Chair & Managing Director
Company: Construc Pty Ltd
Rob Thiess has more than 35 years of experience in the design, detailing and inspection of both permanent and temporary works, making him one of the most respected engineering figures in Australia’s scaffolding and temporary works sector. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), a Chartered Member of Engineers Australia (MIEAust), listed on the National Engineers Register, and a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ). His career spans consulting engineering, scaffold operations, product development and industry regulation, underpinned by a strong commitment to safety, compliance and technical excellence.
Rob is currently the National Chair and Managing Director of the Scaffolding Association Australia, a role he has held since 2023 following more than two decades as President of the Scaffolding Association Queensland. As the most senior leader of the Association nationally, he is responsible for overseeing its operations, performance and strategic direction. Under his leadership, the Association continues to advocate strongly on behalf of the scaffolding industry, providing guidance on regulatory change, engaging with government at all levels, and supporting members through improved safety outcomes, training standards and industry representation.
In parallel with his association leadership, Rob has been Managing Director of Construc Pty Ltd since 1998. Construc is a professional engineering consultancy specialising in design and inspection services for the construction, civil and temporary works industries. Rob’s work covers a broad range of systems including formwork, scaffolding, re-shoring, screens, jumpform systems, swing stages, mast climbers and stability propping. He regularly provides engineering certification, site inspections and expert advice on temporary works, crane lifting, specialised fabrications and urgent recovery solutions following incidents. Since its establishment, Construc has successfully delivered more than 7,500 temporary works projects for major builders and contractors across Australia.
Rob’s earlier career combines both engineering consultancy and hands-on scaffolding operations. He was Managing Partner of RG Thiess Consulting, which later evolved into Construc Pty Ltd, and also served as General Manager of Budget Scaffolding, where he led a start-up scaffold business on the Gold Coast, managing labour, fleet and commercial operations across residential and commercial markets. Prior to this, he held the role of Engineering Manager at Boral Building Services (now Acrow), providing technical leadership, product development and quality assurance across Queensland, the Northern Territory and South East Asia.
Beyond his professional roles, Rob has made a substantial contribution to industry standards and regulation. He has served on the Queensland Scaffold Code of Practice and Formwork Code of Practice review committees, the QMBA Safety Sub Committee, and Standards Australia committees BD-092 (Edge Protection) and BD-036 (Scaffolding). He has also contributed expert engineering input to revisions of AS3610 Formwork for Concrete. These roles reflect his long-standing commitment to improving safety, clarity and consistency in scaffolding and temporary works regulation.
Taken together, Rob’s career reflects a rare combination of deep technical expertise, operational understanding and sustained industry leadership. His influence has shaped not only individual projects and businesses, but also the broader regulatory and professional landscape of scaffolding and temporary works in Australia.
Vice Chair
Company: Scafom-rux
Danny Zarb brings nearly four decades of senior leadership experience to the scaffolding and access industry, spanning operational management, commercial strategy, governance and business transformation across Australia and international markets. His career reflects a consistent focus on building strong, well-governed businesses and improving performance across complex, multi-site operations, with deep roots in the scaffolding and access sector.
Alongside his executive career, Danny is a long-standing industry leader and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Scaffolding Association Australia. In this role, he contributes at board level to the strategic direction of the national association, supporting initiatives that strengthen safety outcomes, governance, training and professional standards across the scaffolding industry. His involvement reflects a strong commitment to industry collaboration, advocacy and the long-term development of the sector, both nationally and through engagement with international counterparts.
Danny is also the Australian and New Zealand Managing Director for a global scaffolding systems and solutions provider. In this role, he leads the business across both countries, overseeing commercial performance, operations and market development. His position draws on extensive experience working with scaffold contractors, major projects and industrial clients, and reflects a strong understanding of scaffold systems, compliance requirements and the practical demands of large-scale construction and maintenance environments.
From 2009 to 2025, Danny was Principal and Owner of Miad Consulting, where he worked closely with organisations in senior executive and advisory roles. Through Miad Consulting, he supported businesses with transformation programs, operational improvement, governance frameworks and growth strategies. During this period, he also held a range of interim executive positions including Interim General Manager, Interim CEO and National Business Development Manager, providing hands-on leadership through periods of structural change and expansion.
Together, Danny’s experience reflects a rare combination of commercial leadership, operational depth and industry stewardship. His ongoing contributions through Scafom-rux and the Scaffolding Association Australia position him as a highly respected leader committed to advancing both business performance and the broader scaffolding industry.
Executive Director & Secretary
Company: Base Industries
Jordy Adshead is a highly regarded leader in the scaffolding and access sector, with a career spanning more than two decades across frontline operations, safety leadership, executive management and industry representation. His experience is grounded in hands-on site work and reinforced by senior national roles, giving him a practical, people-focused approach to safety, operations and business leadership.
Jordy currently holds senior roles with the Scaffolding Association Australia, serving as Executive Director and Secretary. In these positions, he works closely with the Board to support the strategic direction and effective operation of the Association, contributes to national advocacy efforts, and helps deliver initiatives that strengthen safety outcomes and professional standards across the scaffolding industry. His role reflects a strong commitment to supporting members, promoting best practice, and helping the industry navigate regulatory and operational change.
Alongside his association responsibilities, Jordy is Director of Growth and Sustainability at Base Industries Australia. This role was created as part of the company’s broader business strategy to strengthen board capability and corporate governance. Jordy plays a key role in driving strategic growth, strengthening risk management frameworks and supporting long-term market positioning, bringing a strong safety and sustainability lens to executive decision-making.
Jordy has spent more than seven years with Base Industries Australia, where he held senior national roles as both National HSEQ Manager and National Operations Manager. In these positions, he was responsible for operational performance and the implementation of rigorous HSEQ systems across the business nationally. He led training and coaching programs that reinforced the belief that everyone in the organisation is a leader in health and safety, helping embed a culture where every employee is valued equally and goes home healthy and safe.
Earlier in his career, Jordy spent significant time working in Western Australia with Rio Tinto, progressing through operational and safety roles including Advanced Scaffolder, Crane Operator and Health and Safety Advisor at Cape Lambert. During this period, he was part of the team that contributed to Rio Tinto’s Global Most Improved Site Award in 2017. He played a key role in developing and delivering a Hazard Identification Awareness program to more than 550 employees and contractors, including senior leadership, which led to increased hazard reporting and a reduction in incidents and injuries. He also supported the rollout of Critical Risk Management initiatives and participated in Kaizen safety improvement activities within safety-critical departments.
Jordy’s early career was firmly grounded in scaffold operations, beginning as a scaffolder and advancing through roles such as Advanced Scaffolder at Monadelphous, Site Supervisor at Essential Scaffold, Yard Manager at Ridgebay Access, and scaffolder with Bell Scaffolding and Melbourne Scaffolding. This progression from the tools to senior leadership gives him a deep understanding of site realities, workforce challenges and the importance of practical, workable safety systems.
Taken together, Jordy’s experience reflects a strong blend of frontline scaffolding expertise, national operational leadership, HSEQ excellence and industry advocacy. His career demonstrates a consistent commitment to improving safety culture, strengthening businesses and contributing to the long-term sustainability and professionalism of the scaffolding industry in Australia.
Non-Executive Board Member
Tina brings a proven record of transformative leadership, governance excellence, and international collaboration across the scaffolding, rigging, and wider specialist trades industries. As the outgoing Chief Executive of Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand (SARNZ) and current Chair of the New Zealand Specialist Trade Contractors Federation (NZSTCF), she has been instrumental in driving regulatory reform, advancing licensing frameworks, and reshaping the vocational education landscape for the construction sector. She is also recognised as a key voice in the vocational education sector for specialist trades, ensuring fair representation and stronger pathways for skills development across the industry.
A recognised international voice in scaffolding advocacy, Tina was pivotal in establishing Memorandums of Understanding between SARNZ, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (UK), and the Scaffolding Association Australia, fostering alignment on global safety and competency standards.
During her tenure, Tina led SARNZ through two successful amalgamations — with the Industrial Rope Access Association of New Zealand (IRAANZ) and SRIIT — expanding the Association’s advocacy reach and technical expertise. She also spearheaded SARNZ’s achievement of ISO accreditation, embedding continuous improvement and operational excellence at every level of the organisation.
Her leadership and contribution to the industry have been acknowledged through multiple awards, including being named Highly Commended Rising Star of the Year by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and receiving the Rising Star Award at the Australian Workplace Health and Safety Show for her work in safety innovation and mental health advocacy.
Tina’s appointment reflects SAA’s commitment to strong governance, cross-border collaboration, and the elevation of professional standards across the scaffolding sector. Her strategic insight, international relationships, and people-focused leadership will play a key role in shaping the future direction of the Association.
Non-Executive Board Member & General Manager
Company: Scaffolding Association Australia
Erryn O’Brien is a senior industry leader and experienced business and marketing professional with more than 17 years’ experience in the scaffolding and construction sector. Her career combines association management, industry advocacy and hands-on commercial experience, with a strong focus on lifting professionalism, strengthening engagement and building a unified voice for the scaffolding industry.
Erryn is the General Manager of the Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA), where she manages the day-to-day operations of the national association alongside its strategic direction, campaigns, events and communications. Prior to the launch of the SAA in 2023, Erryn served as Executive Officer of the Scaffolding Association Queensland (SAQ) for six years and played a central role in leading and managing the transition from a state-based association to a national body. Her work during this period helped establish the foundations for SAA’s national presence, governance framework and member engagement strategy.
In her role with the SAA, Erryn is responsible for overseeing strategy implementation, national campaigns, member communications, conferences and events, sponsorship and partnerships. She works closely with the Board, committees and industry stakeholders to ensure the Association delivers practical value to members while advocating effectively on issues impacting the scaffolding and temporary works sector. She is particularly passionate about strengthening the industry’s professional standing and ensuring scaffold businesses have a clear, credible voice with regulators, government and principal contractors.
Erryn also serves on the SAA Board as a Non-Executive Board Member, where she contributes to the Association’s strategic direction, supports member engagement initiatives and helps guide the continued growth and maturity of the national organisation. Her board contribution is grounded in her operational knowledge of the Association and her broader industry experience.
Across her career, Erryn has developed strong capability in construction industry marketing and management, sponsorship and negotiations, budgeting, event management, corporate communications, contract administration, finance and project management. She also has experience working with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001), Safety Management Systems (AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 45001), and scaffolding-related compliance frameworks. Known for her practical, driven and relationship-focused approach, Erryn continues to play a key role in supporting the growth, professionalism and long-term sustainability of Australia’s scaffolding industry.
Interested in joining a committee and contributing to the future of scaffolding in Australia? Apply here.