Our Team

Ili Cava strives to capture the Australian dream since migrating to Australia in 1985. Commencing his career in the drilling industry in the late 80’s, Ili has appreciated the challenges and growth afforded to him through this dynamic and fast-paced profession. The trade has seen Ili travel the world applying and refining his skills across most continents including the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and America.

Ili enjoys challenging himself and has achieved the highest operational and corporate responsibilities within the Australian drilling industry. This experience provided the opportunity for Ili to be mentored and work alongside some of the best in the business. With the intimate knowledge of the drilling industry and business management Ili embarked on his next adventure realizing his dream of starting his own business.

In 2005 Ili and his wife Rachel established a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31440) the Australasian Drilling Institute Pty Ltd. In his previous role working for the largest drilling company in the world Ili knew firsthand the challenges faced by the industry sourcing trained and experienced workers.

Ili embarked on this ambitious business plan to establish the first privately owned RTO in the Australian drilling industry against advice from his peers. His journey has seen successes and failures that have served to strengthen his resolve in business and community service.

In 2016 Cyclone Winston brought Ili in contact with the Cairns Fiji Community Association FNQ (FCA FNQ) who at the time were trying to raise funds to help families back in Fiji. Ili was part of a team tasked with raising funds and sending much needed goods to Fiji for assistance. Ili was asked if he would join the committee at the end of that project which he happily accepted. 

In 2017 Ili saw an opportunity to give back to the community through a partnership between the FCA FNQ and his company to develop and run pre-industry drilling training. This program focuses on youth and underutilised people within the Cairns community to help them gain employment within the drilling mining sectors. 

The project was named ‘Our Youth Our Future” and is funded through the QLD Government, Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. These programs have been a success and delivered on its objective assisting people from our community start new careers within the drilling and mining sectors. The team’s effort was rewarded when the FCA FNQ was awarded 2-year contracts for both its Cairns and Townsville projects in 2019.

Ili was honoured to be given the responsibility to lead the community and be the President of the Fiji Community Association FNQ in 2018.