At most companies, the term ‘family business’ refers to ownership. At FDC, it also describes the everyday reality of life onsite and in the office as multigenerational family members work side by side. From fathers, sons and daughters to siblings, cousins and in-laws, it’s not unusual at FDC to discover that team members share more than just an employer. 

For FDC General Manager, NSW Construction, Sean Gibbeson and his son, VIC Project Manager, Construction, David Gibbeson, and for NSW Senior Site Manager, Lachlan Munro and his sons Angus, a NSW Contracts Administrator and Harley, a NSW Foreman, FDC is not just an employer, it’s a place to build a future.

Sean and David Gibbeson

Sean’s story with FDC began in 2008 when he joined the business as General Manager for the NSW construction division. “Ben Cottle rang me up one day and said, ‘Can we have a beer?’” he recalls with a smile. “I saw the opportunity. It was very hard to leave my old company, which was another family business, but I couldn’t see a future there. So I made the leap and 17 years later, here we are.”

That future turned out to include his own son, David, who joined FDC in 2014, after years of weekend detours to visit sites with his dad. “It was something that I always loved and looked forward to. Going out to see a building site was such an amazing experience as a kid, seeing the guys onsite and all the teamwork. I’ve always had a massive interest in building and construction,” he says. “In 2014 I started working for FDC in Sydney, before moving to Melbourne. It’s an interesting adjustment at first, going from a family-only relationship to having a new relationship in a new workplace and industry. But I feel very lucky to work in the same company as my dad and to have him as such a strong mentor. He gives so much to his people. He genuinely cares. It has strengthened our relationship outside of work as well.”

Sean’s pride in his son is unmistakable. “There was no special treatment. We make all our Cadets start the same way. It’s not that we ever butted heads, but we’re so different. I came up through a trade, David went the academic route. Construction is a high-pressure industry, it's a high-risk industry and it's not for everyone. So it's great to see that David, through his own merits, became a project manager at such a young age and that he did that on his own.”

Family ties run deep for Sean. His son-in-law, cousin, niece and nephews work at FDC. “There are so many people I’ve worked with for 30 years whose kids now work here too. It’s very special.”

A standout memory for Sean and David is the Northpoint redevelopment in Sydney, a complex, city-shaping project that remains a career highlight. A photo of them with their hard hats on, standing with their teammates, under the tower crane’s giant FDC sign still says it all. “That was a proud moment for me,” says Sean.

Lachlan, Angus and Harley Munro

Lachlan Munro joined FDC around 15 years ago. Both his sons quickly followed in his footsteps. Angus came first, starting with work experience in 2015 and quickly discovering that construction was where he wanted to be. “I had a great time and decided it was the path I wanted to take. The following year, in 2016, I was offered a job to stay, so I already knew what I was getting into. That’s nine-and-a-half years ago now!”

Harley, the older of the two, took a different path, though he was equally taken with the industry from a young age. “Harley was going to be a builder since he was two. It looked like he was always running around in high vis and a hard hat,” says Angus. He joined FDC in 2020 after years working with another construction firm.

For a time, Lachlan and Harley even worked side by side on the Moorebank Intermodal project. “Everyone asked how we handled it,” Harley says. “‘But I think mine and dad's relationship is pretty good. We don’t butt heads very often, so it was easy to work together. We’re very similar, easygoing and want to have a bit of a laugh and have fun at work.”

The FDC Difference

So, what makes FDC such a magnet for families and such an appealing workplace to stay? “Trust,” says Lachlan. “You know people have your back if anything ever goes pear-shaped. It gives you the freedom to do your best work.” Harley adds, “You’re not just a number here. I remember being on a project and [FDC founder] Ben Cottle walked straight up to me for a chat. It showed me that the owners of the company care about everyone, no matter how big or small they are. It was a good first impression.”

For David, it’s the culture of mentorship that sets FDC apart. “I’ve had the same core group of mentors for over a decade. They’re still here. They’re still only a phone call away. Good people attract good people.”

And for Sean, the reward is personal. “We put a lot of effort into our people. Every year we take on five or six cadets for example. And if I look at the senior leadership team, most of them have come through either straight out of school or from a very junior role. It’s the land of opportunity. You really can get whatever you want if you work hard and you're genuine. When someone who started as a junior becomes your number two, or runs their own job, that’s what it’s all about. We’ve built a culture where people can grow. That’s why they stay.”

Even after 35 years, a simple truth remains at the heart of FDC: that it’s a business built on the strength of its relationships. A workplace where people are seen, valued and supported, as colleagues, mentors and as family.

Celebrating 35 Years + Counting