A unique approach

That mindset, forward focused and unconcerned with convention, became a defining characteristic of FDC’s approach. Nowhere was it more clearly demonstrated than in one of the company’s early milestone bids, the Qantas Headquarters redevelopment. In the midst of a competitive tender process, the team knew they needed to be more than excellent, they had to be unforgettable.

With a 35-year-old training room as the interview site, complete with peeling paint and mismatched chairs, the FDC team arrived at 5am, swapped out the furniture, and transformed the space into a tailored experience. The walls were lined with methodology, programming visuals, and PPE kits, each detail chosen to bring the bid to life, letting the experience speak for itself. Each Qantas stakeholder was greeted as if boarding a flight: a tray mat with project details, orange juice, cake, a branded pen and notepad. It was no longer just a pitch, it was a demonstration of capability, creativity, and care. After the presentation, the team packed everything away and returned the space to its dilapidated state for the next contender. The over-$100-million bid was won on confidence, imagination, and unity, qualities that have become defining features of FDC’s culture.

Built on trust

Fast forward to today and FDC has grown to be one of Australia’s most respected construction and fitout businesses. They have maintained a reputation for trustworthiness and care, and an unshakeable belief in people and the power of giving back. But if there’s one thing Ben has made clear over the past three and a half decades, it’s that FDC’s success isn’t about him.

The company’s defining moments haven’t just come from renowned projects like White Bay Power Station or the Qantas Headquarters redevelopment, but from the relationships that underpin them. “We win the projects that we get chosen for, not on price but for a whole lot of other reasons. Clients trust us. The most important thing we have is the trust that we’ve built,” Ben says. “We carry that responsibility seriously. It doesn't matter whether it's a $50k project, $50 million or $500 million. At the end of the day, our clients put their faith in us, and we have to do a good job, because we're protecting those people's livelihoods as individuals and as an entity.

While FDC has scaled nationally, its heart has remained the same. “We’ve always tried to run a large business like a small one,” Ben says. “We like to be connected to a lot of different things: our clients, the consultant world, our staff and the community. I don't think any of that's really changed. I know the scale of projects has changed, but I think how we deal with people is pretty similar to how it's been for 35 years.”

A culture of caring

One of the most defining aspects of FDC isn’t something you’ll find in a project brief or tender submission. It’s the company’s unwavering commitment to giving, embedded in its DNA and lived through the actions of its people. FDC is a family company, and supporting the lives of struggling families is an incredibly meaningful pursuit. Each year, FDC gives back to charities and causes that are personal to its people, clients and community. To date, the company has raised over $14 million, supporting a diverse range of initiatives across Australia.

In 2022, Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney was the beneficiary of FDC’s annual Melbourne Cup luncheon. Fundraising efforts resulted in $433,629, representing 2,718 nights of accommodation for families at ‘the house that love built’ in Westmead, a 60-room facility delivered by FDC in 2017. But the support doesn’t end with a single fundraiser. These partnerships are built to last, and often, they’re deeply personal.

In 2018, FDC lost one of its own, Site Manager, Nat Azzone, to Motor Neuron Disease, after a three-year battle. In 2019, FDC honoured Nat by selecting the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre & Clinic as its Melbourne Cup charity partner, raising $327,000 to support patient care and ensuring no patients would be turned away, regardless of their financial position.

Mental health has also become a powerful focus. In 2023, FDC raised over $410,000 for the Black Dog Institute in support of its Future Proofing Study—Australia’s largest and most comprehensive research into teenage mental health and wellbeing. The relationship with the Black Dog Institute runs deep. FDC Site Manager Ben Woods, who lost his brother Jase to suicide, cycled 20,000km around Australia in 2017 to raise awareness and funds for Black Dog Institute through his Ride for Jase initiative, an extraordinary act of endurance and love that has since raised more than $386,000 and continues to raise awareness within FDC and the broader industry.

FDC’s signature Ride to Give charity bike ride, co-founded a decade ago with client partners, has become another cornerstone of its annual giving program, raising millions for youth-focused causes across regional and rural Australia. These efforts, along with long-standing partnerships with organisations such as Bowel Cancer Australia, Boys to the Bush, and BackTrack Youth Works, have changed lives in real time, and FDC’s culture of giving remains one of Ben Cottle’s proudest achievements.

Legacy in motion

As FDC marks 35 years, the company’s foundation remains firm. Ben’s decision to step back from day-to-day leadership in late 2023, has seen him transition from his role as Managing Director to become FDC’s Non-Executive Chairman. “There are a lot of very, very clever people at FDC. From my perspective, it's time to get out of the road and give them all an opportunity,” he says. Russell Grady, who started with FDC as a cadet over 22 years ago, recently took the reigns as Managing Director, a move Ben sees as a natural evolution. “I have more confidence than ever in the leadership and strength of the business,” he adds.

Still, FDC’s founding ethos remains clear. As Ben puts it, “Slowly, slowly, catch a monkey. We don't want to do things too quickly. We've had this trajectory that's been pretty consistent, for 35 years. We’re a market maker, not a market taker.” And as the business heads towards its fourth decade, it does so with the same clarity that shaped its beginnings: define your own space, deliver with excellence, build with purpose and always back your people. Because for FDC, it really is personal.

Celebrating 35 Years + Counting.