Christopher Abouhamad

Director

Chris founded Eastern Pacific in 2013 to deliver sustainable and functional residential and commercial spaces with cutting-edge architecture. Chris holds a Bachelor of Construction Project Management from the University of Technology Sydney and has construction experience, spanning across large corporations to small building firms. Chris brings with him experience in projects ranging from $5 million to $500 million. Chris prides himself on being able to determine what it is people want, and being the one to deliver it to them.

He has successfully grown Eastern Pacific into one of Australia’s most innovative [development/construction] companies and he has been rewarded through expansive funding in construction R&D. SAI Global has approved his innovative processes at both a private and government level. Through Chris’ leadership, Eastern Pacific has implemented stringent policies and procedures that reinforce the company’s culture and philosophy. These policies and procedures create a framework for accountability and contribute to the design of organisational structure.

Construction fuels an element of creativity for Chris while allowing him to build and create something tangible. Chris believes that honest work produces honest results, with construction being one of the most honest forms of hard work. Once a building has been constructed it is visible for the world to see.

His greatest strength as a director is his empathy towards others. For Chris, this company is about more than just building homes or places of work. It is about building a family, a community within Eastern Pacific. Chris strives to recruit people who have a limitless passion for what they do, people who are focused to deliver the best they can. A feat that is only sustainable if the person leading them is as equally motivated to deliver. Chris has been able to build Eastern Pacific and develop a rich culture in a short amount of time because someone took a chance on him. Now, he looks to take chances on others. He is very much aware that there is an unprecedented amount of strength and opportunity that can come from investing in people who want to be invested in. When one person achieves something, it is contagious, setting off a chain reaction causing a shift in other people. Chris thoroughly enjoys watching his team use their drive and vision to grow as he continues to give them more autonomy, encouraging them to always strive for excellence.

George Abouhamad

Non-Executive Director

George is an accomplished senior director who has been part of the development and construction industry since the 1970s.

His desire to challenge himself and his love for building led him to commence his construction and development career in 1984, eventually formalised into what we now know as Eastern Pacific – George was, and is essentially the grass roots of the organisation. George’s extensive experience boasts 120 construction projects, with a personal project delivery portfolio worth more than A$800 million.

George takes great pride in completing every task set before him and he enjoys the satisfaction of the fact that there has never been any major issues that have required his team to be called back to a finished project. George holds the belief that success comes when you have maintained your dignity. This builds trust within your team and with your clients. It was this trust and loyalty that helped George lead his company through the global financial crisis. He understood that strong leaders know when to ask for help and he reached out to his network to determine how everyone can support each other. George found solutions that were unique to the circumstances he was facing and his ability to stay grounded while guiding his company through one of the scariest times he had faced as a leader contributed to his company’s survival.

George credits his ongoing success to his determination and honesty and for surrounding himself with people who have been able to provide him with sage advice. He believes that no one can get to the top on their own and it is the effort of a team that leads to the greatest successes. The one thing George enjoys more than construction is training new recruits so that the next generation may forge ahead.

George’s strong leadership is demonstrative through his business, construction and financial risk management. He brings an integrity that can only come from doing the hard years. George’s wisdom together with his humility is what makes him a trusted adviser.

Rami Hatem

General Manager

Rami’s strengths and knowledge have been obtained from exposure to civil engineering with large corporations such as John Holland, Thiess and Dragados, to now working alongside the team at Eastern Pacific.

With a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney and a full spectrum of industry experience from mega-projects to medium and high- rise construction, Rami doesn’t believe in taking shortcuts and wants his team and their families to be confident that each worker will return home healthy and whole.

Rami has always enjoyed the changing nature of construction, with no two buildings or days ever the same. He loves seeing the physical building being completed and considers it a privilege to build homes for people to live in. He finds it extremely satisfying to explain to the homeowner what his team has built for them and to see the joy on their faces.

Rami joined the team in 2015 and as General Manager he is responsible for the overall management of projects and project staff. This includes coordination of all project stages from tendering and pre-planning through to construction and close out and is a mentor to all other staff.

The company’s philosophy to treat everyone like a family member has enamoured Rami to Eastern Pacific. No one is left out in the cold and everyone who works with the team understands what they are all striving to achieve. Working in construction with Eastern Pacific brings Rami such joy and truly believes that if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

Matt Houston

Construction Manager

With a technical background and the ability to focus on the fundamental elements of construction provides Matt with a meticulous eye to review and manage all stages of construction to ensure all risks are mitigated and quality outcomes are delivered.

Matt’s project management career spans more than 15 years. Whether working with the Australian Army internationally, or managing regional and central NSW projects, his passion for quality  and consistency in the overall performance of every project is clearly evident.

Delivering projects in the health, education, industrial, commercial and residential sectors, Matt has an unrivaled skill in being able to effectively manage the entire design and construction process.

Matt has been part of the Eastern Pacific team since 2018 and is responsible for the overall management of our construction projects and is heavily involved in the auditing, ensuring a high level of quality and safety are met. Setting guidelines for the team on site is something Matt takes very seriously, ensuring that everyone is working to the same standard.

Antonios Atia

Bid-Development Manager

Antonios joined Eastern Pacific in 2014, having already spent more than a decade in the construction industry. He is pragmatic and understands that there will always be challenges to overcome. His pre-emptive approach to potential complications, and learning from previous experiences, minimises project risk  across the board.

A natural at building relationships, Antonios’s ability to connect with clients, consultants and contractors enables him to consider a project from many different viewpoints and make sure everyone’s needs are met.

Antonios approaches each project he prices with a high level of passion and negotiates favourable outcomes for Eastern Pacific and our clients.

The pride he takes in his work is palpable and the joy he gets from creating jobs and building communities is admirable. Antonios believes that if your workplace is filled with appreciation and positive energy, being successful comes naturally.

Hany Soliman

Design & Planning Manager

Hany’s career in construction spans more than 33 years, where his experience in high-profiled projects means he has pretty much seen it all.

Hany has worked on projects in all sectors. One of his most notable projects was as the project director for the A$130 million construction of the Bluetongue Brewery in Warnervale. Hany holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, majoring in project and construction management from the University of Technology Sydney and he has been with Eastern Pacific since 2016.

It was Eastern Pacific’s innovative approach that really stood out for Hany. He has dedicated a lot of time and effort to researching new materials, equipment and designs that are economically sustainable while reducing the environmental impact of construction and final use of the building. While he has extensive experience in operational management and design management on multi-level buildings, Hany’s strength lies in his ability to preplan a project and get it construction ready. Hany appreciates that Eastern Pacific built into its model a preplanning phase and he believes that this phase allows for the time to design appropriately, find good materials and therefore contribute towards a strong economical outcome. An additional benefit of the preplanning stage is that it provides the team on the job site with more guidance, allowing them to focus more on completing the job.

His passion for the process and structure strengthens his leadership attributes. Hany holds workshop training sessions for the teams on site so they can be brought in to the decisionmaking process and understand how to prioritise the different aspects of a job. He also encourages the team to deal with any issues that arise while still on site, building camaraderie with the team and emboldening them to offer a helping hand when needed. Hany believes building this solid foundation internally is what will lead to Eastern Pacific’s longevity. His humility is what makes him a trusted adviser.