A leading figure in Australia’s peak electrical industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has been awarded an Order of Australia in the 2013 Australia Day Honours List.

Gianfranco (Frank) Tomasi, who has served as both president and a board director of NECA Western Australia, received his award for significant service to business through leadership roles in the electrical contracting industry and in the community.

NECA’s National chief executive officer James Tinslay says, “Frank thoroughly deserves to be recognised for his service to the electrical contracting industry.

“Over the years not only has Frank built up an award winning multi-million dollar company but also he has found time to give back to the electrical contracting industry through the leadership roles he has performed for NECA WA and charitable works.”

Frank’s company Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has been a member of NECA since 1985. Frank was founder and chief executive of the company from 1978 to 2007, chairman from 2007 to 2011 and director since 2011.

Frank was also involved in the establishment of NECA’s training arm in WA: Electrical Group Training and the College of Electrical Training.

His company has secured NECA National and State Excellence Awards in various categories including Electrical Contractor of the Year, Occupational Health and Safety and Industrial.

In addition to his work in the electrical contracting industry Frank also took part in various philanthropic endeavours in the countries where his Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has subsidiaries including:

• connecting a remote village school in Tanzania to a secure power source; and
• complete electrical installation and equipment for a hospital in Ghana.