Instructors
Jake Baranowski
Jake is a second generation Panel shop manager and has a passion for all things automotive with many years spent working and modifying cars. Motor sport is one of Jakes passions and he has been a rally instructor and driver for Extreme Driving from 2005-10. Jake has also completed a Business degree qualification and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and has been an I-CAR instructor since 2011. Jake has extensive experience in the Panel industry from everything panel to paint, quoting and assessment, Cycle times to new technology in the ever changing game. Always interested in automotive structure and repairability technologies, Jake is a supporter of dedicated training and transparency in the motor industry, where information flows especially as cars utilise smarter technologies and complex designs.
Paul Colangelo
My current role is the General Manager of Premier Panel Services, a family run business for over 37 years. We have manufacturer approval from BMW Australia which is now added to our current Lexus Approved Repairer accreditation. Being a family run business with our old house (now new office building) next door to the workshop, I have grown up and seen the workshop and automotive repair industry develop over the years. After finishing school, I completed a Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Management in Operations and Logistics. Since University I have worked in the automotive manufacturing industry experiencing and being part of the manufacturing process of both OEM and spare parts for such companies as Toyota, Holden, Ford and Mitsubishi. I enjoy the fast changing environment of the automotive repair industry, and the challenges of the new technologies present in vehicles today. I am also proud to announce that Premier Panel Services won the 2012 Paint and Panel SA Best Shop award. We are all very proud of our achievement.
Garry Maher
Over 40 years experience in the Automotive Repair Trade starting as a Panel Beater and then running the family business L&M SMASH REPAIRS at Seven Hills. I have travelled to Europe and the USA working with Car Bench, Migomag, Dataliner, Universal Bench and viewed Autorobot before it’s introduction into Australia. A short time later we became the Australian Distributor of Chief Automotive Equipment which was my first introduction to I-CAR. After a trip to the USA I completed a course in Paintless Dent Removal and have attended many automotive shows demonstrating both Chief and PDR. I completed Cert IV Business Management, along with a number of MTA and IAME courses and have attended regular seminars with Sikkens ACOAT and Debeer Quality First. We became a founding member of I-CAR soon as they arrived in Australia. We have also been a recommended Repairer for Subaru Australia since 2007 and we continue to train and proudly became one of the first Gold Class accredited repairers in NSW. Looking forward to slowing down running our business and letting my son Daniel take over which will allow me more time instructing for I-CAR.
Greg Nicoll
I have been involved in the automotive repair industry all my life. I began Panel Beating 1977, not long after completing my apprenticeship that business closed, I then moved to my family’s business as a third-generation panel beater where I worked for the next 17 years gaining a sound knowledge in Panel Beating, Spray Painting, Mechanical / Suspension, and Estimating. During this time, I was also involved in motor racing including maintaining and competing in my own off-road race buggy, scrutineer assistant for 5 years on Indy Cars at the Gold Coast races and service crew with Isuzu General Motors on the Around Australia Rally. In 1998 I switched to Insurance Assessing with AAMI and in 2012 progressed to my current role of Assessor Trainer and Technical Advisor with the Suncorp Group. I have been an I-CAR student since 2007 and became an instructor in 2019 primarily to assist in delivering I-CAR Courses to Suncorp assessors. I have Cert IV’s in both Vehicle Loss Assessing and Training and Assessment.
Matthew Perkins
Born and bred into the panel industry I am a second generation smash repairer who grew up repairing cars in the family business. I finished my panelbeating apprenticeship in 2001 receiving the MVRIC merit award for the top graduating apprentice in the state of NSW. After spending time in Europe I returned to Sydney in 2005 and completed my spray painting trade certificate as well as completing trainings in thermoplastic welding autorobot and business management. I currently own and run Carys Panelbeating in the Sydney suburb of Bondi and I have been involved with I-CAR since 2007 and enjoy the technical and professional aspect that it brings to the industry.
Peter Sullivan
I have had 30 + years’ experience working within the motor vehicle repair industry. Upon completing my panel beating apprenticeship, I continued to work through many different areas of motor vehicle repair before transitioning into the insurance side of the industry as a motor assessor. Having obtained my Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment I am now part of the Quality & Technical team at RACQ responsible for Technical advice, sourcing repair information and assessor training. Part of my responsibilities is the delivery of current vehicle technologies and procedures to our assessing workforce along with coordinating I-CAR training which has seen RACQ recently obtain Gold Class Insurer status. I-CAR provides the best possible platform for keeping our assessing workforce abreast of current vehicle technologies and repair procedures, giving our members the peace of mind that safe proper repairs are carried on their vehicle returning them to manufacture specifications.
Tony Tuohy
I started as a Panel Beater with the Govt Motor Garage (Glebe) back in 1981 and have remained in the Automotive industry since. After moving to gain more ‘heavy hit’ experience, I found myself building stretched vehicles with ‘Special Purpose Vehicles’ (Sydney). There I attained a Body Makers license & the position of Production Manager. That period included building stretched VN Calais ‘Royale’s for GMH to export and my introduction to working with higher strength steels (HSLA). When that work relocated to Tamworth, I started my current employ with AAMI/SUNCORP in 1993. Amongst many roles I spent seven years within the Investigation group which gave me insights into damage analysis working with experts in accident investigation. Working as an assessor also saw my Introduction to I-CAR along with my attaining a Certificate IV in Vehicle Loss Assessing. Since 2016 I have been in the role of Technical Assessing Trainer, attaining a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment shortly after. Accreditation with Thatcham later that year saw the focus on the delivery of AudaNet & Escribe training to Assessors & Repairers. I look forward to working with I-CAR to assist in delivering ongoing support to our repair industry.