01-12-2025
News
On 26 November 2025 AGA marked a truly historic milestone as we celebrated our 100 year anniversary at Crown Melbourne. The evening brought together a remarkable gathering of our members, international colleagues, government regulators and leaders from across the gas and energy industries who all came to share in this once in a century occasion.
The formal proceedings commenced with a welcome from AGA’s Chairman, Mr Chris Devlin, who acknowledged the organisations, partners and representatives who have shaped AGA’s journey over the past century. His opening remarks set the tone for a night that honoured our past, recognised our present and looked to a strong and collaborative future.
AGA’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Bill Tabourlos, delivered a presentation reflecting on AGA’s evolution since 1925 and the many milestones that have defined our role in advancing safety, certification and industry standards. Bill also unveiled AGA’s refreshed brand identity, including our new logo which symbolises AGA’s forward direction and commitment to supporting a diverse, innovative and resilient energy future.
The evening was expertly guided by MC James O’Loghlin, whose warmth and humour created a welcoming atmosphere and ensured a seamless flow throughout the night.
We were honoured to welcome an exceptional group of guests who travelled from across Australia and abroad to join us for this milestone celebration. Among those in attendance were Mr Bahk, President of the Korean Gas Safety Corporation and Mr Shoda, Director of the Japan Gas Appliance Inspection Association, along with Dr Alan Finkel, former Chief Scientist of Australia. We were also pleased to host senior representatives from CSA Group and ATI.
The evening also included members and representatives from Energy Networks Australia, Standards Australia and JAS ANZ, together with Mr Jordan McCollum, Chief Executive of Gas Energy Australia. We were further joined by state government regulators and leaders from a wide range of Australian and international industry bodies. Their presence was a strong reflection of AGA’s long standing partnerships and the respect shared across our industry.
Alongside our partners and dignitaries, we were delighted to welcome a strong showing of AGA members, representing organisations whose involvement spans several generations. Their attendance highlighted the depth of our community and the shared commitment to safety and excellence that has guided AGA over the past century.
A standout moment of the evening was the presentation of commemorative plaques to members from across the decades. Each plaque, personally presented by Bill Tabourlos, acknowledged the invaluable contribution our members have made to AGA’s story.
Two major honours were awarded on the night. Mr Chris Devlin, Chairman of the Board, and Mr Chris Wealthy, Director on the Board, were each presented with an AGA Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of their outstanding leadership, service and long standing dedication to the organisation.
The Centenary Celebration was not only a reflection of AGA’s heritage but also a clear demonstration of the unity and strength of our industry. It was a memorable evening filled with pride, gratitude and optimism for the years ahead.
As we look forward to the next 100 years and we remain committed to supporting industry innovation, maintaining world class safety standards and continuing to serve the Australian community with excellence.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this extraordinary milestone.
AGA’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Bill Tabourlos, has been appointed as a Director on the Standards Australia Board. Bill has over 20 years of experience in standards development and technical committees, and he brings a strong understanding of safety, certification processes and national regulatory frameworks. Bill’s background will support the Board’s work in maintaining robust, transparent and contemporary Australian Standards.
Standards Australia plays an important role in shaping the frameworks that underpin quality, safety and performance across multiple sectors. The Board oversees the organisation’s strategic direction, governance and engagement with industry, government and the broader community.
Bill’s appointment reflects the continued importance of having diverse industry perspectives represented at the leadership level. His contribution will form part of a broader collective of experts working to ensure Australia’s standards remain relevant, future focused and aligned with international best practice.
Congratulations to Bill on this appointment, which will support ongoing collaboration within the standards community.
AGA recently took part in the 2025 Electrical, Gas and Plumbing Inspectors’ Conference held in Perth and hosted by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (DLGIRS). The event brought together regulators, technical experts and industry representatives to discuss developments shaping Australia’s gas and energy landscape.
AGA’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Bill Tabourlos, delivered a detailed presentation focusing on Type A gas appliance certification. He outlined how certification frameworks have developed over time, highlighting the technical principles and regulatory foundations that ensure appliances meet established safety and performance requirements.
Bill also spoke about the way these frameworks are continuing to evolve in response to emerging technologies. He noted the increasing relevance of hydrogen and renewable gases and discussed the work underway to ensure certification processes remain clear, consistent and capable of supporting future appliance designs and energy pathways.
The conference featured a strong line up of speakers.
* Mr Adam Crowle, Chief Plumbing and Gas Inspector at DLGIRS, provided an overview of current regulatory priorities and compliance expectations.
* Mr Jim Richardson from ATCO Gas Australia spoke about the organisation’s ongoing transition toward lower carbon energy sources.
* Ms Anitha Gandhi, Principal Engineer – Gas at DLGIRS, discussed Western Australia’s developing regulatory pathway for biogas installations.
AGA acknowledges the Department for hosting a well organised and insightful conference and extends appreciation to all contributors who continue to support improved safety, knowledge sharing and innovation within the sector.
AGA was pleased to participate in the recent Gas and WaterMark Standards Update organised by the National Association of Food Equipment Suppliers (NAFES). The session brought together manufacturers, certifiers and industry stakeholders for a detailed discussion on current standards, regulatory expectations and emerging technical considerations across both the Gas and WaterMark sectors.
AGA’s General Manager, Certification, Mr Don Duan, delivered an informative overview of the WaterMark Scheme, outlining key requirements, recent updates and the pathway for maintaining compliance under the national framework. His presentation contributed to a broader discussion on consistency, transparency and the importance of maintaining high standards across industry.
Attendees also heard from Mr Wes Zabielski of the Moffat Group and Mr Paul Baini from Comcater, both of whom provided valuable perspectives from the manufacturing and commercial appliance sectors. Their insights supported a well rounded understanding of how standards continue to evolve in practice.
The session was moderated by NAFES President, Mr Tony Stoddart, who guided the discussion and ensured strong engagement throughout the webinar.
AGA extends its thanks to NAFES for facilitating a well structured and informative event and to all presenters and participants for contributing to the ongoing exchange of knowledge across the industry.
As a reminder:
AS 3645: 2025 (Essential requirements for gas equipment) was published on 15 August 2025.