From Defence to Training Excellence – Meet Tony Crilly
In this month’s Meet the TRG Team, we’re introducing Tony Crilly, our Safety, Quality and Training specialist whose career spans the Army, mining, training development, and executive leadership in the Defence sector. After years of working alongside TRG Directors Allan Campbell and Ethan Winterbourne, Tony joined the business to support the growing HSEQT function—and has already played a key role in major achievements, including TRG’s Registered Training Organisation (RTO) certification.
With a background in building training centres, developing systems, and driving quality through analytics, Tony brings structure, experience, and a personable leadership approach that aligns strongly with TRG’s culture. In this Q&A, he shares what motivates him, how his role continues to evolve, and why he sees TRG’s growth in training and certification as an exciting future chapter.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background before joining TRG?
Transitioned from the Army into a Training and Development role at Minara Resources, stayed within that skill for many years and completed work at Cape Preston and then to Otraco as the Training Manager. I was fortunate enough to create Otraco’s Training Centre during my time there.
I subsequently moved from the Resource Sector to the Defence Sector where I was a General Manager for a Defence Contractor. After approximately eight years as a Defence Contractor, the lure of retirement was too strong!
2. What led you to TRG? How did you get started here?
I had worked with the Directors Allan Campbell and Ethan Winterbourne at Otraco many years ago; we had kept in contact, and I was invited to support TRG in the HSEQT space.
3. What was your first impression of the company when you joined?
Having previously worked with Allan and Ethan and meeting the rest of the team, was a very positive experience. It was interesting to reconnect with many people I have worked with before, and I now feel very comfortable within an expanding group.
4. What does a typical day look like in your role?
Safety, Quality and Training, creating structure, efficiencies for the business and establishing solid foundation training systems. A key driver is the use of Quality Analytics to measure performance and success; key to that success is also a flexible and personable approach to any situation.
5. What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Having achieved the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Certification and now well on the way to establishing ISO45001 / 14001.
6. What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role, and how do you tackle it?
Limited time to achieve TRG’s Business Objectives as the company grows.
7. Has your role evolved over time? If so, how?
The role will evolve over time; however, that will be dependent on the business need. Personally, it is good to be back in the workforce and have targets to achieve.
8. What keeps you motivated in your role at TRG?
Flexibility and the ability to be autonomous in the role.
9. Is there a particular moment or achievement at TRG that you’re especially proud of?
The RTO certification and ISO additions
10. What’s one lesson you’ve learned while working at TRG that has stuck with you?
The personable approach that the business has, supportive and understanding.
11. What do you do personally to improve in your role and stay ahead in the industry?
Industry engagement with past contacts that I have reconnected with, also very good to catch up for coffee and understand current drivers within the industry.
12. Are there any skills or areas you’re working on developing further?
Always learning more IT skills
13. How does TRG support professional growth and development?
In the first instance, the ability to listen, question and make a sensible decision based on business and personnel benefit
14. What’s your favourite thing about working at TRG?
Friendship, support and flexibility.
15. How would you describe the company culture in three words?
Supportive, understanding and flexible
16. What do you think makes TRG stand out in the industry?
Engagement of staff and clients to achieve the best outcomes. People do business with people. TRG combines a professional and personable approach when working with clients.
17. Where do you see TRG heading in the next few years, and how do you see yourself contributing?
I would see growth across WA and other regions and industries in Australia.
18. What’s something exciting happening at TRG right now that you’re looking forward to?
The Training space, certification process as an RTO (remote learning) and the pathway for more ISO Standards.
19. What’s one thing people might not know about you outside of work?
Planning to ride a motorcycle from my second home in Thailand into Cambodia and Laos.
