SUNIL GOWDA
Australia
Summary
A highly accomplished and solutions-driven Senior Project Manager with over 20 years of experience successfully delivering complex civil engineering infrastructure projects across New South Wales. My expertise spans state government authorities, local councils, and Tier 1/2 contractor environments, where I have built a proven track record of managing large-scale road corridors, structural bridge systems, residential subdivisions, and complex water utility programs, including multi-million-dollar disaster recovery portfolios exceeding $100M. I am fully versed in managing multi-disciplinary teams, administering rigorous public and private contract frameworks (GC21, NEC4, and TfNSW frameworks), and driving stringent financial governance, risk mitigation, and strict WHS/environmental compliance to safely deliver projects on time and within scope. I bring a collaborative and strategic approach to every project, ensuring stakeholders are aligned and outcomes are exceptional.
Overview
1
1
Certification
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager – Sub-Division Development Works
The Universal Property Group Pty Ltd
07.2024 - 10.2026
- Managed end-to-end delivery of greenfield and brownfield residential subdivisions and commercial infrastructure projects across the Hills district, including 8 townhouse developments, 3 residential apartments, 6 structural re-cladding projects, warehouse extensions, and 2 school refurbishments.
- Collaborated directly with development teams to secure Development Approvals (DA) and Sub-Division Works Certificates (SWC) from local government authorities, ensuring full compliance and timely approvals.
- Administered all operational contracts, diligently processing contractor progress claims, variation assessments, Extensions of Time (EOTs), and Requests for Information (RFIs) to maintain project momentum.
- Liaised directly with external utility authorities including Sydney Water, Endeavour Energy, Jemena Gas, and Telstra to coordinate major service separations and under-boring works, ensuring seamless integration with project schedules.
Project Coordinator – Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program
Hawkesbury City Council
02.2023 - 07.2024
- Led a high-profile $120M flood recovery infrastructure program following major damage across the Nepean Valley and Hawkesbury River regions, directing the complex remediation of landslip sites, slope stabilisations, concrete/timber bridges, and extensive sealed and gravel road networks.
- Conducted exhaustive post-disaster engineering surveys and photographic mapping to define formal scopes of work for state government review, and formulated rigorous bottom-up estimates, detailed funding briefs, and bills of quantities (BOQ) to secure essential grant allocations from Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
- Served as a primary point of contact for external consultants, coordinating Review of Environmental Factors (REF), structural designs, and detailed geotechnical investigations, while drafting transparent request-for-tender (RFT) documentation containing precise quality criteria, safety plans, and technical specifications.
- Chaired formal tender evaluation panels, conducting technical weightings to responsibly award multi-million-dollar delivery packages, and performed routine on-site surveillance to verify safety compliance, civil quality control, and strict adherence to TfNSW funding allocation guidelines.
- Key Achievement: Formed part of the project team that won the 2026 National Award for Local Government – Disaster Readiness and Recovery for the high-impact reconstruction of the Thomas James Bridge.
Senior Project Manager
Sydney Water Corporation
10.2019 - 02.2023
- Successfully delivered up to $20M annually in critical water utility networks and treatment facility assets in close partnership with the Western Region Delivery Team (WRDT), executing complex contract administration utilizing the NEC4 contract framework within a collaborative Regional Delivery Consortium model.
- Developed data-backed business cases and project definitions to capture capital funding approval within the Annual Integrated Works Program (AIWP), and chaired collaborative risk workshops with internal engineering stakeholders to build appropriate project contingencies and prevent budget creep.
- Issued and resolved early warning processes, managing contractual communications including Early Warning Notices (EWN), wet weather claims, and delay cost assessments, while evaluating and approving technical Flow Isolation and Flow Management (FIFM) submissions from contractors in accordance with strict network safety constraints.
- Maintained absolute schedule accuracy by reviewing base-line progress metrics against the critical path and addressing contractor slippage promptly, and supplied accurate monthly cash flow forecasts, financial accruals, and final project handovers to corporate finance and operational teams.
Civil Assets Engineer
City of Parramatta Council
04.2018 - 10.2019
- Formulated and delivered a comprehensive $10M annual road pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation program across the local government area, conducting thorough engineering feasibility studies, pavement profile designs, and initial structural scoping.
- Authored standard council procurement documentation and compiled definitive asphalt resurfacing Quality Assurance (QA) contracts, supervising municipal contractors executing heavy asphalt and concrete slab installations, ensuring full adherence to TfNSW (RMS) Q6 technical specifications.
- Led community notification schemes and stakeholder consultation sessions to balance public accessibility with operational construction schedules, ensuring minimal disruption and positive community relations.
- Collaborated with internal teams to review project progress and address any technical or logistical challenges, ensuring successful delivery within budget and timeframe.
Project Manager
Ventia / Boral / Amey Joint Venture
04.2017 - 03.2018
- Managed an intensive $15M road maintenance and civil construction work program under the heavy-vehicle RMS Stewardship Contract framework, analysing complex technical briefs issued by the RMS to establish defined physical scopes of work and advance early-stage Review of Environmental Factors (REF).
- Generated accurate target cost matrices and recurring Cost-to-Complete analyses to protect commercial joint venture margins, while sourcing and onboarding specialist sub-contractors, managing competitive procurement packages for specialized road furniture, asphalt, and civil services.
- Audited on-site adherence to Site-Specific Safety Management Plans (SWMS), Civil Environmental Management Plans (CEMP), and Quality Management Plans (QMP), ensuring a safe and compliant work environment.
- Provided regular project reporting to senior management, highlighting key milestones, risks, and financial performance, and facilitated resolution of contractual issues to maintain project momentum.
Project Delivery Manager
Transport for NSW
02.2006 - 04.2017
- Managed regional road corridors, structural bridge rehabilitations, and asset maintenance portfolios across the Hunter Region with annual budgets up to $13M, delivering key regional infrastructure milestones including major upgrades on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the Hexham corridor upgrades.
- Directed delivery of the $380M Newcastle Inner City Bypass project, overseeing bridge piling works, filling, and geotechnical works including fill settlement, ensuring structural integrity and adherence to stringent technical specifications.
- Managed the early works package on the $250M Hunter Expressway project, including earthworks and utility relocation, coordinating with multiple stakeholders to ensure timely delivery and seamless integration with the broader project program.
- Delivered concrete slab pavement replacement works on the M1 Motorway with a budget of $25M, overseeing all aspects of construction, quality assurance, and safety compliance to ensure a durable and reliable road surface.
- Supervised a multi-disciplinary direct workforce (RMS Road Workers) alongside external tier-contractors across the M1 Motorway network from Wyong to Taree, scheduling weekly workforce deployments to coordinate reactive maintenance, asphalt patching, slab replacements, guardrails, line marking, and drainage works.
- Headed targeted Black Spot road safety improvements, designing and implementing structural pavement corrections to eliminate dangerous aquaplaning hazards, and led routine structural bridge inspections, identified defects, and structured targeted rehabilitation programs to extend asset lifecycles.
- Coordinated critical utility profiling, complex service relocations, detailed land surveys, and directional under-boring works beneath live motorway corridors, and facilitated regular design verification reviews with subject matter experts to evaluate engineering modifications against tight fiscal limits.
- Provided regular project reporting regarding estimation data, budget forecasts, rolling accruals, and detailed MS Project schedules, ensuring transparency and accountability to senior management and stakeholders.
Graduate Engineer
Roads and Traffic Authority
02.2006 - 09.2008
- Completed formal engineering rotations across specialized divisions including Bridge Services, Environmental Management, Project Delivery, and Site Operations, gaining deep foundational knowledge in contract administration, construction quality management systems, and technical design verification.
- Assisted with the civil construction of the New Zealand Digger Commemorative Statue on the ANZAC Bridge and engineered safety modifications on the M5 Motorway, contributing to high-profile infrastructure projects.
- Drafted minor and major Environmental Impact Assessments, counseling project managers on sensitive ecological conditions to secure decision reports, and utilized ArcGIS platforms to map roadside corridors, environmental constraints, and regional infrastructure assets.
- Appointed as the Project Quality Representative for the high-profile Stage 1 Dog Trap Road upgrade on the Pacific Highway (Ourimbah), ensuring quality standards were met and maintained throughout the project.
Education
Master - Environmental Engineering
University of Wollongong
01-2004
Bachelor - Civil Engineering
Kuvermpu University
India01-2000
Skills
- Infrastructure Project Delivery
- Contract Administration (GC21, NEC4, TfNSW)
- Financial Governance & Cost Control
- Disaster Recovery Program Management
- Traffic & Road Safety Engineering
- Procurement & Tender Management
- Systems & Regulatory Compliance (MS Project, TechnologyOne, ArcGIS)
- Stakeholder & Community Engagement
- Strategic Leadership & Team Mentorship
- Risk Mitigation & Problem Solving
- Negotiation & Conflict Resolution
- Communication & Reporting
- Adaptability & Resilience
- Client-Centric Approach
- State & Local Frameworks: TfNSW / RMS Specifications (Q6, R44, etc), BCA Codes, and Australian Standards for Road Works
- Contract Forms: Professional administration of NEC4, GC21, and Council frameworks
- Software Systems: MS Project, TechnologyOne (LGA module), VendorPanel (LGP procurement), ArcGIS, and REFLECT Asset Inspection Systems
Certification
- Member – Engineers Australia
- WHS General Induction (White Card)
- Accredited Training – Contract Administration & Quality Management Systems
- Certification – Working Safely at Heights
- Certification – Project Management Fundamentals
- Authorized Issuer – Civil Work and Safety Permits
Timeline
Senior Project Manager – Sub-Division Development Works
The Universal Property Group Pty Ltd
07.2024 - 10.2026
Project Coordinator – Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program
Hawkesbury City Council
02.2023 - 07.2024
Senior Project Manager
Sydney Water Corporation
10.2019 - 02.2023
Civil Assets Engineer
City of Parramatta Council
04.2018 - 10.2019
Project Manager
Ventia / Boral / Amey Joint Venture
04.2017 - 03.2018
Project Delivery Manager
Transport for NSW
02.2006 - 04.2017
Graduate Engineer
Roads and Traffic Authority
02.2006 - 09.2008
Master - Environmental Engineering
University of Wollongong
Bachelor - Civil Engineering
Kuvermpu University