Gemma Rose would like you to know there are lots of different ways to be an electrician.
Gemma, 28, is a Power Technician with Empowered Technical Services in Waikato, where she’s been for the past two years working in high-voltage (HV) and Medium Voltage (MV) substations. Gemma has completed the NZ Certificate Electrical Supply – Power Technician (L5) through Connexis and, in 2025, was named Advanced Trainee of the Year in the Connexis Energy Trainee Excellence Awards.
Gemma, who entered the electricity supply industry (ESI) as an apprentice electrician, says she never turned back once she discovered how much she loved the work in substations.
“Once I was there I saw a lot of opportunities to further my training. The learning never actually stops.”
That work includes tasks such as relay protection, acceptance, functional, primary and secondary injection testing of high voltage (HV) assets such as circuit breakers, current transformers (CTs), voltage transformers (VTs), and power transformers, ensuring that all equipment meets strict industry standards prior to energisation.
Gemma is particularly passionate about making sure people know there is more to a career as an electrician than working on residential, commercial or industrial buildings.
“There is a general shortage of workers in the supply industry, and people just don’t know there’s this whole flipside to the industry with lots of other avenues you can go down like working in the medium voltage and high voltage sectors.
“I just happened to fall into it, and now I’m never leaving!”
Gemma says the biggest hurdle to completing her level 5 qualification was balancing work, which often requires her to be away, with completing her training, as well as her love of sports and finding time for friends and family.
“Your level 5 Power Technician qualification comes with a big portfolio of work you have to complete, which is difficult to stay on top of at times. It comes down to carefully managing your time, and having good communication with my bosses at work and my sports teams to fit it all in.”
Her biggest piece of advice for others completing the course is to be diligent about keeping a written diary of everything they are doing as part of their job, as they do it. “Even if you do it monthly rather than weekly. The course requires you to have an annual work record, and it’s really hard to think back over the year at the end of it, and remember what you’ve done.
“It might seem frustrating and hard to find the time to do it, but you’ll be grateful you did.”
Has Gemma’s story inspired you to check out a career in infrastructure? Girls with Hi-Vis is running across the country this month, find out more and register your interest in attending here
Find out more about our Connexis Energy qualifications, developed with industry to help our people skill up and achieve nationally recognised qualifications here