PYROWORKSHOPS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate of the Graduate School of Management

Andrew Walsh AM is one of the most experienced and respected performing arts professionals in the world. With great theatrical sense, he has extensive experience creating, directing and managing large-scale events in Australia and throughout Asia, North America and Europe. In an extensive career that commenced in Melbourne in the late 1970s Andrew has been continuously employed in the arts. He has worked for major performing arts companies, toured with international stars and directed hundreds of productions and events. He was theatrical director for Australia Pavilions at three World Expos and has directed Sydney's Australia Day spectacular for fourteen years. He directed the London Millennium celebrations and in 2001 was the creative director for the widely acclaimed Centennial ceremony for Australia's Centenary of Federation. In 2003 Andrew was Director of Ceremonies for Rugby World Cup and conceived and directed the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and pre-match segments. He was Executive Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and most recently the Executive Producer and Creative Director of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2011 Athens Special Olympics. Andrew is an associate of the Graduate School of Management at the University of Technology, Sydney and a fellow of the Australian Centre for Event Management. He was awarded the Centenary Medal for contribution to Australian Society and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2006 Queen's birthday honours.

Avril has worked alongside Tom Smith for many years and is now largely responsible for the adjudication of the Plymouth Firework competition as well as assiting at many of the major events. Avril also acts as administrator of the British Pyrotechnists Association (BPA) Firers examinations

Dr Tom Smith graduated from Oxford with a First class degree in Chemistry and has worked in the explosives industry for over 35 years Dr Tom Smith was introduced to fireworks by his grandfather, Jack Blanch, who was at school with and subsequently worked with members of the Brock family around the early 1900s. Following his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Oxford, and a spell as a research chemist and computer lecturer, Tom took up a full time post as display manager with Kimbolton Fireworks in the UK during which time the company won several firework competitions and staged some of the largest displays seen in the UK to date. In 1998 Tom left to establish an independent explosives consultancy, Davas Ltd, working worldwide on events such as the London Millennium celebrations, the Athens Olympic Games and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games as well as acting as advisor to major firework displays and explosives companies around the World. Recent firework display projects include acting as consultant to the London and Hong Kong New Year's Eve celebrations.