This year, Clipsal and Schneider Electric Partner Business vice president David Gardner is celebrating 20 years of working at the company.

David has been in his new role at Schneider Electric Partner Business since November last year and in that time he has been a steady, guiding hand through this evolution. The restructure in 2012 united the two businesses, creating the Partner Business. He was tasked with the responsibility to drive the business’ growth across the region, ensuring that the two brands work in union to complement each other’s strengths. David’s role further expands his responsibilities in educating electrical contractors on the changing energy management landscape.

“The one thing that we have worked hard at not compromising with the new Partner business is our brands. Clipsal is an iconic Australian brand and a significant brand of Schneider Electric in the Australian market, and this union with the Power business will help to continue to strengthen its offer in this market throughout the remainder of 2013 and beyond,” David says.

David began his trade career as an instrument fitter and worked predominantly in industrial settings. He then moved into the area of business development before taking a travel break. On return in 1993, he joined Schneider Electric and became the national product manager for Low Voltage Products in 1995. David worked his way up the corporate ladder, becoming the Queensland State sales manager in 1997, and then general manager of sales in 2000. In 2004, he looked after Schneider Electric’s interests in the New Zealand market and he was later appointed as country president of New Zealand in 2007. In 2011, David returned to Australia when he took on the role of vice president of the Power Business. This was an important role where he was able to play to his strengths in the energy management industry. As such, David was a natural fit for his next venture as vice president of the newly formed Partner Business.

As part of his role and wider responsibilities, David has worked hard in ensuring employees across the Partner Business have a clear understanding of the changing market and how this can be successfully communicated to their electrical contractor customers.

“My job is to create an environment where people can succeed,” David says.

“Our employees turn up every day, and want to do a good job and go home happy. It’s my obligation to understand the strength and value that they, as an individual, can bring. Those little bits of difference and diversity can add up to an enormous success for the business.”

One of the first programs which David has overseen in his new role is the EcoXpert program. This is an exclusive partnership for electrical contractors who focus on small to mid-size buildings, including the lighting industry sites and high-end homes. The EcoXpert program was launched at the end of last year and over 55 contractors are already enrolled in the program, which to date has been well received.

“The program is a perfect example of where the two brands, and their customers, converge,” David says.

“It is probably one of the most exciting things I have seen offered in the electrical contractor space. With the electrical industry under more scrutiny and pressure to operate efficiently in the future, the program is a critical element in training contractors on the new technologies available that help adhere to the shift towards energy efficiency and energy management.”

“An example of a new technology entering the market is Schneider Electric’s upcoming release of Acti 9. This is the first complete high performance modular system to integrate seamlessly with any energy monitoring and control system. The growth of new technologies and competencies will deliver energy-efficient and renewable solutions for end-users, backed up by the guarantee of Schneider Electric.”

Whether it be in the residential, commercial or industrial markets, efficiency, innovation and growth have all become critical elements that electrical contractors need to consider.

David adds, “We are in a fast changing market and we must all embrace change and be prepared to look at the way we can do things differently. Energy efficiency is a fast growing sector of the market and represents untapped opportunities. The Partner Business will continue to work with contractors to unlock these opportunities. Energy efficiency is here to stay and the value proposition for electrical contractors is to talk to customers differently, walk through their premises and determine what they can save.”

The ever changing future is likely to see developments in globalisation, commoditisation and also digitisation which will have an impact on the markets electrical contractors, vendors and customers operate in.

“My role working across the Partner Business has been to prepare for the future we have ahead of us and I will continue to do so. It is the customers electrical contractors work with that need to embrace this change in energy management across their business. Now is a critical time to educate and learn how this can be achieved and the benefits it will bring in the short term and long term.”