 1997, he was responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the company’s power supply equipment including oil and dry type transformers, circuit breakers and underground mobile power centres.

In the last five years he concentrated on underground mobile transformer power centre sales and service.

He has relocated to Australia to bring expertise and experience to the local operation’s growing transformer division.

“Having someone with such extensive and practical experience heading up the transformer division is a real coup for the Australian operation,” Kopex Waratah general sales manager Craig Melville said.

“Philip Smith’s presence is a win for us and will be a win for our clients.”