Peter Henden joined Cercol in 2011. He was fresh off the plane from the UK, seeking a new and exciting career challenge as well as new opportunities for his family. “I’m a blow-in” he says with a smile. “My wife and I decided we wanted to experience life in Australia and its opportunities for our daughters. I got a job as Project Manager, and here I am 14 years later, co-owner of that same company, loving life in Canberra and thankful we made the move.”
Within weeks of arriving in Canberra, Peter was on site at Duntroon, leading a complex refurbishment that set the tone for his Australian career. “My first job here was at the Chief of Defence Force’s house. When the client, Defence Housing Australia, asked if I was used to heritage work, and what was the oldest building I had worked in, I was happy to tell them it was a twelfth century church where George Washington’s grandfather had been a parishioner. It was a great job – not least because it was next to a good old fashioned English pub.” Whilst Defence Housing Association was the client, Peter remembers that the then-Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, could not have been nicer, and both he and his wife were heavily involved in the project.
Since its inception, Cercol has built a reputation as one of Canberra chosen builders for sensitive, high-profile projects. This continues under Peter’s guidance. “We have worked at Old Parliament House undertaking various works on accessibility, waterproofing and the front steps. We have worked with Eric Martin and Philip Leeson, both recoginised heritage architects, and we are regularly found at Duntroon, having worked on houses for the Chief of Navy, Vice Chief of the Defence Force and the Chief of Army. I have met three Prime Ministers when handing over various projects.”
Another momentous project in Peter’s repertoire was the Jewish Memorial Centre in Forrest. “The project doubled the size of the Centre and I’m proud to say it won the 2021 MBA Excellence award. The joinery detailing was exceptional. We mainly used our own carpenters and they did an amazing job. Curved blockwork was a bugger to do but worth the work. Everything had to be anti-ballistic which added another layer to the complexity. The community was so welcoming and held a ceremony in our honour. Knowing they were pleased with the outcome meant a lot to me and the team.”
Peter recalls another notable project in the nearby NSW town of Booroowa where the team extended an aged care facility by adding a 13-bed dementia wing. “We really worked with the client to get the best outcome for those who would go onto use the facility. Keeping the building’s purpose in mind is paramount; it means much more than just a project to the client, so it has to mean more to us as well.”
Peter believes heritage projects demand empathy as much as they demand skills. “When you work on heritage projects, you are not just building, you are conserving stories, culture and identity.”
As much as Peter enjoys heritage work he is just as excited to embrace modern innovation. “We are currently building a high-efficiency Passiv Haus in Chisholm. It will only use 1.5 KW to heat and cool. This is where the industry is heading and it’s energising to witness and use these new advances in building.”
Alongside managing projects and the company, mentoring and education are extremely important to Peter, and he was pleased to become an Adjunct Associate Professor in Construction Management at the University of Canberra. “Giving lectures and guidance is a way to encourage students in their journey into the industry and help to ensure that it continues to grow and develop in Canberra and across Australia,” Peter says. He is a champion of women in construction, having trained many female cadets over the years, and would love to see more flourishing within the industry.
Outside of the industry Peter is a keen volunteer for the Rural Fire Service, and before that was an active member of the ACT Emergency Service. This, and his longstanding career in the industry, won him the inaugural John Haskin Memorial Award for Services to the Construction Industry in the ACT in November 2023.
Peter has been involved with the Master Builders ACT for some years, serving on the Board and chairing the Commercial Sector meetings. “When I became a director at Cercol, I started going along to the Commercial Sector meetings and found that they provide a good space for the industry to come together to address issues. Yes, often we are competing for work, but when we are at the meetings, as members of the MBA, we are collaborating and finding solutions together.”
On industry challenges, he is outspoken. “Ethics is the word, and it shouldn’t be a swear word. Cutting corners is not an option, it is wrong and will, in every way, cost more in the long run. You live and die by your reputation!” Looking forward, he sees many opportunities. “Technology like prefabrication and digital tools are transforming how we build, but we can’t lose sight of quality.”
