Our Team.

Sam is a highly successful construction professional who founded Decode in 2008 and has steered it to becoming a highly successful market leader. He has provided inspiration, motivation, and guidance to the company’s management and project teams.

Strategy and governance

Sam is a strategist and inspirational leader who has implemented a unique vision and mission for Decode and steered it to being highly successful and profitable in a short time. He has directed the company’s operations to create effective and efficient organisational and project governance processes. He has created a culture of accountability, innovation and excellence.

Building industry relationships

Sam has 20 years’ experience in the property and residential construction industry. He has built strong relationships with clients, banking institutions and joint venture partners. Recognised as an industry leader, in 2019 he was the CEO Magazine Building and Construction Executive of the Year.

He is also an active member of the Master Builders Association, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Urban Taskforce.

Qualifications and industry understanding

Sam entered the industry as a structural engineer after achieving his Masters in Infrastructure Engineering (MIE). He is a certified CP (Eng.) and NPER accredited professional.

Divya Mehta is the CEO of Decode Group, overseeing Decode Construction, Ellipse Development, and various integrated services. With a deep understanding of the industry and Decode as a business, she drives growth and success across the Group.

Strategy and governance

Previously the Managing Director of Decode Construction, Divya joined Sam El Rihani at the helm in early 2024, and continues to be instrumental in strengthening Decode’s position and reputation as an innovative, reliable and quality constructor. As CEO, Divya ensures all aspects of the operations of the Decode Group including its Small Business Alliance and Ellipse Property are aligned with our mission of delivering excellence and on track for sustainable growth and success.

Industry leadership

Divya is a co-founder of the industry association, Funding the Future which aims to bring the construction and finance industries together as well as previously a member of the National Association of Women in Construction, Australia and a previously Board Member of Property Council of Australia, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Industry understanding

With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Divya has driven significant growth and innovation throughout various senior leadership roles at Decode. She began her career as an architect and progressed through various project management and senior management roles before becoming CEO of Decode Group.

Deepa is a highly experienced Finance professional with over 30 years of expertise in the finance industry. As Head of Finance, Deepa provides strategic leadership and direction to the finance teams across the group. With her extensive knowledge in financial and management accounting, compliance and systems and processes, she ensures robust financial accounting processes and compliance with statutory requirements within the group.

Elevating Decode Group Finances

Deepa’s key responsibilities include financial reporting, management reporting and cash flow management. Deepa actively facilitates and develops strategic planning, tax planning, external funding initiatives, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external advisors.

Industry skills and expertise.

With a background in the construction industry, Deepa brings a wealth of experience in managing the unique financial requirements of the sector. Deepa’s comprehensive skill set also includes risk management, relationship management with auditors, investors, insurers and lenders. Deepa specifically enjoys mentoring finance team to become future leaders.

Deepa holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Mumbai University, is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and a CPA Australia member. She also actively contributes to the finance industry as a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Deepa’s dedication to her work extends beyond her professional role, as she also serves as a Justice of Peace for NSW.

Jeremy Mclennan is a decisive, values-driven, and action-oriented senior executive with over 20 years of expertise in financial leadership and management. As the Chief Financial Officer at Decode Group, Jeremy brings his outstanding capabilities in strategic planning, corporate reporting, stakeholder management, and business development services to enhance the company’s financial and strategic vision. His experience across multiple industries, including property development, construction, funds management, venture capital, and technology, makes him an invaluable asset to Decode Group’s leadership team.

Strategic Financial Leadership

In his role as CFO at Decode Group, Jeremy ensures that the financial and accounting systems and internal controls are robust, reliable, and secure. He is responsible for providing high-level strategic, financial, and systems expertise, collaborating with other members of the executive team and external advisors to provide overall strategic leadership. Jeremy’s commitment to strategic planning, corporate governance, and financial risk management protects our projects from external risks and supports the company’s growth and success.

Governance and Compliance

Jeremy is a strong advocate for governance and compliance within Decode Group. Thanks to Jeremy’s experience and expertise, Decode maintains a no debt no overdraft position with accreditations such as iCIRT gold star rating as testament to our financial stability and transparency.

Qualifications and Industry Expertise

Jeremy holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern Cross University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University. He is a CPA member of CPA Australia and holds certifications as an ATO Tax & BAS Agent and ASIC Agent.

Bill is a highly respected construction industry leader having worked with some of Sydney’s most dynamic construction firms. His knowledge and relationships help Decode to partner with other industry leaders.

Construction leadership

Bill is the driving force behind Decode Group’s new business and strategic vision. He focuses on planning and maintaining a clear path for selection of target markets, clients, consultants and projects. He has looked to building a client base that own, hold, develop, and want a long-term relationship.

Relationship building

Bill’s approach has always been focused on the development of relationships with future clients, consultants and property professional organisations, who own, hold and manage property with a view to developing and maintaining long term relationships.

Working effectively with stakeholders

Bill has assisted Decode in developing and maintaining our strong customer-service culture. He ensures we deliver on our commitments to our clients. He has excellent communication skills that have contributed to his success in customer and stakeholder liaison and project and program management.

Neil Nguyen is a dynamic and strategic leader with over 24 years of experience in the construction industry. As the New Business & Strategy Manager at Decode, Neil leverages his exceptional skills in relationship building, strategic development, and negotiation to drive our growth and success.

Strategic Business Development

With a focus on sustainable business growth, Neil is responsible for creating and implementing new business strategies that develop a robust pipeline of opportunities. Neil’s ability to intuitively navigate market trends and innovations enables him to proactively seek new business opportunities, particularly with institutional clients.

Relationship Building and Client Engagement

Neil’s success in the industry is built on his ability to generate incredible relationships with Grade A institutional and non-profit clients. His strong interpersonal skills and exceptional negotiation abilities allow him to build and maintain relationships in the market and support the tender process. Committed to mitigating and managing client concerns as they arise, Neil effectively engages clients with the Decode Difference.

Qualifications and Industry Expertise

Neil holds a Bachelor of Construction Management and has building and construction licenses in NSW, ACT, SA, and WA. Neil’s experience as a Project Manager and Project Director for 13 projects, demonstrate the depth of his understanding of construction excellent and his commitment to continuous improvement.

Jason is a highly effective communicator with strong organisational, leadership and risk management skills. He leads, manages and motivates his teams to deliver the best results for all stakeholders.

Construction leadership

Jason has hand-on experience across a wide range of projects across all sectors of the industry. He has worked for some of Sydney’s most prestigious construction firms including Multiplex, Taylor Constructions, Paynter Dixon Construction and Kell & Rigby. H

Project planning and establishment

Jason is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of project construction. He leads project planning, resource allocation, value engineering, design management, staff management, setting of benchmarks and budget management to ensure its successful delivery and the smooth transition from pre-construction to the project team commencing onsite. His dedication to mentoring staff makes him an outstanding member of the Decode team.

Ensuring value for money

Jason implements the most cost-effective plan for all projects to complete them within budget, to time, and to the highest standard of quality agreed by Decode and our clients.

Nilesh Kumar is an experienced Estimating Manager with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Drawing on his rich expertise, Nilesh consistently provides cost-saving alternatives and value engineering solutions to his respected clients. His thorough comprehension and execution of high-quality estimating standards, combined with meticulous attention to detail, make him a valuable asset in driving success and positive outcomes across a multitude of key sectors.

Construction Expertise

His experience spans a wide range of projects across the educational, industrial, refurbishment, recreational, government, retail, mixed-use, residential, commercial, heritage, and transportation sectors, including work with TfNSW (Sydney Trains). With a career including Tier 1 builders, Nilesh brings exceptional expertise in first principles estimation, construction programming, methodologies, and risk mitigation.

Value Engineering and Risk Mitigation

Nilesh is adept at identifying opportunities from tender documents and leading contract variations to maximise tendering gains. His keen awareness of market conditions and drivers, combined with his extensive industry knowledge, allows him to submit value engineering proposals that optimize cost efficiency and project outcomes. Nilesh’s refined talents in value engineering and risk mitigation contribute to the success of Decode Group’s projects, ensuring value for money and client satisfaction.

Industry Skills and Qualifications

Nilesh holds a degree in Quantity Surveying from Fiji National University (2000) and a Certificate in Project Management (2002).

Ramzi is a construction design professional with exceptional organisational skills with both LEED and Green Star Professional accreditations. He is highly experienced in managing design teams to produce coordinated compliant designs that ensure our clients’ visions are achieved.

Construction design leadership

Ramzi has in-depth knowledge of all aspects of project construction. He has a keen eye for design details and a first-hand appreciation of buildable solutions. Prior to joining Decode, he was Technical Manager for the construction of the Doha Convention Centre with a contract value of almost $US1 billion.

Strategic design approach

Ramzi provides a strategic approach to design. His leadership and experience bring out the best from project design teams. He ensures designs provide value management and quality outcomes. He brings to Decode high level technical expertise and knowledge gained through his work on major projects in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates where he held roles from project engineer through to construction manager and deputy project director. He has worked on major projects in the middle east such as the Royal Terminal of Dubai airport, residential high-rise towers, Lebanese university campus and many others.

Industry expertise

Ramzi was the technical manager and deputy project director for the design and construction of Khalifa International Stadium ($US380 million) in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The project included the latest new technologies in terms of various systems, lighting design, roof cabled systems, cooling systems, and structural steel.

Diaa is a highly knowledgeable and experienced professional with strong and proven leadership and problem-solving skills. As well as a degree in Civil Engineering, Diaa brings to his role Master qualifications in Engineering Project Management and Business Administration.

Construction leadership

Diaa is responsible for planning and overseeing construction projects from beginning to end. An excellent communicator and highly organised, he has the ability to plan ahead and multitask and always ensures his projects are completed within timeframe targets and to budget.

Project and program governance

With a wide range of experience across different sectors and projects, Diaa is very familiar with the intricacies of delivering a quality project. From construction software to keeping stakeholders in the loop and enforcing safety regulations, Diaa is committed to delivering excellence to our clients on every project.

Experience

Prior to emigrating to Australia from Lebanon, Diaa worked for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a Civil Engineer. He was involved in sustainable development programs, which included the construction of waste sorting plants. This experience helped him to develop

Neil Denton is a seasoned construction professional with over 23 years of experience in the design and delivery of diverse projects, ranging from commercial and residential to hospitality. As a Senior Executive, Neil brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of successful project management.

Construction leadership

With a focus on maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, Neil has successfully delivered numerous projects simultaneously, demonstrating his ability to handle complexity and ensure project success. His expertise lies in managing resources, training teams, implementing efficient construction methodologies, and fostering client relationships.

Projects and Experience

With over 40 projects completed in a lead project role, Neil has extensive experience in the commercial, residential and hospitality sectors. As the Founder and Managing Director of Construction Profile, he successfully navigated challenges post-COVID, focusing on delivering difficult projects and building a robust client network. Neil’s roles at Bathla, Urban Core, and FKP Constructions further highlight his expertise in reorganising divisions, transforming businesses, and implementing strategic initiatives. His comprehensive experience ranges from project management, bid processes, and resource management to system implementations, emphasising a proactive and results-driven approach throughout his career.

With an impressive 20-year tenure in the construction industry, Jack is a highly skilled professional renowned for delivering projects to exceptional standards. With a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of NSW, Jack’s career has included significant roles at industry-leading firms.

Construction Leadership

Throughout his extensive career, Jack has been recognized for his ability to navigate complex design & construct projects, ensuring a excellent outcomes in quality, budget, and timeline. As a Team Leader at Hutchinson Builders from 2017 to 2023, he successfully established and managed a business unit, procuring and delivering over $700 million worth of work with an impressive 80% rate of repeat business. Jack’s leadership skills were further acknowledged when he recently received the NSW AIB Building Professional of the Year award for his exceptional work on the Little National Hotel Project.

Experience

Jack’s diverse experience spans across Hospitality & Tourism, Residential, and Commercial/Industrial sectors. Notable projects include the Little National Hotel, The Langston, Embassy, Landmark, The Crossing, Ampol Head Office, and Meyer Meat Co. His ability to lead, motivate, and manage teams has consistently ensured the on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery of projects, making him a valuable asset to the Decode Team

Hatem Saba is a highly motivated safety professional who leads our work, health and safety program and is responsible for maintaining our impeccable safety record and IMS structure.

Safety leadership

Hatem has worked in a number of senior safety roles where he has developed and implemented WHS organisation-wide strategies and procedures. He has a strong holistic understanding of all relevant legislation and the processes needed to comply with it.

His strong communications skills have made sure that people all throughout our organisation understand their safety obligations to themselves, to their colleagues and to all our stakeholders.

Compliance and system understanding

His role with Decode includes maintaining our integrated management system (IMS), implementing initiatives to keep it up to date. As part of this role, he led our team in migrating the OHS Management System to ISO 45001, implemented our transition to a digital HammerTech system and was instrumental in our achieving OFSC accreditation.

Industry understanding

Hatem has over 17 years of construction industry experience on major projects.

Frank Farina is a highly experienced and respected veteran in the construction industry, boasting an impressive career spanning over 63 years. With a diverse portfolio of well over 120 successfully delivered projects, Frank has held key roles such as site manager, project manager, senior project manager, project director, and construction manager/design manager. His extensive expertise encompasses a wide range of sectors, including government, education, commercial, residential, healthcare, entertainment, and defence department projects.

Qualifications and Professional Achievements

Frank’s qualifications and industry recognition further solidify his reputation as a leader in construction management. He holds a Building Certificate from the NSW Institute of Technology and possesses a Full Builders License (No. 17952). As a testament to his leadership and expertise, Frank has served as the President of the Australian Institute of Construction, both at the state and national levels. He is currently a management member of the Australian Institute of Building in New South Wales and serves as an Adjunct Professor in Construction Management. Frank’s wealth of knowledge and experience has also led him to guest lecture on Construction and Management at prestigious institutions such as UNSW and UWS.

Senior Design & Compliance Manager

At Decode, Frank serves as the Senior Design & Compliance Manager, responsible for delivering construction projects with a strong focus on design compliance and the customer’s experience. Frank’s responsibilities encompass various phases of project execution, from pre-construction and tendering to construction management. He plays a key role in analysing potential projects and tenders, conducting risk analysis, assisting in tender bids and presentations, and developing value engineering solutions for cost savings. Throughout the construction phase, Frank meticulously ensures our projects compliance with regulations and codes and establishes efficient communication channels between design, planning, and construction teams.

In addition to his core responsibilities, Frank mentors and organizes staff training, conducts research to identify new construction methods and techniques, ensures Decode adheres to updated codes and legislations, and plays an instrumental role in developing company management systems procedures and manuals. Furthermore, Frank fosters a team culture that builds with industry best practices and delivers excellence in construction.

An Accredited Building Inspector and representative of the industry

Frank is also a key member of the Building Commissioner’s pillar four team representing the building industry to the NSW, Government and  DFT, as well as an accredited building inspector for the Governments Building Bonds Scheme, SBBIS Scheme.

Frank Farina’s unparalleled expertise, unique industry knowledge, and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to Decode. His exceptional project management skills, combined with his dedication to maintaining the highest standards of quality, ensure the successful delivery of projects and contribute to the ongoing success and reputation of the organisation.

Shafi Alam is a passionate and experienced professional with a comprehensive background in management, commercial and procurement within the construction industry. Since joining Decode in July 2016, Shafi has made significant contributions to our organization’s success and growth.

Career Journey

With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Shafi’s expertise spans a wide range of projects, including residential & commercial building construction, fit-out, interior works, infrastructures, and refurbishments.  Shafi was involved in several notable & award winning projects such as Golf House in Surry Hills, Grande Pyrmont Bay Estate, Four Points by Sheraton, InterContinental Hotel, NORDIC Embassy, Level Crossing Removal Program under Transport Victoria, among others in Australia and overseas.

Qualifications and Achievements

Engineers Australia certified Professional Civil Engineer Shafi Alam has completed a BSc in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree. In addition, he obtained Diploma & Certificate IV in Building and Construction. The combination of his Technical, Business and Management qualifications have enhanced his commercial and construction acumen.

Role as Procurement Manager

In his current role as Procurement Manager at Decode, Shafi plays a vital role in ensuring the efficient trades & supply network across all projects. He is responsible for developing and implementing frameworks, strategies, and systems to streamline the supply chain process in achieving the right fit for projects in a competitive environment. Shafi collaborates closely with project teams, pre-construction, design and trade contractors to foster cooperation and collaboration in all aspects of procurement which enables Decode to confidently deliver excellence in construction.

Leadership and Reporting

As a dedicated leader, Shafi provides guidance and mentorship to his team, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and brilliance. He actively contributes to the development and enrichment of procurement practices within the organization. Shafi’s ability to provide regular, accurate, and reliable reporting to senior management ensures transparency and aligns activities with the overall goals and targets of the business and our clients.