When Nick Zardo first knocked on the door of Guideline ACT in the late 1980s, he was a teenager determined to break into construction. “I just went around knocking on doors, looking for a start. The owner of Guideline didn’t say no straight up, so I kept going back. On about the third time he took pity on me and gave me a job,” Nick recalls. “I kicked off as a trainee engineer and I went to TAFE. I probably wasn’t a great student and not 100 percent sure of the industry at the time, but I just took it on from day one and haven’t looked back.”
Guideline ACT has been shaping Canberra’s civil landscape for decades. From sewerage and water treatment plants, upgrades to all the water supply dams and bridges, to all types of underground services, the company has delivered the infrastructure that underpins the city’s growth. “Most of our good stuff is underground, unnoticed, and people just drive over it, oblivious to the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into what’s underneath,” Nick says. “But that’s what we do.”
For Nick, the company has always been about more than machines and projects. It’s about people, including two of Guideline’s emerging leaders: General Manager and shareholder Jake Pulo, and Project Engineer Michael Zardo. Both are on track to become directors of the business. “I see both of them as the future of Guideline ACT,” Nick says. “I’ve never been more excited about succession and ensuring it’s here for the next 40 years.”
As Nick’s son, Michael grew up around Guideline, particularly drawn to the machinery. “I’ve only been at Guideline for about seven years now, but I’ve always been around it,” he says. “I just love it – it’s always been a part of my life. I believe in hard work, and I know you don’t always know what the future holds, but if you plan for the best and prepare for the worst, the future’s positive. You just work hard and it gets recognised.” Since joining Guideline, Michael has become a supervisor and is now stepping into a Project Engineer role. “I know where I want to go, and I know where I should go – I can see my future here.”
Jake’s path was different. Raised in Wollongong in a boilermaker’s household, he studied civil engineering. “I got into Wollongong Uni on a scholarship, studied civil engineering and worked in Sydney with Azzurri Concrete and then Boral. But I realised I loved the hands-on stuff. It’s not in my veins to sit in an office all day. I love the camaraderie with the teams and getting the best out of people,” he explains.
Nick sees their progress as proof that the culture of Guideline is working. “We’ve always believed in training our own, giving people the chance to grow with us. Jake and Michael are the next generation; they’ll take Guideline into the future.”
The industry they are inheriting has changed dramatically since Nick first picked up a stringline and bubble. “The paperwork’s multiplied. Safety has become paramount. Technology like GPS and digital design has transformed the way we work. We’re building safer and smarter. But we can’t lose the old values: hard work, honesty, respect.”
Guideline’s projects tell the story of Canberra’s growth. “The Arboretum is a great monument to the city,” Nick says. “We built the terraces and the roads there. When you drive around and see it, you feel proud. That’s what it’s about.”
The Master Builders Association has been part of that pride. “Guideline ACT has recognised the benefit of being a member of the MBA throughout its history,” Nick says. “The MBA is our representative. They give us a united voice. Individually we can’t do much about unfair contracts, but together we can. Their advocacy is critical; sometimes it’s about what they stop from happening, as much as what they achieve.”
Looking to the future, the team sees growth and opportunity. “Canberra’s population has reached a tipping point. The next ten years will be really busy, more complex jobs, and even some once-in-a-lifetime projects,” Jake says. Michael agrees. “With growth comes the opportunity to build local skills, so people here can deliver complex projects rather than having to bring in teams from Sydney or Melbourne.” Nick is equally confident: “Canberra will become the best place to live in Australia, probably the most expensive too, but Guideline will remain flexible and ready for the future.”
