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A Commitment to Change and Excellence

Jessica Evans has been Taylor’s Client Relationship Manager for three years. During this time, she has been a passionate leader in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants and internally with the broader Taylor Team. This has been evident in her ability to nurture and strengthen industry connections. This appointment works in tandem with her role at Taylor, where she supports the business in building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships.

Jess brings a wealth of experience and passion to NAWIC, where she has been instrumental in driving strategic changes and fostering key stakeholder engagement within the property and construction sectors. Her efforts have been centered around advocating for meaningful change, connecting with organisations to support this mission, and engaging at a national level to develop strategies to improve the industry and its people.

This appointment is a testament to Jess’s dedication and aligns with NAWIC’s mission to support and empower women from diverse backgrounds and career stages in construction.

Kicking off the summer season in style, the Taylor team recently enjoyed a relaxed, laid-back afternoon with colleagues and their families at Centennial Homestead for our Annual Christmas Party.

The event catered to all ages, with our priority being to create an environment where every team member, regardless of age or family responsibilities, felt welcomed and actively involved. It is a legacy event for Taylor and one that holds a special place in our company’s culture as an opportunity to meet the extended members of our Taylor family.

The day was filled with laughter and bonding among colleagues. With cocktail pop-up bars serving Aperol Spritz and Margaritas, employees had the chance to unwind and mingle in a casual atmosphere. To add to the vibrant setting, there was an array of activities for all ages! Kids enjoyed face painting, a glitter bar, decorating baubles and playing sports with Spiderman and Wonder Woman. The petting zoo and reptile show were popular amongst both adults and children. The tug-of-war was also a big hit (especially for the big kids!), with some friendly competition amongst the team. In true Taylor tradition, Santa joined us for the event, taking photos with families and gifting the children with presents.

Taylor is pleased to celebrate Scott Dobson reaching his 10 years of service. A diligent, organised and highly regarded industry figure, Scott has certainly made his mark not only at Taylor, but also on several iconic Sydney projects spanning across a variety of sectors. Primarily working in our Refurbishment & Live Environments division, Scott played an instrumental role in the delivery of Marriott Hotel Circular Quay and NSW Children’s Court, through to the Powerhouse Museums Discovery Centre, and more recently, Rosebery Engine Yards and The Scots College.  

Scott exhibits a commendable ability to manage expectations and build trusting relationships with a large cohort of our clients and key industry partners. His profound understanding of contracts and financial management has cemented his reputation as a reliable and accomplished Senior Contract Administrator at Taylor and within the industry.  

Beyond project delivery, Scott is one of our cultural leads and fundraising champions who is passionate about giving back to the community. In recent years he has independently raised over $20,000 for our charity partners, leading by example and setting a solid foundation for our broader team to build upon. His exceptional efforts have been recognised multiple times, consecutively leading the charts as the ‘Top Individual Fundraiser’ for the Property Industry Foundation’s (PIF) SleepOut in 2022 and 2023. Scott has also been paramount in driving our fundraising success for our Charity Golf Days and PIF Hard Hat Day BBQs and remains an influential advocate in this space.

Taylor and Scape Australia recently joined special guests to celebrate the topping out of Scape Kingsford, marking the completion of the project’s highest structural point.

The Topping Out Ceremony was led by Project Director, Peter Yamin, who welcomed guests and commenced formalities with a Welcome to Country. Philip Bermingham, General Manager – Major Projects, acknowledged the collaborative efforts responsible for reaching this milestone, followed by Tim Peel, Chief Financial Officer of Scape, thanking Taylor’s delivery team and other key stakeholders for their dedication and contributions.

Keeping with tradition, a tree was placed on top of the 18-storey building as a symbol of good luck for future occupants. Following formalities, a site tour was provided to guests to appreciate the impressive milestones achieved.

In support of the UN Women’s Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign, Taylor joined the Property Council of Australia and Champions of Change Coalition as they hosted a panel discussion over lunch.

The industry-wide event addressed the impacts of domestic and family violence in our workplaces and society, and provided valuable insights into the collective actions we can take to contribute towards a safer and more equitable industry. Australia’s Minister for Social Services, Hon Amanda Rishworth MP provided a keynote address followed by a panel discussion moderated by Elizabeth Broderick AO, Founder of the Champions of Change Coalition.

As the nation’s largest employer, the property sector plays a vital role in investing in gender-based violence prevention. It is crucial to understand how organisations can support their staff and incorporate gender equality conversations in their workplaces.

Congratulations to our Gordon Quarter project team for being awarded the National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award– Retirement Villages at the Master Builders Association Excellence in Building and Construction Awards 2023.

Working closely with Anglicare and Allen Jack+Cottier Architects, Taylor brought this state-of-the-art development to life. The redevelopment includes 40 new independent living units, a brand-new 107 Roden Cutler Lodge residential aged care home, and the Burnham Thorpe Heritage Conversion to new living apartments and community spaces.

Gordon Quarter also features new community facilities including a Café, snooker room, wine cellar, and outdoor BBQ areas, as well as spacious common areas, beautifully landscaped gardens and terraces, staff facilities and associated carparking.

Respecting the history and heritage of the existing Burnham Thorpe building was a significant component of this project. By collaborating with the local community, the Taylor team maximised every opportunity to protect and enhance existing architecture, as well as maintain fauna and flora DA requirements.

Congratulations to our client, Anglicare, consultants and subcontractors for their dedication in the delivery of this multiple-award winning project.

Learn more about Gordon Quarter here.

Last Thursday night, Team Taylor gave up their cozy beds and joined other industry professionals to sleep under the stars for the Property Industry Foundation (PIF)’s SleepOut for homeless youth at Centennial Park.

Despite the rain, 90 individuals came together for an evening filled with informative speeches, lawn games, s’mores roasting, and networking. Attendees were fortunate to hear from Kyzar Jing, Lived Experience Advisor at the Advocate for Children and Young People and Member of the PIF Beneficiary Review Committee, who shared his eye-opening childhood homelessness experience. Elizabeth Mackison, Submission Manager at Taylor and Member of PIF’s Future Leaders Committee, highlighted the purpose of the committee and encouraged support of the Foundation.

As one of Australia’s most trusted construction partners, building honest, trusting, and reliable relationships with our delivery partners is critical to our company’s success.

We recently held our Delivery Partner Celebration at the Greenwood Hotel in North Sydney to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our hard-working Subcontractors. The event provided an opportunity to re-connect with each other and acknowledge our collective achievements in 2023.

Fostering a sense of unity and collaboration, Team Taylor and our delivery partners mingled and shared successes while enjoying delicious food and beverages. The celebration highlighted the integral role our subcontractors play in the successful delivery of our projects, with speeches from George Bardas (CEO) and Mark Taylor (Managing Director), recognising the unwavering dedication and efforts of our partners throughout the year.

As 2023 winds down, we would like to thank our delivery partners for all their continued efforts and look forward to continuing our collaborative journey to create outstanding spaces that make a difference in the new year.

Christine Kelly, a proud Kamilaroi woman, recently completed a six-month work experience program at Taylor. Christine was introduced to Taylor via the Taylor Women in Construction Partnership with the KARI Foundation. The initiative seeks to provide a platform for First Nations women to explore, engage, and excel in the construction industry.

After successfully completing four information sessions and intensive mentoring at KARI, Christine joined Taylor for three days a month over six months. Christine’s work experience program was designed to provide a well-rounded experience to enable her to gain a clear insight into different facets of a Tier 2 construction company. Christine was given the opportunity to learn about the different roles and career opportunities in design management, construction management, the fundamental processes of construction, and what life is like as a Cadet at Taylor.

Gaining first-hand experience, Christine worked across numerous Taylor sites including Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Factory Renewal, Scape Kingsford, Campbelltown Hospital, Rosebery Engine Yards, as well as in Head Office. Shadowing various members of the Taylor team, Christine was included in team and client discussions to truly understand the importance of strong communication and active listening skills. Team members also showed Christine the fundamentals of Environmentally Sustainable Design and Green Star accreditation as well as various IT software including BIM 3D Modelling and Bluebeam.