Patrick Killen
There was some fantastic talent put forward this year for this new award. However, Patrick Killen from Killen’s Smash Repair NSW was the standout for the judges.
It seems that it goes two ways for collision shop owning parents – their kids totally embrace the industry or they do something totally unrelated. Fortunately for the Killens, they nurtured a star.
Patrick, age 29, plays a significant role in repairing collision damage to vehicles. His background in avionics gave him a head start in the world of emerging automotive electrical and he’s taken on many of the new challenges faced when repairing advanced vehicles including EV/Hybrid.
He is increasingly more involved in estimating. Killen’s Smash Repairs operates in a rural geography (Armidale) and is highly exposed to a wide range of vehicle damage. Fully aluminium vehicles, major structural welding and chassis repairs are amongst the repair mix.
Patrick currently oversees communication with seven OEM accreditations and post trade training for employees. In the little spare time Patrick has he takes on a role of operating the tilt tray service and is often working at early and late hours of the day securing work for the company.
He has a dedication to the systems, processes and efficiencies in the shop and allocates much of his own time to improve the workshop’s facilities. Patrick is committed to the future of a thriving local business and invests time, money and energy in connecting with industry, upgrading his skills and preparing for the future.
Patrick played an important role in the implementation of OEM accreditations for the company. TESLA, Jaguar/ Land Rover, BYD and Ford EV required a significant amount of learning and preparation to onboard with their diagnostics and repair systems. Much of these actions take place outside of work and his father says he knows Patrick often goes to sleep thinking about how to improve the next step in relation to a task.
He has achieved an extremely high level of technical proficiency, and holds Platinum I-CAR individual as well as additional qualifications such as Tesla structural welding assessments. He is a qualified avionics engineer, a qualified automotive electrical technician, a supremely competent welder and fabricator as well as a beautiful human, says dad, Mike. When parents imagine a future where they hope only of success for their children, Patrick would be an exemplary candidate for young people to aspire to. Not only has he supported his father and mother in the running of a business but he communicates kindly with his colleagues and has a respectful attitude to brighten a rainy day.
Mike says: “Our industry is fortunate to have someone like Patrick who cares deeply about quality and dedication to the task. He proudly supports his trade talents and prioritises safety and quality when repairing customer vehicles. He is an emerging voice in the national autobody repair scene.
“Patrick is a perfect candidate for such an award as he is too humble to attract such attention. I believe he should be recognised not for the individual jobs he completes but rather for his overall dedication to the industry, the steps he has taken to better himself and others, as well as the unseen and unimaginable time he has sacrificed to the workshop.
“Patrick Killen is certainly an industry voice to listen for and engage with.”