The Board

The Hazell Bros Group Board comprises second generation family members Geoffrey, Managing Director, and Robert and their two sons Richard and Michael who both joined the Board in mid-2023 starting the transition of the business to the third generation of Hazells.

 

Geoffrey and Robert have spent their entire lives working in the business and have an intimate knowledge of all facets of it and its people.

 

Richard and Michael both started their working lives in the business but ventured further afield to develop their knowledge and experience. Richard has been working back in the business since 2016 and was appointed Executive General Manager Concrete in August 2023, while Michael rejoined Hazell Bros as Executive General Manager Quarries in July 2023.

 

The Hazell Bros Qld Board comprises Geoffrey and Robert Hazell and Executive Directors, Justin Leslie and Simon Barr. Justin and Simon head up the Queensland Civil construction business and have both worked in that business since Hazell Bros acquired it in 2010.

Leadership Team

Geoffrey Hazell Managing Director

Geoffrey is committed to setting the tone from the top and ensuring that the ethics, standards, culture and values flow from the Board to the organisation and outwards to stakeholders and the public in general.

Geoffrey has a highly developed network including private, local and state government leaders as well as strong ties to construction and resources industries.

Robert Hazell Executive Director

Robert’s key focus in the business is asset management. His passion for machinery, data and technology ensures that Hazell Bros keeps pace in this rapidly changing environment.

Over the years Robert has held key positions in the business including development and management of the workshops and the waste management division. Robert preceded Geoffrey as the Managing Director in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

John Anderson Chief Operating Officer

John is a results-focused and values-based leader with over 20 years of local and international experience spearheading complex infrastructure projects, developments and upgrades spanning, Asia, China, Africa, and Australia. He has a track record in delivering end-to-end civil construction, rail, tunnelling, marine and wastewater projects, maintaining a cohesive business vision and applying detailed engineering knowledge and adaptable stakeholder engagement.

John has a demonstrated ability to drive quality results while complying with budget, scope and time constraints through effective prioritisation and transparent issue resolution. John is an insightful people manager and negotiator, seeking to improve performance, return on investment and achieve sustainable outcomes.

John joined the Hazell Bros team in January 2022 as COO and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business, ensuring alignment with strategic plans including operational and capital budgets.

Craig Lester Chief Financial Officer

Craig commenced his career working in finance and accounting roles in 1996. After graduating from UTAS, Craig spent the next five years working for accounting firms in Hobart before having a ten-year stint overseas working in financial services and the public sector. During this time Craig completed his professional accounting qualification and worked for several organisations that allowed him to develop his skills and experience further before returning to Tasmania in 2011.

Craig has been the CFO at Hazell Bros since 2015 and is responsible for the financial management of the Group including implementation of working capital and cash management strategies; business acquisition and divestment strategies; financial governance and risk management; financial planning and reporting; and driving achievement of the strategic business plan. The ICT, Financial Systems, Property and Business Improvement portfolios also report to the CFO role.

Leon Izmiritlian Chief People Officer

Leon is an experienced HR executive whose key focus is to develop and embed the business’ strategic People objectives, build employee capability and cultivate a high-performance culture that drives commercial outcomes.

With over 20 years of experience working across various fast-paced industries within retail, finance and construction, Leon’s key strengths reside in having a strong operational focus with extensive experience in HR/IR strategy, developing & empowering teams and cultural change management.

Leon joined the Hazell Bros team in July 2023 as the Chief People Officer and is responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of our People Strategy and Employee Experience.

Justin Leslie Executive Director (HBQ) and General Manager Qld

Justin has more than 30 years of experience in delivering civil infrastructure projects, which has resulted in a thorough understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with constructing complex civil engineering projects. Justin has honed his expertise in various management disciplines of the construction and engineering industry. His skill lies in swiftly and accurately dissecting intricate management and technical challenges. Equally adept at overseeing both the fine details and overarching strategies, Justin takes great pride in inspiring and guiding the QLD team to achieve exceptional results and build the Hazell Bros brand in QLD & Northern NSW.

Justin is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, overall financial performance, building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, implementing efficient processes and workflows to enhance productivity, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and safety standards.

With Justin at the helm, the team benefits from his extensive experience and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Simon Barr Executive Director (HBQ) and Operations Manager Qld

Simon has more than 30 years of experience in delivering civil infrastructure projects. His contract management skills have been proven in managing projects in the UK, New Zealand and Australia across various civil disciplines including earthworks, drainage, road pavement, airport infrastructure, public utilities, and bridge and other structural elements. With the experience he has gained during this time, he is able to oversee and mentor high-performing project teams and resolve project and contractual issues.

Simon is responsible for the overall project delivery of the business’ civil construction contracts in QLD.

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