Leadership

Our Leadership Team

With offices in Melbourne and Sydney, our multidisciplinary Australian team incorporates a huge range of specialist engineering and sustainability expertise across a diverse range of industry sectors. Our national reach has allowed us to be trusted to assist our clients in delivering some of Australia’s most prestigious developments throughout many industry sectors including Health, Commercial, Residential, Justice, Telecommunications, Sports and Recreation, Education, Retail, Aged Care, Defence, Leisure and Tourism, Industrial and Advisory.

Phillip Barnes

Philip Barnes
Joint Managing
Director

Philip has over 30 years’ mechanical engineering experience in Australia and internationally.

He has led the Waterman team on some of the most significant recent projects in the health, laboratory, and educational sectors.

Working closely with both government and commercial stakeholders, in addition to architectural and construction firms, he specialises in understanding and pre-empting Client needs – ensuring outcomes which meet the unique requirements of each project.

With professional Australian experience at Gutteridge Haskins & Davey, Bates Smart McCutcheon and Lincolne Scott, in addition to time spent working internationally in London with Building Design Partnership, Philip has been extensively involved across the entirety of building services design and contract administration engineering services.

Philips career history within multidisciplinary companies has extensively involved the design and contract administration for major institutional projects, in addition to working on some of Victoria’s largest healthcare projects over recent years. Across all sectors and projects, he prioritises the integration and co-ordination of engineering services.

Philip Joined AHW Consulting Engineers (Vic) Pty Ltd in 1995 and became a director in November 2000. He remained as Joint Managing Director in 2006 when the business was sold to Waterman AHW (Vic) Pty Ltd, and he continues to lead the team in this position.

Brian Mason

Brian Mason
Joint Managing
Director

Brian joined AHW in 2002 after graduating as a Mechanical Engineer.

He began his career in the design and documentation of commercial and industrial buildings. He became an Associate in 2006, and by 2008 he progressed to the role of Associate Director.

Richard Nicoliello

Richard Nicoliello
Director

Richard is experienced in Electrical, Communications and Security Engineering.

With over 22 years’ experience, he has been responsible for design, documentation and management for all types of projects.

He has wide experience in commercial, aged care, educational, residential and fitout/rollout projects, both from a technical and management point of view.

Hugh Van Essen
Technical Director
Electrical Services

Hugh commenced his career in 1979, working as a Site Engineer.

He later became Site Manager for a large international mechanical and electrical contractor.

Adam Tong
Associate Director
Mechanical

Adam is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years’ experience.

Adam has worked across Air Conditioning and Ventilation, Fire Protection, Plumbing and Drainage, and Medical Gas Services systems for a broad range of clients in Australia, New Zealand and abroad.

Mahen Perera
Associate Director
Fire Protection
Services

Mahen has over 30 years’ experience in building services projects.

He joined Waterman as Associate Director in 2020, with a background in both design and supervision roles.

Nick Spanu
Associate Director
Hydraulic & Fire
Engineer

Nick has more than 30 years of experience as a Hydraulic and Fire Services Engineer.

During this time, he has been responsible for the design of hydraulic, fire and sprinkler services including liaison with contractors and authorities, supervision and contract administration of installations.

David Mathers
Associate Director
Mechanical Services

David joined Waterman in 2014 as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer from Monash University.

He began his career in the design and documentation of healthcare and residential buildings and has more recently been involved in the delivery of commercial, education, sports, aquatic and retail projects.

Marcus Chuah
Associate Electrical,
Communications
& Security

Marcus commenced his career as a Graduate Engineer with a top tier consulting firm.

He began his career in design and documentation of electrical services for commercial tenancy buildings.

Michael Pan
Associate Hydraulic
Services

Michael Pan has over 10 years international  building services experience.

This includes working in Singapore and Malaysia, mainly in the design and documentation of mechanical and hydraulic services. In 2002, Michael started working as Senior Hydraulics Designer with a locally hydraulic consultancy firm. Since then, Michael has gained 17 years’ experience.

Ryan Porker
Associate Director
Mechanical Services

Ryan commenced his career as a Graduate Engineer with Waterman in 2009.

He has undertaken various training courses over the past few years and has worked as an engineer on diverse and complex projects. Ryan was appointed an Associate in 2017.

Yu Sheng Lim
Associate Electrical
Services

Yu Sheng has over 10 years’ experience in the building services industry.

He has fulfilled various roles within the team, serving both as a supporting member of the design team as well as in the capacity of Lead Designer. Yu Sheng’s experience includes projects in the education, commercial, residential and retail sectors. He provides a full suite of engineering and consulting services.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors ….

Phillip Barnes

Philip Barnes
Joint Managing
Director

Philip has over 30 years’ mechanical engineering experience in Australia and internationally.

He has led the Waterman team on some of the most significant recent projects in the health, laboratory, and educational sectors.

Working closely with both government and commercial stakeholders, in addition to architectural and construction firms, he specialises in understanding and pre-empting Client needs – ensuring outcomes which meet the unique requirements of each project.

With professional Australian experience at Gutteridge Haskins & Davey, Bates Smart McCutcheon and Lincolne Scott, in addition to time spent working internationally in London with Building Design Partnership, Philip has been extensively involved across the entirety of building services design and contract administration engineering services.

Philips career history within multidisciplinary companies has extensively involved the design and contract administration for major institutional projects, in addition to working on some of Victoria’s largest healthcare projects over recent years. Across all sectors and projects, he prioritises the integration and co-ordination of engineering services.

Philip Joined AHW Consulting Engineers (Vic) Pty Ltd in 1995 and became a director in November 2000. He remained as Joint Managing Director in 2006 when the business was sold to Waterman AHW (Vic) Pty Ltd, and he continues to lead the team in this position.

Brian Mason

Brian Mason
Joint Managing
Director

Brian joined AHW in 2002 after graduating as a Mechanical Engineer.

He began his career in the design and documentation of commercial and industrial buildings. He became an Associate in 2006, and by 2008 he progressed to the role of Associate Director.

Richard Nicoliello

Richard Nicoliello
Director

Richard is experienced in Electrical, Communications and Security Engineering.

With over 22 years’ experience, he has been responsible for design, documentation and management for all types of projects.

He has wide experience in commercial, aged care, educational, residential and fitout/rollout projects, both from a technical and management point of view.

Nick Taylor
Chief Executive
Officer

Nick is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Graduate of INSEAD’s Advanced Management Programme. Nick was appointed Deputy Chairman of the ACE (Association for Consultancy and Engineering) and Chairman of its Property Group.On leaving Oxford University Nick Taylor joined Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited as a Site Engineer responsible for the control of a large section of the Heysham Nuclear Power Station project in Lancashire.

In 1982 Nick joined Waterman Partnership and following initial experience in the civils division, structurally designed numerous buildings from the commercial, residential, leisure and retail sectors. Nick became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1986 and a year later was appointed as an Associate Director of Waterman Partnership. In 1994 he went on to be appointed as Director of Waterman Partnership and in 2000 became Joint Managing Director. He joined the plc Board of Waterman Group in 2003 and became the Chairman of Waterman Structures two years later. Nick was appointed Chief Executive of Waterman Group in June 2007.
In January 2016, Nick was appointed Deputy Chairman of the ACE (Association for Consultancy and Engineering) and Chairman of its Property Group.

Alex Steele
Chief Financial
Officer

Alex Steele trained as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and qualified in 1997. Alex was seconded to PWC in Sydney for three years, and returned as a senior manager to the London office specialising in the audits of mid tier Companies.

During her time at PWC she also advised on several buyside due diligences.

Alex joined Waterman in March 2008 as Group Divisional Director of Finance, where apart from a Group role she has been focusing on the international operations.

On 19th February 2010 Alex joined the board as Finance Director.

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