Team

Ahsan Ashraf

Project Scheduler

Ahsan Ashraf is an engineer with more than 15 years of construction industry experience. He has a background working on international large scale projects in Australia, Middle East and Asia in LNG, process industry and infrastructure sectors for various engineering and construction firms. He specializes in project planning, scheduling, delay analysis, extension of time assessments and programme management. His main areas of expertise include preparing updating and reporting progress on live construction schedules, producing successful tender schedules for projects of various contract types and sizes. His project experience ranges from concept and design through to construction, commissioning and delivery. He has a demonstrated competency in developing and maintaining live construction schedules, analysing complex construction delays and an in-depth understanding of programme management. He has prepared and maintained schedules on a range of projects in principal and contractor environments across a variety of contract delivery methods. He is a certified Project Management Professional and holds master’s degree in construction law. In addition to his project planning and scheduling expertise, Ahsan also specialises in delay and disruption claims. He is experienced in development and evaluation of complex construction delay claims using different delay analysis methods for bespoke and standard forms of contracts. Ahsan has a growing family at home, and his weekends are busy, often filled with swimming lessons and trips to regional areas throughout Victoria. Want to get in touch with Ashan? ahsan.ashraf@touchprojects.com.au

Ali Yekenkurul

Program Manager/Senior Project Manager

Ali has a building/project management background having initially worked for construction companies both in Australia and overseas on the contractor side and for the past 20 years on the client side as a Client-Side Project Manager.

Ali has successfully demonstrated his project management skills – planning, organising, controlling, leading - in the delivery of capital projects within a complex facilities / capital projects / buildings & assets department and has been directly involved in end-to-end project management at all stages of the Project Life Cycle – Initiation, Planning and Design, Procurement, Construction and Handover.

He is an effective team member and is experienced in leading projects and project teams. He has managed a diverse range of capital building / infrastructure projects for various clients that include local government projects such as leisure centre redevelopment and community / pavilion buildings and extensions; state government projects such as court room refurbishments and fire stations and university/education projects such as lecture theatre upgrades and new innovative education buildings.

Outside work you will most likely find Ali tinkering away on woodworking projects (coffee tables, chopping boards) at home and he loves watching and playing football – the world game (as far as his legs can take him). He is also known to randomly bring in Turkish sweets for the team and has even brought in his own ‘cezve’ to brew only the best coffee – Turkish coffee. 

Want to get in touch with Ali? ali.yekenkurul@touchprojects.com.au

Angela Christou

Finance Manager

Angela has over 20 years’ experience in accounts and financial management having extensively worked across both private and public sectors.

Having completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree with Majors in Accounting & Marketing, Angela brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the team. She manages the accounts and payroll function for Touch Projects.

Outside work Angela is a full-time mum of two teenage kids. Her spare time is often taken up cooking various gourmet dishes and baking delicious sweets… it's no secret that the family is spoilt with the many choices.

Want to get in touch with Angela? angela.christou@touchprojects.com.au

Antoinette Niakolas

Graduate Project Manager

Antoinette Niakolas is completing her Bachelor of Applied Science (Project Management) studies at RMIT University.

She has an appreciation of architecture and buildings and is passionate about learning how complex buildings and other structures are built and become dynamic and operational assets for organisations. Antoinette also has also studied first year Civil engineering and is interested in how civil infrastructure ties communities and the built form together.

You will never really know, but Antoinette is a passionate St Kilda supporter who has a guaranteed ticket to the AFL grand final…whenever St Kilda may make it (next is the year, ok!). She also loves playing basketball in a team with her three older sisters, as rumour has it this brings out the competitive streak in all of them. Passionate about helping others, Antoinette volunteered as Head Coach of the Special Olympic Girls Basketball team, whom just won gold at the National games! If you didn’t quite get that she loves all kinds of sports, Antoinette has been water skiing since the age of 3, and one of her favourite summer activities is going to Lake Eildon and gliding on the water with her family and friends.

Want to get in touch with Antoinette? antoinette.niakolas@touchprojects.com.au

Athena Savvas

Administration Manager

Athena is our much-loved Administration Manager that oversees all administration, marketing, social media, and basically plays the role of mum for most of the crew.

Having studied Psychology and with a subsequent qualification as a Travel Consultant... one wonders why she has chosen to work with such a shady bunch of characters at Touch Projects.

Outside work, Athena is the a full time mum of three kids which means her nights and weekends are well and truly sorted from the moment she wakes until she's poured her first glass of red – we hope this doesn’t happen too early in the day!

Athena is a popular member of the team and brings with her a great mix of humour, experience, and attention to detail.

Want to get in touch with Athena? athena.savvas@touchprojects.com.au

Bob Bocevski

Senior Project Manager

Bob is an accomplished Senior Project Manager and experienced Business Leader with over 20 years project experience throughout Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. A qualified engineer by profession, he has delivered many projects for state government bodies and related agencies in excess of $100m. His considerable project experience with the likes of VicTrack, Dept of Transport (Vic), VicRoads and the TAC has underpinned his career development

He has led the development and implementation of significant construction programs and is proficient in asset management within the finance and building industry. He is also highly experienced in production, quality assurance, stakeholder management and business development.

He also has considerable construction experience working previously with Grocon, delivering a large number of residential apartment developments, hotel refurbishments and other commercial builds.

Outside work, Bob is busy spending time with his family and coaching his young kids through local soccer. He is also an avid fly fisherman and really enjoys fishing for Freshwater Trout and Murray Cod. He’s also a passionate Ford man deep down, and has always got a resto project on the go.

Want to get in touch with Bob? bob.bocevski@touchprojects.com.au

Clark Ax

Senior Project Manager

Clark is a Senior Project Manager with over 15 years’ experience spanning client-side, consulting, and contracting environments. He has worked on a diverse spread of projects that includes light rail, civil infrastructure, event-based, commercial buildings and office fit-out projects.

Clark has recent experience delivering complex infrastructure projects in high-profile high-risk live environments. These projects include Route 96 Project (Nicholson Street), Acland Street redevelopment, Melbourne Airport (airside redevelopment), Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, and EastLink Toll Motorway.

Clark is passionate about the projects he works on and has demonstrated success in leading and motivating high-performing teams and projects under varying project frameworks.

Originating from New Zealand, Clark will never miss an opportunity to remind anyone who has the best rugby team in the world. Outside of work and his growing young family, Clark enjoys anything outdoors and will always welcome suggestions for a good holiday!

Want to get in touch with Clark? clark.ax@touchprojects.com.au

Demos Michalopoulos

Senior Traffic & Transport Consultant

Demos Michalopoulos is an experienced Traffic & Transport Engineer with considerable experience in this sector. He has previously advised government departments for major events such as the Athens Olympics, 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Australian Open Tennis, Formula One Grand Prix and many other large and small special events.

He is acutely aware of all the moving parts on any road related project or initiative and has a solid understanding of Victoria’s dynamic public transport network, its policy framework, its operations, and how this collectively can underpin the delivery of these initiatives.

He used to be a closet Melbourne Victory supporter, but these days he seems to have regained the confidence of a bygone era. We won’t be surprised if he walks in on a Monday after a big win in full team colours.

Want to get in touch with Demos? demos.michalopoulos@touchprojects.com.au

Emir Ameti

Project Manager

Emir is an experienced Project Manager having delivered many projects throughout Victoria over the last 15 years or so. Having managed capital works projects in the local government sector for well over a decade, he has a solid appreciation of what communities need and how to best engage with them to get the best project outcomes. He is also experienced in civil infrastructure, having delivered numerous road projects for MRPV and other infrastructure projects in the last 5 years.

Emir has an engineering qualification which means he has an excellent technical understanding and his expertise is called upon to assist with developing construction methodologies for complex construction problems that a project may encounter. He is renowned for his enthusiasm, commitment, and ability to complete complex projects within tight programs. His exemplary performance is bolstered by his ability to harness the best results from the whole project team that he works with.

Outside work, Emir enjoyed playing competitive soccer for 15 years, but these days he pounds the pavements to stay fit. He is an avid AFL fan and follows his beloved Bulldogs. If the round ball is more your thing, you’d be delighted to know that he’s a Manchester United fan when it comes to European football. If you have (quite) some time to spare, pull him aside and you’ll find he’s happy to talk all things sport

Want to get in touch with Emir? emir.ameti@touchprojects.com.au

Faizan Hassan

Project Controls Manager

Faizan Hassan is an experienced Scheduler and Project Controls Manager with experience spanning over 18 years here and abroad. A qualified Civil Engineer by profession, he has been a key member of many project teams delivering many medium and large projects for local, state government bodies and large corporations.

He has led the development and implementation of significant construction programs and is proficient in asset management and maximizing its lifecycle. He is also highly experienced in production, quality assurance, stakeholder management and business development.

He also has considerable construction experience working previously with Grocon Group, delivering a large number of residential apartment developments, hotel refurbishments and other commercial builds.

Outside work, Faizan is busy spending time with his young family and extended family. He enjoys the outdoors and likes to load up the car and visit regional Victoria as often as he can

Want to get in touch with Faizan? faizan.hassan@touchprojects.com.au

Glen Merchant

Project Manager

Glen Merchant is a highly experienced Project Manager with a wealth of expertise in civil and infrastructure projects. With a strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects across various sectors.

Over the course of 20 years in the civil industry, Glen has managed a wide range of commercial civil infrastructure projects. From federal, state, and local governments to tier one and two companies, he has consistently delivered projects ranging from $1 million to $75 million. His comprehensive background in tendering, procurement, programming, cost tracking, and contract administration ensures the efficient and effective management of projects from start to finish.

Glen holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Graduate Certificate in Construction Management, and a Diploma in Project Management. These qualifications and extensive experience provide him with a well-rounded skill set and a deep understanding of the industry.

Want to get in touch with Glen? glen.merchant@touchprojects.com.au

Halil Yorulmaz

Project Engineer

Halil is a Project Engineer with civil construction experience both here in Victoria and abroad.

He has been a key member of the project team that is delivering light rail works associated with Suburban Rail Loop Project currently underway between Cheltenham and Box Hill.  In this role, Halil is providing support to the project team that is doing tram line augmentation works at Box Hill and Burwood in preparation for tunnelling works that will be commencing as part of this project.

Halil also has expertise in design interpretation and technical reviews, procurement take off’s for numerous projects, including Turkey’s Main Irrigation Channel in Kilavuzlu. He has hands-on trade experience in the construction industry that has given him an excellent understanding of construction methodologies and the ability to solve technical problems on site.

In his free time, Halil enjoys spending time in the outdoors and since moving to Australia has become a passionate camper.  You will find him regularly sleeping under the stars in Victoria’s high country or closer to home in Mount Disappointment, which is a great achievement given he and his wife now have a toddler that always comes along.

Want to get in touch with Halil? halil.yorulmaz@touchprojects.com.au

Helmi Som

Project Manager

Helmi is a seasoned Project Manager with over 20 years of experience in successfully managing complex construction projects in Australia and Asia. His expertise includes railway station builds, tunnelling, bridge works, operational depots upgrades, road upgrades, and signal installation.

Furthermore, Helmi has extensive international experience, having spent over a decade in Singapore managing new station builds, tunnelling, bridge works, and other rail enhancements as a Construction Manager.

Outside of work, Helmi enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his three growing children. He is a keen badminton player and participates in weekly tournaments. He is a responsible and caring parent who loves to attend his children’s sports events and family gatherings on weekends.

Want to get in touch with Helmi? helmi.som@touchprojects.com.au 

John Christou

General Manager

John is a part owner and the General Manager of Touch Projects. He has solid traffic and transport engineering experience over 20 years in Roads Management Strategy and Public Transport Management specialising in light rail and road infrastructure projects.

Prior to joining Touch Projects, John has held key project roles on public and private sectors managing the development and delivery of many complex and technically challenging projects.

He is a member of the Australian Institute of Engineers.

John is a professional that sets the bar high for himself and expects the same from his staff and his colleagues. His is passionate about achieving great project outcomes without compromising the core objectives of the project.

John is also a chairman of the Management Committee for a number of Aged Care facilities providing a variety of services to the community. He is also the President of Community of Cypriots of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne Inc, and is active on a range of activities and programs throughout the year. He loves being active with his two kids, and loves challenging them to organising traditional cooking events at home.

Want to get in touch with John? john.christou@touchprojects.com.au

Joshua Chan

Graduate Project Engineer

Joshua Chan is a dynamic and ambitious professional who has recently joined the Touch Projects team as a Graduate Project Engineer through our highly esteemed Grad Program. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Design, with a double major in Property and Construction from the University of Melbourne, Joshua brings a fresh perspective and a strong foundation in project management principles to his role. With a firm belief in the power of utilizing acquired skills and knowledge to drive positive contributions, Joshua is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in his work. Known for his strong work ethic and diligent approach to his responsibilities, he excels in both independent and collaborative settings. Joshua thrives under pressure, consistently delivering high-quality results while maintaining a reliable and responsible work style. Drawing from his diverse experiences in various industries, Joshua possesses exceptional interpersonal skills that have been further honed through active participation in school programs and extracurricular activities. Joshua’s hunger for growth and his ability to adapt quickly to new environments and situations make him an invaluable asset to the Touch Projects team. As a dedicated learner and a natural problem-solver, he is committed to continuously developing his skills and expanding his knowledge in project management. Want to get in touch with John? joshua.chan@touchprojects.com.au

Matthew Maher

Head of Strategy & Growth

Matthew is a highly motivated and successful strategist, with a strong focus on strategic growth, management, relationships and a proven track record of achieving results.

He is an experienced and well-rounded construction professional with a career spanning 30 years in the building and construction industries in both contractor and client-side. Matthew has been fortunate to experience multiple roles as a business owner and management roles at both State and National levels within the industry, providing him with a high level of practical experience and a knowledge-based understanding of the industry and an extensive network of contacts.

Matthew places great emphasis on professional development and in recent years he completed his MBA (RMIT), and this new skillset has brought considerable guidance, advice and wisdom to the Touch Projects executive team.

Outside of work, Matthew is a dad to two teenagers which means he owns considerable shares in Uber. He is also a passionate Tigers fan that is more than happy to share weekend stats, results and outcomes if you’re willing to sit and listen

Want to get in touch with Matthew to discuss your next project? matthew.maher@touchprojects.com.au

Melih Akbal

Project Engineer

Melih (Mel) Akbal is a highly skilled and experienced Project Engineer with a proven track record of successfully delivering a wide range of construction projects.

With four years of industry experience, Mel is currently contributing to the construction of Bus Stops for the Department of Transport and Planning in Melbourne. His expertise extends to various sectors, including substations, gas processing plants, high-rise buildings, hotels, and containment cells.

As a dedicated professional with a strong engineering background, Mel’s passion lies in taking on responsibilities and challenges in his field. With his diverse experience across different project types, he brings a unique perspective and adaptable skill set to every project he undertakes.

Mel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in the field. He demonstrates exceptional problem-solving abilities, utilising his analytical mindset and attention to detail to identify and address project complexities.

Want to get in touch with Melih to discuss your next project? melih.akbal@touchprojects.com.au

Michael Barrow

Senior Project Manager

Michael Barrow is an experienced Senior Project Manager with considerable experience in within the Heavy Rail and Communications sectors working on both the client and contractor side.

He understands the machinery of government and the effort it takes to deliver large projects with many moving parts. Diversity in stakeholder management requires managing a group of key people with often differing corporate, commercial or political motivations. Michael’s relaxed approach sees him engage with various people to achieve great project outcomes.

Outside work, and with Michael’s kids now flown the coup, you will often find him (deliberately) out of phone range enjoying the great outdoors with his wife, camping at various spots around Victoria.

Want to get in touch with Michael? michael.barrow@touchprojects.com.au

Mike Javadi

Senior Project Manager

Mike is a well-respected Civil Engineer with over 20 years experience in the construction industry in Australia and abroad. During this period, he has delivered multiple transport infrastructure projects and industrial processing plants.

Mike's experience has been in the heavy construction space that includes roads, rail, metro, and viaduct stations, pump stations and pipe lines, HV/LV emergency power stations and transmission lines. His experience and methodical management approach reinforces his reputation as being able to motivate different teams with competing corporate interests, to successfully achieve great project outcomes.

With broad experience from a variety of complex projects, Mike has developed his skillset that includes project construction management, preparing and managing tender documentation, contract management, risk management, stakeholder management, and tender and design reviews.

Having worked overseas for several years Mike has re-settled in Melbourne and enjoys being close to friends and family.

Outside work, Mike enjoys getting his hands dirty with various small and large DIY projects around the house. He is always willing to share his knowledge and expertise and is always happy to lend his tools (and trailer) to fellow DIY’ers within the Touch Projects team.

Want to get in touch with Mike? mike.javadi@touchprojects.com.au

Neil Christall

Project Manager

Neil is a well-respected Project Manager with a civil engineering background that spans over 20 years.  His projects include a mix of land development, water infrastructure, heavy rail, sports & recreation facilities, defense and other infrastructure projects throughout Victoria and New Zealand.

Since settling in Australia in 2004, he’s worked on numerous Water Industry projects throughout Victoria. He held the role of Superintendents Representative for the Pumpstations, Mini-hydro Plant and Treatment Plant Direct Connection Works on the drought breaking Bendigo to Ballarat Superpipe terminating at the White Swan Reservoir.  Since then, he has worked on the Regional Rail Project, Brunswick Terminal Station Project, Flood Recovery Infrastructure and Bushfire Recovery Infrastructure Projects for Parks Victoria, Recreation Infrastructure Projects and more.

Neil has an excellent technical understanding and is often relied upon to resolve technical construction problems that a project may encounter.  He always maintains visibility of the bigger picture and communicates effectively with the client, contractors and members of his team.

Outside work, Neil enjoys a raft of different activities that include coaching Auskick and junior basketball, mountain biking, heading out on his motorbike, family camping getaways in his 4WD and taking the kids to the snow. He is known to occasionally disturb the peace by launching his V8 powered jet boat on one of Victoria’s many lakes and waterways.

Want to get in touch with Neil? neil.christall@touchprojects.com.au

Nick Savvas

CEO

Nick Savvas is the founder and CEO of Touch Projects. He has over 20 years industry experience including Public Transportation, Light Rail, Infrastructure and Logistics and has held key project delivery roles on large, private & public sector projects throughout Australia.

Nick is passionate on building the right team to deliver great project outcomes. This may sometimes require pulling together people from different backgrounds to get the job done. Nick’s goal is to continuously build and develop his team and ensures they are often out of their comfort zones. He acutely understands team dynamics and has an uncanny ability to motivate and get the best out of people.

He is a member of the Australian Institute of Project Managers and the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia.

In his not-so-often spare time, Nick loves to launch his boat and cruise the waters around Wilsons Promontory looking for a secret beach or hidden cove with his three kids. Whilst he claims to be an avid fisherman amongst his circles, truth be told (by his immediate family), there is seldom any fresh fish for dinner at home.

Want to get in touch with Nick? nick.savvas@touchprojects.com.au

Sara Walker

Marketing Manager

Sara is a highly creative marketing professional who brings a wide range of skills and experience across marketing, design, digital content creation and events. Her passion for facilitating growth through her marketing capabilities is contagious and helps drive our business activities through developed strategies, campaigns and actions. Sara is able to identify key priorities whilst managing multiple projects via her exceptional communication skills, not to mention her ability to lead and set direction. Furthermore, she has sound digital and social capabilities to drive content strategy across multiple channels. What would we do without her! When Sara isn’t concocting new marketing ideas, she loves planning and discussing her next travel adventure and checking out the latest restaurant’s and bars in and around Melbourne.