Power Players winners meet business guru and embark on ‘Arctic Adventure’

The first winners of ECA’s Power Players initiative recently enjoyed lunch with business guru Sir John Parker, lead non-executive director for the Cabinet Office.

One of the winners also recently undertook the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) ‘Arctic Adventure’.

Sir John Parker provided invaluable insight and mentorship to Joseph Wu of T Clarke and Charlie Harwood of City Electrical Factors, drawing from his wealth of leadership and boardroom experience in industry, ranging from shipbuilding and mining to utilities, aerospace and central banking.

Joseph Wu, project manager at T Clarke, said:

“Meeting Sir John Parker was very inspiring. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet someone who has achieved so much in their career.”

In addition to the dinner, winner Charlie Harwood joined the EIC ‘Arctic Adventure’ in Kuusamo, Finland in March. Along with a team of volunteers, he took part in a week of sponsored cross-country skiing, husky sledding and snow shoeing to raise money for the Dickinson family.

Charlie Harwood, a branch manager of CEF, said:

“The trip to Finland was a life-changing experience that I will never forget. I met some amazing people and made some amazing memories. It was a tough challenge, but that was to be expected!”

“The initiative has provided us with amazing experiences so far, and I am extremely excited about our trip to the US later this year.”

Paul Reeve, Director of Business and Communications for ECA, said:

“I joined the team of volunteers on the Arctic Adventure. The positive approach and teamwork demonstrated by those who took part shows what makes these individuals shine in the business environment work. Our inaugural Power Players winners are real assets to our industry.”

“The ECA would like to thank Sir John Parker for his tremendous support for the inaugural award, and for taking the time to help mentor and inspire the next generation of industry leaders.”

Power Players, a first-of-its-kind, industry-wide initiative, was launched by leading electrotechnical and engineering services trade body ECA in late 2016, with the winners announced in September last year.

The initiative aims to recognise and promote the most talented individuals within the engineering services industry.

Later this year, both winners will be flown to Philadelphia, US, where the US National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is holding their annual conference in 2018. NECA has kindly agreed to host the two winners during the three-day event.

Power Players is held every two years, and the entry process for the 2019 initiative will be announced in due course.