Meet Ian Rowlands, Area Sales Manager, CE+T Australia
In our ongoing series, ‘Getting to know the faces behind CE+T Power’, we catch up with Ian Rowlands, CE+T’s Area Sales Manager for Australia.
Tell us about your background.
I grew up in Sydney, and from the time I was a little kid, I was fascinated with electricity. After I finished school, I travelled and studied electrical engineering. My first job was working for a company building audio equipment, and then I moved into sales. For the next few decades, I worked in numerous roles, primarily in electrical component sales. As the market matured in Australia, I had the opportunity to work with clients across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, mining, transport and electricity.
How did you come to start working with CE+T?
I was working for one of CE+T’s channel partners, and, as a result, I got to know the people at CE+T quite well. CE+T approached me in 2018 because they wanted to grow their business in Australia. They also knew Australia was going through an energy transformation, which represented a significant business opportunity for CE+T. In that respect, they knew I was someone who understood the market and where it was heading.
Describe your journey with CE+T
To begin with, I was working out of a home office. However, within a few months, things began to take off, and sales of CE+T products started growing year on year. I’m driven by the fact that I like winning and want to grow the business as much as possible. The best part is seeing the end results. Much of the work has involved problem-solving for businesses, and I’m proud to have been part of the CE+T team, which has put world-class power systems in place nationwide. It is satisfying to know that these solutions save our clients money every day and provide them with a reliable energy supply.
What are the challenges and opportunities in the Australian market?
The energy sector here is in a state of flux. The country is going through a significant transition involving renewables, the phase-out of fossil fuels and the potential introduction of a nuclear industry over the coming decade. No one knows exactly where that’s going to lead, but we do know that there is a lot of disruption and a significant risk of power shortages. That, of course, presents an opportunity for CE+T products and our channel partners when it comes to power continuity solutions. On the downside, Australia’s electrical standards continue to change, which is particularly challenging for quality component manufacturers looking to remain competitive and build volume in the market.
Outside of the office, what are you passionate about?
A few years ago, I picked up a bass guitar and taught myself to play it. Now, I take every opportunity to play, even when travelling. I jam at pubs and other locations regularly, meeting an amazing range of people. Playing the bass is a great outlet; it’s fun and keeps me sharp. My other pleasure is fixing old electronic equipment which would otherwise end up in landfill. There’s an incredible amount of vintage test equipment, which I would describe as ‘absolutely beautiful’ from an engineering perspective. On a rainy weekend, I love nothing better than tinkering away and bringing some of that equipment back to life!