Life at Akura

Meet the Team!

Since the amalgamation with Wallandra in 2015, Akura has rapidly expanded from its regional base in Bathurst to Sydney, Central Coast, Canberra and Shepparton. Our growth across regions and commitment of future projects sets a secure foundation for our valued team members. Over the past two years the Akura team has doubled in size and will continue to grow.

This week we asked some of our Akura stars from Bathurst and Sydney offices about their life at Akura. Keep reading on to meet the team and find out why they love working at Akura.

Kathie Dawson
Pre-Construction Coordinator

Joining Akura in 2021 as a Division Facilitator and Contracts Administrator in the Shepparton Division of Victoria, our team were mainly focused on agricultural projects, such as constructing large-scale dairy facilities for local farms in the beautiful Goulburn Valley. In April 2023, I made the decision to relocate to Sydney with Akura’s support, transitioning to Pre-Construction Coordinator. This diverse role offers a great mentoring process and has already given me the opportunity to manage a project through the Pre-Construction Process to the Development Application phase. I appreciate that Akura assisted me in relocating to Sydney and for the opportunity to migrate into a new department within the business and I look forward to the knowledge and experience I will gain working in the faster paced Sydney Construction environment.

The people at Akura are probably the best part about the company. The diverse range of experience and knowledge that the employees have in their respective areas within the business allows everyone the opportunity to learn from a wide range of skillsets. Everyone is willing to help where needed and the company is very accommodating and allows a fantastic work-life balance by supporting us all in our endeavours both inside and outside of the office.

Tyler Betsha
Project Consultant

I joined Akura back in 2018, and it’s hard to believe that I’m now approaching my fifth year with this amazing team. Looking back at my career progression, I began as a site hand in the Precast factory, gaining valuable experience and learning the ropes of the industry. As time went on, I transitioned into the office, taking on the role of lead generation through cold calling to bring in new business opportunities. It was a thrilling challenge, and in 2020, I took a leap and started selling, successfully converting deals and building a roster of personal repeat clients. Along the way, I had the opportunity to contribute to some of Akura’s key projects, which has been truly rewarding.

What I truly admire about Akura is the growth attitude throughout the company. There’s a genuine commitment to fostering personal and professional development, allowing everyone to reach their full potential. It’s like being part of a big, supportive family where individuals are encouraged to thrive and excel. I’ve had the pleasure of working on noteworthy projects such as Highgrove Bathrooms in Bathurst and Ballina, Easy Shed in Albury, and Hutcheon & Pearce in Griffith.

Jenny Nguyen
Management Accountant

I commenced with Akura in early 2021 as an Accountant and was then promoted to Management Accountant in December 2021. Akura provides a great environment for staff to learn and for growth.

Some finance projects I have worked on are timesheets livestream for site teams to book hours to the current active jobs and more recently, rolling out an expense system for credit card holders where they can submit receipts and expenses via mobile as they spend.

Jacob Elbaz
Contracts Administrator

I have been at Akura for almost 3 years now, starting back in 2020. Over the years while gaining valuable knowledge, skills and experience I have been able to progress my career from a Construction Administrative Assistant to my current role as a Contracts Administrator. Akura is a great company I enjoy working for Akura as they give all staff the opportunities to progress their careers, they reward hard work, and look after their people.

Over the last 3 years I have had the opportunity to work on a range of projects with values that range from $4 - $15 million. The projects consist of large industrial warehouse buildings and self-storage facilities. A key project would be Akura’s flagship industrial development located at Arndell Park, which will feature the new Akura Sydney office. My role in these projects includes council coordination and approvals, procuring the projects from start to finish, forecasting projects financial risk & opportunities, contract management, communication with cliental, and assisting the Project Manager with everything required to ensure projects are delivered in a timely and financially successful manner.