The Building and Construction Foundation, founded by Master Builders Victoria in 2010, supports marginalised individuals in the construction industry through scholarships, training, and career opportunities.
Founded by Master Builders Victoria in 2010, the Building and Construction Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to breaking cycles of poverty, disengagement, and lack of education within the construction industry. Through strategic partnerships, we support marginalised individuals by providing scholarships, training, and opportunities to build meaningful careers, and building a stronger, more inclusive construction industry for the future
Our Board is comprised of industry leaders dedicated to making a positive impact in the construction sector. They bring a wealth of experience and a shared vision of fostering growth and excellence through education and training
As Managing Director, George oversees the Hickory culture, operations, and projects with contracts worth over $1 billion. As a champion of the culture at Hickory, George has a natural ability to empower and unlock potential in others.
A leader in quality and safety, George continually strives to raise industry standards and set new benchmarks in Australian construction on time, cost and quality.
George brings significant insight and knowledge of the industry, a strong reputation for quality, delivery and ethics, highly developed leadership skills, effective stakeholder management skills, and a commitment to education and personal development to his role as Chair of the Foundation Board.
A registered domestic and commercial building practitioner and having attained a Bachelor degree, he understands the importance of education and training. He is well placed to provide strategic direction and governance in his new role.
Melanie is a passionate property professional – a Project Management leader with over 25 years of commercial contracting and consulting experience in the property and construction industry, across Australia and Asia.
A professional with great positivity, energy and drive, Melanie loves being involved in all aspects of the property sector. Her current role is as Masterplan Project Director Lead for ANZ.
Prior to this Melanie was Principal (Projects) for BHP Property & Workplace where she had a global oversight of the BHP Commercial Office portfolio projects.
Prior to BHP she performed a similar role for Australia Post, as well as 10 years with a national building contractor and 10 years as an Architect in Asia.
Melanie also serves on the board for Disabled Wintersport Australia, being a keen skier with lived experience in the disability sector as advocate and carer for her son who lives with a disability.
Daniel’s passion and talent for luxury residential construction established Mazzei Group in 2015. Mazzei Group is founded on family values, client dedication, and dependability. They are highly regarded for their passionate commitment to placing clients at the centre of everything they do.
Daniel joined the Foundation Board to give back to the industry and support others to develop their careers within our industry.
An experienced Managing Director, highly skilled and knowledgeable in all aspects of the construction industry, Daniel is also highly committed to philanthropy and has embedded a strong focus on corporate social responsibility at Mazzei. He has been actively involved in fundraising for charities since 2011.
Currently the Executive Officer of Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network Inc, David is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to succeed in life through education and training. David has extensive senior management experience in the Not for profit, youth transitions and employment space and has previously chaired the VicLLENs Network representing VicLLENs on the National School Community Partnership Brokers Network. David’s strengths include developing strategic partnerships to improve education, training, and employment outcomes for young people. In 2005, David was instrumental in establishing the Northern Melbourne VET Cluster which today has 68 secondary school members. David is a past president of the Rotary Club of Brunswick and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow in 2015. David has been a Director of the Inner North Community Foundation for nine years and chaired the Nominations an Employment Committee. David is driven by the belief that all young people need support to achieve their full potential.
General Manager of Rossiter Constructions, Olivia is an advocate for positive change and growth in the Construction industry and has a natural ability to motivate and connect with a large variety of key stakeholders. She joined the Foundation Board in November 2022.
Olivia brings experience and a practical approach in management of a construction business through her unique lens as a Chartered Accountant.
Integrity and accountability are paramount virtues that underpin the way Olivia operates. Through living and breathing the challenges and triumphs of the construction Industry from an early age, she understands that diversity and inclusivity are key to the successful growth and adaption of the industry.
Through Olivia’s experience and knowledge, she endeavours to assist in fostering the next generation of talent and has been a valuable mentor to past scholarship recipients.
Brad is a Partner at Forvis Mazars, with over 25 years’ experience in public practice. As a Chartered Accountant and registered Tax Agent, Brad has extensive experience providing strategic and business advisory services for clients within the building and construction sector. As well as providing commercial insights and assisting the Foundation meet its governance and reporting requirements, Brad understands the importance of education and training. He is passionate in assisting people grow within their chosen career and develop as members of our community. Brad’s values and experience, including previous foundation roles align to the strategic direction of the Building and Construction Foundation.
Current MBAV Committee member and Executive Chairman of Harris HMC, Dale leads a 260 strong team and has overseen $2b of construction works. Harris HMC’s broadened offering includes integrated projects in construction, interiors, maintenance services and property development. Projects range from reactive maintenance to $50m builds.
Dale is passionate about his vision, and ensuring the company continues to evolve as one of Australia’s Top 1% construction companies. Beyond this, he is committed to the strong and ethical development of the building industry as a whole and to supporting the workers who contribute to its prosperity and development.
As a Board member, Dale contributes his in-depth understanding of the construction sector and extensive network to create alliances, increasing the foundation’s visibility and consequently its reach. He envisions a time when the construction industry reflects diversity and inclusivity.
A key driver for Dale is to help people succeed in life. As a Board member, he uses his experience and vision, utilising his strong and varied network, to benefit motivated young people who are experiencing hardship. Dale brings a strong sense of purpose and drive to make a difference to the Foundation.
With a Master’s in Event Management from Victoria University, Liliana is a thought leader, mentoring top industry talent and leading a powerhouse team. She has won multiple awards, including Best Charity or Cause-Related Event for the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, and has raised over $50 million for charities. She also serves on multiple boards, further driving impact in the industry.
After a landmark few years working with everyone from His Majesty to KISS, she’s now taking on the corporate speaking and mentoring world – ready to inspire and innovate on a global stage.
Andrew has been a Partner in Gadens’ Real Estate and Construction practice in Melbourne for over 30 years, practicing in construction and development law, and has a deep knowledge and interest in the construction sector.
He advises on all relevant and applicable legislation and prepares contracts representing institutions, investors, financiers, developers, contractors and consultants. Andrew also represents clients in litigation, arbitrations, expert determinations and mediations.
Andrew recognises that improved access to high-quality training opportunities will deliver significant benefits for both individuals and the construction industry as a whole, particularly for individuals who face disadvantage or financial barriers.
With a legal career that includes extensive involvement in charitable and not-for-profit organisations in the education sector, Andrew brings that insight to the Foundation’s work. His deep experience and broad client base across the building and construction industry underpins his commitment to expanding access to training and education opportunities within the sector.
Sara Abraham brings 20 years of diverse experience in the construction industry to her role as Executive Director of the Building & Construction Foundation. With a passion for making the construction industry the best it can be, Sara leverages her skills in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and project management to create lasting impacts.
At the Foundation, Sara blends her industry expertise with a strong commitment to community service, working to support individuals and communities facing challenges. Her goal is to grow the Foundation’s reach and scale of impact, bridging the gap between construction excellence and social responsibility, ensuring the industry she has dedicated her career to serves not only its professionals but also the broader community.
Jessica Carter began her career in construction in 2015 with Hayward Pool Products before launching a successful consultancy in 2019, specialising in marketing for trades. After identifying her true passion for advocacy and industry development, she sold the business to focus on creating broader impact within construction.
Jessica is now the Women’s Program Coordinator at the Foundation, where she advocates for, and supports women entering skilled trades. She also runs a Women in Construction Growth and Development Program, empowering women through leadership, capability building, and connection.
In 2023, Jess received the National SPASA Award for Best Professional Service Business in recognition of her commitment to service excellence. A values-driven leader and community advocate, she regularly delivers workshops, leads fundraising initiatives, serves as a board member, and is driven by the belief that business is a powerful platform for meaningful change and community empowerment.
We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who share our vision of creating opportunities for all. Their contributions are vital in helping us achieve our mission and expand our impact across the industry.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors of our 2026 Gala Event—your generous support helps bring this celebration to life and empowers us to continue making a meaningful difference in the building and construction industry.
