Built to last: What's your story?

Building Better Together isn’t just a tagline - it’s who we are. From day one, we’ve rolled up our sleeves, worked hard and shared plenty of laughs along the way. It’s a mindset that started with our Founder and Group Managing Director, Joe Bartolo, and continues to shape our journey today.

In our brand-new series, Built to last, Joe sits down with Olivia Bartolo, Chief People and Culture Officer, to reflect on how Symal has grown into the company it is today - one built on hard work, camaraderie, and opportunity. Through these conversations, we hear from leaders who have played a key role in shaping Symal and making it their own.

David Caserta, General Manager of Unyte, and Sandra Costanzo, General Counsel, share a light-hearted story about the time Joe recruited Dave straight off a site - literally catching him in action as a Site Engineer. Today, Dave leads one of our growing companies, proving that opportunity is everywhere at Symal.

Creating meaningful careers has always been at the core of what we do, and for Hayden Heta, Managing Director of Wamarra, this mission is close to his heart. Paired with Steve Cornish, Chief of Strategic Operations, Hayden discusses the journey in creating job opportunities for Aboriginal people and the impact that it has on communities that we work in.

Andrew Fairbairn, Executive Director of Governance, Risk & Pre-Construction, and Matthew Gurney, Executive General Manager, take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about Andrew’s very first day at Symal - laying a small footpath at a primary school in Altona. Their story is a reminder that big things often start from humble beginnings.

For Nabeel Sadaka, Chief Executive Officer, and Geoff Trumbull, Chief Financial Officer, joining Symal was a ‘no-brainer.’ It’s never just been about the work - it’s about the people, the camaraderie, and the shared journey we’re building together.

Ray Dando, Executive Director of Strategy, Growth & Delivery, looks back on Symal’s early days - a small team in Hoppers Crossing - growing into one of Australia’s largest self-performing construction companies.

Our growth has been driven by strong leadership, a supportive culture and a shared belief in pushing what’s possible. At Symal, we move forward together, achieving more than we ever imagined. With the best in the industry behind you, your role here can shape not just projects, but the future of construction.

Watch the first episode below and discover how our fearless leaders made it theirs.