The Master Integrator Podcast

In the hot seat, with Paul Skelton

For this episode, Connected Magazine editor Sean Carroll takes the mic and puts Paul Skelton in the hot seat on his own show. Paul covers a lot of ground: how the podcast went from a couple of hundred listeners to tens of thousands, and why the taboo topics are the ones drawing the crowd. Where the apprenticeship sits and the push to have it open to students by early next year. The 11 August census and why your occupation has to read ‘smart home technology integrator’, word for word. The state of insurance, and why being insured as an electrician means you are not insured at all. The Integrator Advantage Program and the discounts alreadylanding for members. Plus the road: weeks of back-to-back travel, an unexpected soft spot for Albury, and a genuine call for help. If you have the time, the expertise, or just the willingness to put your hand up, particularly on the apprenticeship, this is the episode that tells you how. Visit masterintegrator.com.au. Take action * Census, 11 August. When you fill it out, your occupation must read ‘smart home technology integrator’. Those exact words. It is the single biggest thing you can do for the industry’s recognition this year. * Put your hand up. Instructors, content reviewers, people who can run a single session or sit on a panel — the apprenticeship needs you. One hour counts. Get in touch at masterintegrator.com.au. * Share it. If this episode gave you something, send it to one person in the industry who needs to hear it. This episode’s sponsors ADI Global This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by ADI Global, one of the industry’s leading distributors of security, audiovisual, and smart living products for professional integrators. With an extensive product range, expert technical support, and training programs built to develop real-world skills, ADI helps integrators specify with confidence and deliver with precision. It’s a trusted partner for integrators seeking depth of choice, reliable supply, and the backing to grow their business on every project. https://www.adiglobal.com [https://www.adiglobal.com] Sonance Blaze by Amber Technology This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Blaze by Sonance, delivering powerful, high-efficiency amplification engineered for modern commercial and residential systems. Designed for performance, reliability, and seamless integration, Blaze combines advanced DSP, flexible connectivity, and robust output to drive exceptional audio experiences. It’s a smart solution for integrators seeking precision control, scalability, and uncompromising sound in every installation. https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance [https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance] Kolosseum This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Kolosseum, an independent consultancy that produces construction-ready design documentation for technology integrators. Working entirely white-label and free of supplier relationships, Kolosseum resolves system architecture, control topology, and rack and cabling detail before a single cable is pulled. It’s a smart solution for integrators seeking rigorous, unambiguous documentation that protects project outcomes and lets installation teams execute with confidence. https://kolosseum.io [https://kolosseum.io] Connected Magazine This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Connected, the leading independent trade publication for the residential and commercial integration industry across Australia and New Zealand. Through its magazine, website, and ongoing industry coverage, Connected keeps integrators across the trends, products, and emerging opportunities shaping the profession. It’s an essential resource for integrators seeking unbiased, in-depth reporting and a trusted read on where the industry is heading. https://connectedmag.com.au [https://connectedmag.com.au] Follow the show Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and follow Master Integrator on LinkedIn. www.masterintegrator.com.au

Thinking in Systems: How Human-Centric Design Changes Everything with Peter Milojkovic

Most integration projects are built component by component. A screen here. A speaker there. A controller somewhere in the middle. And then, somewhere down the track, it stops working the way the client expected — and nobody can quite work out why. Peter Milojkovic has spent his career thinking about why that happens. As Director of Zennio Australia and Tecport, he sits at the intersection of electrical, AV, and building automation — and he has a very clear view on what separates the projects that hold up from the ones that don't. In this episode, we dig into systems thinking and human-centric design — two ideas that sound abstract until Peter makes them very concrete. We talk about what it actually looks like to design a system around the person who lives or works in it, why interoperability matters more than most integrators realise, and what the integrators who are thriving in 2026 have in common with the ones who are struggling. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever finished a job and wondered if there was a better way to have approached it from the start. WHAT WE COVER * Why component-by-component thinking creates problems that only show up later — and what systems thinking actually fixes * What human-centric design means in practice on a real project * How to talk to a client about system design without losing them in two minutes * Why interoperability is a commercial argument, not just a technical one * What skills integrators already have that translate directly into more sophisticated system delivery * Where Peter sees the integration industry heading — and what that means for the businesses operating in it today ABOUT THE GUEST Peter Milojkovic is the Director of Zennio Australia and Tecport. With deep experience spanning electrical, AV, and building automation, Peter works with integrators across Australia on system design, standards-based integration, and next-generation project delivery. EPISODE SPONSORS This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by ADI Global, Sonance (distributed by Amber Technology), and Kolosseum. This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Blaze by Sonance, delivering powerful, high-efficiency amplification engineered for modern commercial and residential systems. Designed for performance, reliability, and seamless integration, Blaze combines advanced DSP, flexible connectivity, and robust output to drive exceptional audio experiences. It’s a smart solution for integrators seeking precision control, scalability, and uncompromising sound in every installation. ⁠https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance⁠ [https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance] LINKS & RESOURCES * Zennio Australia — zennio.com.au * Tecport — tecport.com.au * Master Integrator — masterintegrator.com.au Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen

ADI Expo & Training Tour 2026 — Exhibitor Preview

This episode is a special preview of the ADI A/NZ Expo and Training Tour 2026 — the region's largest multi-day training and technology event for professional integrators. In place of our usual single-guest format, Paul sits down with exhibitors from across the Tour to find out what they're bringing, who should stop by, and what conversations they're hoping to have on the floor. Guests featured in this episode: * ADI * Control4 * Yeelight Pro & SmartLicht * Chowmain Software * CoolAutomation * Sonos * LEA Professional and SurgeX * Thor Technologies * Dendo Systems Paul also appears in his capacity with CEDIA with updates on the apprenticeship program and the new Integrator Advantage Program, plus a special offer for new members who sign up on-site at the Expo. And if you've been thinking about coming on the podcast — the Tour is your chance to come and talk to Paul in person. ADI Expo & Training Tour 2026 dates: * Adelaide — 5–6 May | Crowne Plaza Adelaide * Perth — 19–20 May | Residence on Langley Park * Brisbane — 2–3 June | Brisbane Marriott Hotel * Sydney — 16–17 June | Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park * Melbourne — 30 June–1 July | Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands * Auckland — 21–22 July | Four Points by Sheraton Auckland Expo entry is free. Training places are limited. Register: https://bit.ly/ADIGlobalExpo-EventbriteCollection-Link Training schedule: https://bit.ly/adiglobal-trainingschedule-email This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Blaze by Sonance, delivering powerful, high-efficiency amplification engineered for modern commercial and residential systems. Designed for performance, reliability, and seamless integration, Blaze combines advanced DSP, flexible connectivity, and robust output to drive exceptional audio experiences. It’s a smart solution for integrators seeking precision control, scalability, and uncompromising sound in every installation. https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance [https://ambertech.com.au/brands/blaze-by-sonance] More about ADI Global: https://bit.ly/adiglobal_apacThanks to our sponsors - ADI Global, Sonance by Amber Technology, Kolosseum, and Connected magazine.

Doing Good with AV - with Ian Morrish

What happens when an AV industry veteran watches a terminally ill child light up in front of a donated cinema system — and decides to do it again? In this episode of Master Integrator, host Paul Skelton sits down with Ian Morrish — founder of Together for Cinema and the driving force behind the new GivingBack.Tech platform — for a conversation about purpose, industry generosity, and what happens when you point the skills of our trade at something that really matters. Ian has spent 35 years in the AV industry — including long stints with CEDIA and the ISE show — and in 2009, he started something he didn't quite have a name for yet. Today, Together for Cinema has installed 58 fully donated cinema rooms across children's hospices, adult hospices, hospitalwards, and respite care centres in the UK, with a combined value of over £1.55 million. Every install. Every piece of gear. Donated. Every integrator. Volunteered. Now Ian is turning his attention to GivingBack.Tech — a new platform designed to redirect second-hand, discontinued, and B-stock AV equipment from industry warehouses to registered charities and community interest companies across the UK. Launching to beneficiaries in May 2025, it's a simple idea with enormous potential, and it's already attracting support from some of the biggest names in the business. This episode covers: * How Together for Cinema started with one phone call and a donated 35,000-pound system * The moment Ian knew he had to keep going — watching a little girl called Bethany watching SpongeBob SquarePants * How CEDIA integrators across the UK became the backbone of every install * What it's like emotionally to run an organisation operating inside children's hospices * The launch of GivingBack.Tech and why our industry has a landfill problem worth solving * Ian's succession plans for Together for Cinema — and why the mission will outlast him   Connect with Ian Morrish * Together for Cinema: www.togetherforcinema.com * GivingBack.Tech: www.givingback.tech Ian is open to conversations with anyone in the industry who wants to get involved — in the UK or beyond. Reach out via the websites above or contact Master Integrator.   This Episode is Proudly Supported By ADI Global Distribution One of the world's leading distributors of security, AV, and low-voltage products. Trusted by integrators across Australia, New Zealand, and globally. Visit: www.adiglobal.com  Sonance — Distributed by Amber Technology This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Sonance, delivering high-performance architectural audio that blends seamlessly into the built environment. From discreet small-aperture speakers, ideal for timber ceilings, to completely invisible solutions, Sonance empowers integrators and designers to achieve exceptional sound while preserving the visual integrity of every space. https://www.ambertech.com.au/sonance-small-aperture-series [https://www.ambertech.com.au/sonance-small-aperture-series]Kolosseum Specialists in high-performance home cinema, lighting and automation system design and documentation. Kolosseum partners with integrators to deliver world-class experiences for their clients. Visit: http://kolosseum.io   Connected Magazine The essential publication for the connected home and building technology industry in Australia. Stay current with the people, products, and projects shaping our industry. Visit: www.connectedmag.com.au   Subscribe to Master Integrator wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Paul Skelton on LinkedIn for industry news, industry updates, and new episode announcements. #MasterIntegrator #AVIndustry #TogetherForCinema#GivingBackTech #HomeAutomation #CustomInstall #AV

Service That Sells: Building Recurring Revenue and Happier Clients – with Sarah Bradsell

In this episode of Master Integrator, Paul Skelton is joined by Sarah Bradsell, Aftercare Manager at SMC, to explore how structured service and maintenance programs can transform integration businesses. Sarah shares her journey from reception desk to leading a 12-person aftercare team, and explains why aftercare must be designed, resourced, and sold with the same intent as projects. The conversation unpacks the realities of reactive vs proactive service, how to build service agreements that actually work, and why aftercare is fast becoming a competitive advantage for professional integrators. Topics covered include: * Why service is often undervalued in integration businesses * Reactive vs proactive aftercare * Building and pricing service contracts * Remote support and monitoring as force multipliers * Setting boundaries with clients * Documentation and reporting discipline * How aftercare drives upgrades and long-term revenue * Why service needs dedicated people and systems * Small steps integrators can take to get started Guest: Sarah Bradsell – Aftercare Manager, SMC Sponsors: * ADI Global [http://www.adiglobal.com] * Sonance, distributed by Amber Technology [https://www.ambertech.com.au/sonance-small-aperture-series] * Kolosseum [https://kolosseum.io] * Connected Magazine [ www.connectedmag.com.au] * CEDIA [http://cedia.org] This episode of Master Integrator is brought to you by Sonance, delivering high-performance architectural audio that blends seamlessly into the built environment. From discreet small-aperture speakers, ideal for timber ceilings, to completely invisible solutions, Sonance empowers integrators and designers to achieve exceptional sound while preserving the visual integrity. ⁠https://www.ambertech.com.au/sonance-small-aperture-series⁠ [https://www.ambertech.com.au/sonance-small-aperture-series] Contact: info@masterintegrator.com.au