For FDC Site Managers Mark O’Hanlon and Adam Moffitt, no two days are the same, but one thing never changes: the culture on site. We spoke to them about what makes FDC different, from the camaraderie and client relationships to the care that underpins every build. Whether it’s a multi-level fitout in Adelaide or a high-performance training facility in Canberra, their stories reveal how the FDC spirit shows up every day, in the people, the teamwork and the pride behind every project.

“AT FDC, YOU’RE NEVER JUST A NUMBER YOU’RE PART OF THE GROUP AND THAT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING.” —Mark O’Hanlon is a Senior Site Manager at FDC in Adelaide, SA.

I’ve been with FDC for about eight years now and from day one I could feel this tight-knit vibe, that sense you’re part of something bigger. I’d worked for a few builders before, but at FDC you’re never just a number. You’re part of the team and that really means something. A typical day for me as a Senior Site Manager in Adelaide starts early, clearing out inductions, signing everyone in, then working with the trades to plan who’s doing what, where and when. Of course, every project is different. I am running a large financial institution fitout, five floors, about 1,600 square metres each, so my days are about coordinating my team, working closely with my foreman and making sure design coordination with architects, engineers and stakeholders runs smoothly.

The fitout will have multiple handovers. It’s a lot to juggle, but hitting milestones is what drives us. That feeling you get walking around with the client on delivery day, when everything’s clean, organised and they’re genuinely happy, that’s the payoff. All the stress and the deadlines are worth it when you see what you’ve built.

The atmosphere on site is something I’m proud of. Morale’s good and we work hard to keep it that way. You can’t just flog people all the time, we look for moments to boost spirits. An ‘R U OK?’ Day, a site lunch, pizzas on a Friday when we can, little things like that go a long way. We want the trades to come along with us and they do.

Collaboration’s big for us and it’s not just talk. You see it in toolbox talks, safety walks and even in the casual chats on site. We check in: “How’s it going? What do you need from us?” We’re selective about who we work with too. We choose trades we know and trust, because when challenges sometimes come up, you need that trust to sit down, be upfront, and say, “How do we fix this together?”

For me, what makes an FDC site different is simple: it’s the people and the relationships. Whether it’s with our trades, our clients, or each other, there’s a genuine care factor. Everyone’s an important wheel in the machine. And when you see your client come back years later because they want that same team, that same quality, you know you’re doing something right. In fact, this exact project we’re on now, is a repeat client. We completed a project for this client in Bedford Park, Adelaide, about eight years ago, with the same team and that was a large driver in getting FDC on the project. The client knew they were going to get the same team, same quality and same management.

At the end of the day, it’s about producing something we’re proud of: quality work, delivered well and relationships strong enough to bring everyone along for the ride.

“IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT SET US APART ON SITE, THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE AND THAT MADE PERSONAL TOUCH.” – Adam Moffitt is a Site Manager, at FDC in Canberra, ACT.

I’ve been with FDC for over ten years now and I was actually the first permanent team member in ACT. To see how much we’ve grown since then, from just me to over 30 people today, is something I’m really proud of.

A typical day for me as a Site Manager starts pretty early. I’m usually on site by six. I’ll get everything unlocked, get the trades in and moving and then it’s all about keeping things rolling. Resolving issues quickly is key, if you can fix problems as they come up, you keep everyone productive and the momentum going. By the end of the day, it’s about making sure everything’s safe, doing the site diary, any inspections, and locking up properly. A ten to twelve-hour day is pretty standard, but when you love what you do and you’ve got a good team around you, it makes it worthwhile.

Right now, I’m kicking off a new build at the Australian Institute of Sport, a high-altitude environmental chamber for athletes to train for overseas conditions. It’s not a big job but the mechanical systems will be the most complex part of the scope, but it’s exciting to be working on something so specialised.

I always aim for a positive atmosphere on site, it makes all the difference. Just greeting the workers with a “G’day, how’s your day?” or a simple thank you at the end of the day, those small things really build morale. It ties into what I think sets FDC apart: we’re about the people and the culture. Our “Made Personal” approach isn’t just a slogan, it shows up in how we look after our clients, our subcontractors and each other.

Collaboration is everything. It starts from the top. Our leadership sets the tone and that flows down to our site teams, project managers, contract administrators and foremen. It’s about open communication, not just within FDC but with consultants, clients and subcontractors too. Everyone’s working together towards the same goal: a safe, high-quality project that we can hand over with pride.

One project I’m especially proud of was the Department of Health, Disability & Ageing. It was a large-scale fitout project, $18 million across two floors, a large footprint within a 12-week program that we delivered in eleven weeks. The feedback we got, from the client, consultants, and subcontractors, was amazing. They commented on how calm yet productive the site always felt, how clean it was and how clear the sequence plan was. That’s the standard we want every project to meet.

When I look back at how far we’ve come in the ACT, growing the team, building a strong reputation, and doing it with the same focus on people and relationships, it really does make me proud.

Mark and Adam may work in different states but there’s a common thread that runs through their experience. Both agree that FDC’s strength lies in its people, in the way teams work together and support each other. There’s a shared mindset that people come first. It’s seen in the camaraderie on site, the open communication and the pride that comes from delivering quality work as one team. It’s this culture of collaboration and care that continues to set FDC apart, shaping not just the projects we build, but the lasting relationships behind them.