2011

Trade - Electrical

Our First Global Footprints Alumni Award Recipient

We are delighted to honour Dean Hunter, a 2011 Trade Scholar (Electrical), as the first recipient of the Global Footprints Alumni Award. For nearly 15 years, Dean has remained an active part of the Global Footprints community — sharing his scholarship experiences, mentoring new scholars, and reviewing countless applications. This year, he is also supporting a young apprentice to embark on their own Global Footprints Scholarship journey.

We sincerely appreciate Dean’s commitment and dedication to the program and the next generation of scholars. Congratulations on receiving the 2024 Global Footprints Alumni Award, Dean! We thank you for all that you do.

Scholar Profile

My name is Dean Hunter, and I am the proud owner of Bright Group Electrical, a Sydney-based business that I’ve been running for the past 10 years. In 2011, I had the incredible opportunity to be awarded a BBM Scholarship, an experience that fundamentally shaped my career and personal growth.

At the time of my apprenticeship in heavy industry, I was an ambitious young individual filled with passion but unsure of where to direct it. The industry culture I experienced was one where striving for excellence or leadership was often discouraged, creating a sharp divide between “workers” and “leaders.” Winning the BBM Scholarship changed everything for me.

As part of the scholarship, I traveled to the UK, where I discovered my potential as a leader. One defining moment came during a conversation with a course trainer, where I expressed my reluctance to pursue leadership because of the poor examples I had seen. His words shifted my perspective entirely: “What you have experienced is poor leadership. People love great leaders, and a leader isn’t always the person in charge.” That realisation sparked a journey of growth and learning to become the kind of leader who inspires and empowers others.

Since returning from the BBM Scholarship, I’ve held leadership roles in Steel Manufacturing and Mining, served as the national chief judge for WorldSkills Australia, and founded Bright Group Electrical. Currently my team includes 16 people, including three apprentices. I’m passionate about fostering a workplace culture that values collaboration, mentorship, and opportunity—qualities I wish I had encountered earlier in my career.

One of the proudest moments of my journey has been seeing one of my apprentices recently win the same BBM Scholarship. It’s a testament to the pathways we’re creating for young people to explore their potential and achieve more than they thought possible. I remain deeply committed to giving back to BBM by mentoring the next generation of talented youth, whose innovations will shape a more sustainable and forward-thinking future.

Sustainability has also become an integral part of our work at Bright Group Electrical. We’re increasingly focusing on practices that minimise environmental impact while delivering smarter, more efficient solutions for our clients. Supporting young, ambitious individuals through BBM ensures we’re contributing to a brighter and more sustainable future for everyone.

The opportunities provided by BBM are transformative, and I am forever grateful for the role they’ve played in my life and career. They ignite the potential in young people to drive positive change—and I’m honoured to be a part of that legacy.

In 2024, Dean Hunter received the inaugural Global Footprints Alumni Award, recognising Dean’s commitment to the organisation, the scholarship program and most importantly the scholars. Dean has been a volunteer mentor for many years, and in 2024 he joined our Employer Supported Scholarships pilot, putting forward and supporting his employee Jayden Jugovic.