WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 (22 – 27 September), the 48th WorldSkills Competition gathers more than 1,500 Competitors from 70 participating countries and regions from five continents, 64 skills, and attracts quarter of a million visitors. This year Campbell Brown and Jack Elvy will represent New Zealand at the event.
The idea of WorldSkills was born in the wake of the Second World War. Young skilled workers were in desperately short supply across Europe – and the continent needed rebuilding. Albert Vidal, a college instructor from Spain, conceived of an idea of a skills competition to motivate young people to become apprentices. It was the start of a long story that will be continued in Shanghai on 22 – 27 September 2026.
The WorldSkills Competition is the largest skilled career competition in the world. Participation at the WorldSkills Competition is the result of several years of intense technical physical and mental preparation worthy of the greatest athletes. A handful of categories accept competitors up to the age of 26 years, but for most skills, competitors must be under 24 years old.
Our competitors and their skills
Aircraft Maintenance – Jack Elvy
Jack Elvy, from Christchurch, is competing in Aircraft Maintenance. This Skills competition consists of five modules: helicopter inspection; composite panel repair; manufacturing of a bent and riveted aluminium part; troubleshooting and electrical harness replacement; and inspection/dismantling of a helicopter engine.
This year all the tasks have been created by companies in the industry: Airbus Helicopters, Bombardier, Dassault Aviation, and Safran Helicopter Engines.
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning – Campbell Brown
Competitors competing in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning build and commission a complete refrigeration system which will be left operating for visitors. Their modules include refrigeration system installation; electrical fault finding; heat exchanger fabrication; refrigeration fault finding.
The refrigeration and air conditioning industry has moved to refrigerant gases which are Ozone safe and have a low or zero global warming potential. The equipment’s energy efficiency is continually increasing due to the use of the latest technologies. The competition is supported by a number of major sponsors/suppliers including Danfoss, Fluke, Lincoln Electric, Refco, Climalife, Roebuck, and Le Froid Pecomark.
Our team
Campbell and Jack are supported by two skill experts, a technical delegate and official delegate. Our full team:
• Campbell Brown, Competitor (Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning)
• Jack Elvy, Competitor (Aircraft Maintenance)
• Jeroen, Skill expert (Aircraft Maintenance)
• Daniel Jordan, Skill expert (Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning)
• Mike Naus (Technical Delegate)
• Carl Rankin (Official Delegate)
The WorldSkills Conference 2026 runs alongside the WorldSkills global competition event. Conference presenters and attendees include some of the world’s most influential figures in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) including policy makers, Ministers representing skills and education, heads of industries, thought leaders from NGOs and experts in skill strategies. New Zealand will be represented in the various sessions and at the inaugural Skills CoLab.
Held every year since 2007, the WorldSkills Conference gives different voices in government, business, education, and industry the opportunity to gather, connect, and discuss trends, innovations and ideas around skills and vocational training worldwide.