Our People

Clair King (Director)

After graduating with a degree qualification in Business Studies from the University of East Anglia, Clair started her career in Human Resources in the UK before switching across to the recruitment industry where she specialised within the Construction and M&E sectors in the South East of England.

Clair relocated to Melbourne in 2000 and spent 4 years working in corporate recruitment before establishing Design & Build.

Neil Colquhoun (Director)

After graduating from Liverpool University with a degree qualification in Civil Engineering, Neil worked as a Project Engineer with Costain Civil Engineering & Building Contractors and Parkman Consulting Engineers, working on major civil infrastructure projects around the UK.

Neil entered the recruitment market in 1999 and recruited solely for the UK Civil Engineering and Construction markets prior to relocating to Melbourne in 2002 with Beresford Blake Thomas. He established Design & Build with Clair King in 2004.

Matt King (Construction Manager)

After graduating from the University of Leeds in 2003 with First Class Honours in Business Studies, Matt went on to work for the international recruitment firm Michael Page, where he sourced white collar professionals for the construction and services sectors throughout the North of England.

Matt joined Design & Build’s Commercial Construction team in 2006 and now heads up the Commercial and Residential Construction team. He predominantly recruits for Top and Second-tier builders and major sub-contractors.

Rick Thorneycroft (Consultant)

Rick graduated from Latrobe University with a degree in Business Studies specialising in Marketing and HR in 2003. He immediately took a position with Hays Construction & Property and spent three years with them specialising in the Commercial Construction market.

Rick then decided to travel the World and spent a year in Europe and Asia before returning to Melbourne and joining Design & Build at the start of 2008. He specialises in the recruitment of construction professionals for Top and Second-tier builders and major Property Developers.

Anthony Wilks (Managing Consultant)

After completing his Victorian Certificate of Education, Anthony entered the workforce and worked in a number of sales roles before entering the recruitment market with Command where he specialised in the Engineering sector.

Anthony joined Design & Build in 2006 and recruits within the Residential Construction sector in Victoria sourcing site supervisors, estimators and draftspeople for both high-end and volume home builders.

Damian Quigley (Consultant)

Damian spent 10 years working in the residential building industry prior to joining Design & Build in 2007. His vast experience covers all aspects of residential building including construction supervising, estimating, drafting, tender consulting and volume sales.

Given his broad background and knowledge within the industry, Damian is responsible for placing residential building professionals within the Melbourne market where both candidate and client alike should benefit from his wealth of experience.

Melani Booth (Engineering Manager)

Melani graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in English Literature and started her career in recruitment with CDI AndersElite specialising in the Consulting Engineering sector, recruiting across the South of England.

Melani relocated to Melbourne in 2006 and now manages the Engineering Team for Design & Build recruiting within the Civil & Structural sectors for engineering consultancies throughout Australia and the Middle East region.

John Sharp (Consultant)

John commenced his recruitment career within the M&E and Building Services sector in 2000 placing both blue collar and white collar professionals in contract and permanent roles. John relocated to Melbourne from the UK in 2005 with Beresford Blake Thomas before joining Design & Build in 2006.

John’s recruiting focus is within the M&E and Building Services sectors throughout Australia, South East Asia and the Middle East. John is also highly experienced in targeted recruitment and has successfully completed head hunt projects with major consultancies and builders in Australia and overseas.

Sarah Williams (Consultant)

After graduating from The University of Canterbury in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a post grad in Social Science. Sarah went on to work in Human Resources prior to spending a year working and travelling in the UK and Europe within sales and account management.

Upon returning to Australia, Sarah accepted a position as Recruitment Consultant with Hill McGlynn and established herself within the Civil Engineering sector in the Melbourne market. Sarah joined Design & Build in 2006 and she predominantly recruits within the Water and Environmental Sectors working on roles throughout Australia.

Luke O’Mara (Consultant)

After graduating from Southampton University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography, Luke immediately commenced his recruitment career in the UK specialising in the Geotechnical & Civil Design sectors throughout both the private and public sectors of the London market.

After 3 years working in the UK with Matchtech & STR Group he decided to relocate to Melbourne and Luke joined Design & Build in September 2008 where he now recruits for the Geotechnical, Oil & Gas and Petrochemical sectors throughout Australia.

Luke Jones (Managing Consultant)

After graduating from Victoria University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts, Luke spent the next 5 years overseas working in Japan and the UK. Luke entered the recruitment market with CDI AndersElite in 2004 and established himself within the Engineering sector focusing on Civil Construction and M&E.

On returning to Australia in 2006, Luke joined Design & Build and established the Civil Construction and Mining team. He specifically focuses on Civil & Mining Construction throughout Australia and the Middle East.

Peter Anderson (Consultant)

Peter graduated from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand in 2005 before relocating to Melbourne and commencing his career in recruitment with Hill McGlynn, responsible for sourcing white collar professionals within the Civil Engineering sector in Victoria.

He joined Design & Build in 2008 adding weight to an, already strong, Engineering team. Peter’s recruiting focus is within the Civil Construction and Mining sectors with an expanded remit to cover Australia-wide positions and roles within the Middle East with major international contractors.

Natalie Dukes (Consultant)

Natalie completed her secondary education in the UK in 2001 and spent 5 years working within financial services before commencing her recruitment career with Hill McGlynn in 2006, specialising in the recruitment of Civil Engineering professionals.

In 2008 Natalie relocated to Australia and joined Design & Build. She now specialises within the recruitment of engineering professionals for vacancies within the Local Government and utilities sectors.

Andrew Thompson (Architecture Manager)

After graduating from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture, Andrew worked for an architectural practice in the UK before starting his recruitment career in 2001 with CDI AndersElite based in London.

Andrew established himself as a recruitment consultant within the Architecture and Interior Design sectors. He relocated to Melbourne in January 2005 and worked in the local industry with Beresford Blake Thomas prior to joining Design & Build in 2006. He predominantly recruits within the Architecture & Interior Design sectors throughout Australia and heads up Design & Build’s Architecture & Planning team.

Melissa Thomas (Managing Consultant)

After graduating from Macquarie University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology, Melissa commenced her career as a Recruitment Consultant in Sydney specialising in the recruitment of Architects and Interior Designers. She has specialised in these sectors throughout her recruitment career working for technical consultancies in Sydney, Vancouver and London.

Melissa joined Design & Build in 2006 and focuses on supplying permanent and contract staff within the Architecture and Interior Design sectors throughout Australia.

Georgina Sinclair (Consultant)

Georgina graduated from the University of Bath in 2004 with a BSc. Honors Degree in International Management and Modern Languages, after which she began her career in recruitment with Sentinel Engineering, specialising in Environmental Planning and general consultancy opportunities.

After relocating to Melbourne, Georgina joined Design & Build in 2007, where she now focuses on the supply of permanent and contract staff to the Planning, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design sectors.

Leanne White (Managing Consultant)

Leanne commenced her recruitment career in 2003 in the UK looking after both permanent and contract positions in the Business Support sector before returning home to Australia in 2005 to manage a small recruitment agency specialising in the SME market.

Leanne has covered all areas of finance, sales and marketing and admin support and joined Design & Build in 2007 to specialise in Business Support within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction sectors.

Alun Hume (Consultant)

With five years of sales management experience behind him, Alun started his recruitment career in 2005 in Northern Ireland, successfully developing and maintaining the industrial and business support temp sector for one of Belfast’s leading recruitment companies.

He relocated to Melbourne in 2008 and joined Design & Build where he now specialises in the supply of Business Support staff within the Engineering and Construction sectors in the Melbourne market.

Natalie Azzopardi (Office Manager)

Natalie attained her VCE in 1998 and began her career as a legal assistant working with a major CBD law firm. She has since progressed into general office and accounts management working within both the recruitment and architecture sectors.

Natalie joined Design & Build in 2006 and is responsible for all aspects of the day to day management of the business.

Karla Tonkin (Administrator)

Karla attained her OP in Queensland in 1999 and began her career as an administration assistant working with a major leisure group. She spent 5 years in her first role and progressed into general office management before deciding to travel the World.

Karla returned to Australia, relocated to Melbourne and joined Design & Build in 2007 and is responsible for general administration management.

Courtney Bonzer (Administrator)

Courtney graduated from the University of Oregon in 2004, with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Photography and Steel Sculpture in addition to a Business minor. She commenced her career within business support following her graduation and worked with various large companies in the USA.

She relocated to Melbourne in early 2008 and joined Design & Build where she now works as an administrator covering all administration duties.