Principals
Our Principals have extensive hands-on experience in all aspects of project feasibility, development, engineering and construction, some of whom have held Chief Executive positions’ in major engineering and construction companies and all have had senior project and general management roles in careers spanning up to 45 years.
Robin Bailey
|| BEng – Hons || MBA || Member Institution of Engineers (MIE Aust) || Australian Institute of Company Directors ||
Robin has over 20 years’ construction industry experience across a diverse range of sectors and locations. In particular, Robin has been involved in projects in the oil & gas, civil, infrastructure, tunnelling and telecommunications sectors, in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East. From 2008 to 2011, Robin was divisional CEO of the Energy & Infrastructure Division of WDS, an ASX listed construction & mining services contracting company.
Ross Baldwin
|| Dip Eng (Civil) || Fellow Institution of Engineers (FIE Aust) ||
Ross is a founding partner of Flagstaff and consults to clients involved in all aspects of development, construction, delivery, operation and maintenance of major infrastructure projects in the transport, mining & resources, and water sectors. He also specialises in advising on International projects, having worked in Africa, Russia and Asia over many years. Ross was Managing Director of John Holland Asia, which he developed from a small business in Indonesia to a significant international construction business spanning six Asian countries.
Sandy Bennet
|| PhD || BEng – Hons (Mining) || MEng Sc || Fellow Institution of Engineers (FIE Aust) ||
Sandy has over 45 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering, tunnelling and underground works. Prior to joining Flagstaff, Sandy was the Senior Geomechanics Engineer at Connell Wagner. He was responsible for all of the company’s geomechanics activities for over 20 years. He has performed independent reviews for major projects and insurance underwriters across multiple industry sectors.
Brendan Edleston
|| BEng – Hons || Dip BA || Member Institution of Engineers (MIE Aust) ||
Brendan has over 28 years’ experience in the delivery of multi-faceted infrastructure projects, with a particular emphasis on mixed modal transport and large, complex civic works of State significance. His construction industry background provides a unique perspective and insight into the complex issues involved in all stages of project delivery. Brendan specialises in providing project and management services, contractual advice, project risk, project review, construction methodologies and project planning and technical advice.
Jonathan Smith
|| B AppSc || B Bus || Prof Cert Arbitration || Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (IAMA) ||
Jonathan has 33 years’ experience in Mining, Engineering, Surveying, Civil Construction, Business and Local Government Administration. He has been involved in procurement, contract development and redesign, arbitrating and adjudicating mining, building and construction contractual disputes, reporting on the commerciality of proposed contract arrangements and the outcome of completed contracts.
Ben White
|| B Eng (Civil) || Member Institution of Engineers (MIE Aust) ||
Ben has over 20 years’ experience in both private and public sectors across major civil infrastructure and resource projects. His roles have involved working multidisciplinary teams with exposure to a vast range of work practices across challenging project backgrounds and locations. Ben provides assistance and advice to clients in the key aspects of project delivery, including; project reviews, project assessment and evaluation, risk management and analysis.
Bill Wild
|| B Eng (Civil) || MEng Sc (Highway Engineering) || Fellow Institution of Engineers (FIE Aust) ||
Bill’s expertise is in executive management and construction and mining contracting; civil, mining and mechanical engineering; building and waste management. He has extensive experience with all forms of contracting and contract delivery and with major international joint ventures and alliances. He has worked both in Australia and throughout Asia, India and the Middle East and has a detailed knowledge of the Australian and international contracting industry and its participants.
Steve Abson
|| HNC UK (Civil) || HND UK (Eng Tech) || Fellow Australian Institute of Building (FAIB) || Member Australian Institute of Company Directors ||
Steve is a qualified civil engineer and experienced executive with almost 30 years’ experience, leading major construction companies and delivering key infrastructure projects. He has held numerous Director and Board roles and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and a Fellow to the Australian Institute of Building (FAIB).
Steve is a member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) and has completed the DRBF Advanced Training Course. He is also registered as an OGC Gateway Reviewer with multiple jurisdictions around Australia and has completed the OGC Gateway Review Team member training.
