About us – COVA

Shareholders

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Singapore and Phnom Pehn, we are first and foremost engineers, priding ourselves on our ability to find solutions to the most complex of projects. Our advice comes from over 40 years of experience in the built environment and it is this that has cemented our industry reputation for trust, leadership and commercial awareness. From feasibility, planning and advice to project management and execution expertise, we’re a full-service business with a fully collaborative way of working. In fact, collaboration is at the heart of our business. We know that when we share our skills and experience in a mutually respectful and open relationship, great things can happen.

Haywards are a premier steel fabrication and engineering company, owned and operated by a team of passionate shareholders and managers. Our team of highly skilled and professional staff is committed to delivering quality engineering, fabrication and construction. We are committed to excellence and exceeding industry standards through innovation and management as well as employee achievement. Haywards have successfully completed major projects throughout Australia and overseas. Our success is a direct result of our staff’s professional approach and determination to provide personal customer service, no matter the size of the project at hand. Our objective is to ensure you are satisfied with the infrastructure we help create – no matter how large or small the project.

Directors

Ron Vittorio (Chairman)

Ron has over 40 years’ experience, of which some 20 years has been in EPC, EPCM and Design & Construct delivery bulk materials handling operations within Australia. Over this time he has held the following positions: MD Tenova Bateman (Mining & Minerals Australia), MD Tenova Takraf Australia; MD Tenova SEMF; General Manager TECHINT SEMF.

Steve Edmunds (Company Secretary)

Steve has 35 years’ experience in project management, contracts and estimating. Steve has been the Managing Director of Crisp Bros. & Haywards Pty Ltd since 2002 and has continued the company’s focus on delivering quality projects in a safe, timely and professional manner.

Ken Cox

Ken has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry working on complex steel & mechanical demolition and installations. Ken is proactive in resolution of issues and ensures project success.

Ben Evans

Ben has 20 years’ experience in leading and managing large and complex projects both within Australia and in South East Asia. Ben has been the Managing Director of the COVA group of companies for the past 6 years. Ben leads the commercial, legal and risk management aspects of the projects.

Operational Executive

Chris Tummon (Operations Manager)

Chris has over 20 years’ experience in the industry with a significant amount of that working on EPC, EPCM and Design and Construct Projects. With a background in structural engineering and design management, Chris is now involved with identifying and securing new business opportunities and provides leadership in the preparation of bids and delivery of projects.

Geoff Gynn (Bid Manager)

Geoff has over 40 years’ experience in the construction and engineering industries with 15 years’ plus dedicated to the bulk materials handling field completing numerous proposals for various types of equipment. Prior to working with COVA Haywards, Geoff was the Commercial Manager at Tenova SEMF and the National Sales Manager at TAKRAF.

Roger Hatfield (Design Manager)

Roger has over 30 years of experience in bulk materials handling. This was initially as a structural designer for shiploaders and has progressed to concept development and design managing all our shiploader, stacker and conveyor projects.

Mark Breen (Construction Manager)

Mark has over 30 years of experience in construction and project management. Having worked on a range of Greenfields and Brownfields projects, Mark is passionate about effective project planning and early stakeholder engagement. This, along with team management, contractor management, quality control and safety management are Mark’s strengths.

Ken Cox (Site Manager)

Leila Rolstom (Procurement & Supply Chain Manager)

Leila Rostom has over 10 years of experience in the construction industry working as a Commercial Manager and with a background in Quantity Surveying (MRICS) and an MBA in Construction and Real Estate. Leila focuses primarily on our procurement process and is heavily involved in the overall Pre- and Post- Contract Management.