Proterra Group

About Us

Proterra Group exists to support and strengthen communities across regional Australia.

We work closely with local government to build meaningful relationships which help us better understand the specific requirements of your region.

This strong collaboration enables us to deliver fit-for-purpose civil engineering, project, asset and waste management solutions.

As we expand our business and services to meet the needs of regional and rural Australia, we are committed to providing better infrastructure, growth and sustainability for the areas in which we work, live and socialise.

While we pride ourselves on our reliable, no-nonsense project delivery, our real satisfaction comes from being part of the communities that put their trust in us.

Meet Our Team

It has been said that the role of a great executive team is to provide strategic and operational leadership to the company.

Sure, that’s part of it, but at Proterra Group, we believe it’s more than that.



We believe it’s about collaboration and communication with the entire workforce. We believe leadership comes from every direction, and as such we stand beside our employees, not above them.



We embrace our team’s diversity, we ask for and listen to their opinions, we cherish and learn from each other’s vast experience and knowledge, and together we grow.



Through this collaborative and inclusive approach, we are better able to help our clients achieve the best results to support and grow their communities. 


Sean Rice (Ricey)
Business Development Manager | Owner
Engineer RPEQ 08200
Sean Rice (Ricey)
Business Development Manager | Owner
Engineer RPEQ 08200

Ricey is the Business Development Manager and an Owner of Proterra Group. 


He has spent most of his career in Regional Australia either directly employed by Local Government or providing consulting and construction services to Council clients across NSW and QLD. 


He is a highly experienced Chartered RPEQ Civil Engineer and has held positions on several boards (including President, Vice President and Secretary) and is currently the IPWEAQ-NT President. 


Ricey has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course and has held full-time and seconded roles with several Councils in the positions of Director of Engineering Services, Works Engineer and Chief Executive Officer.


He is also a member of the Mentoring for Growth Panel (M4G) and over the past 8 years has worked with over 25 regional businesses.

Jim O’Dea
Operations Manager & Owner
Engineer RPEQ 24787 QBCC 1156451
Jim O’Dea
Operations Manager & Owner
Engineer RPEQ 24787 QBCC 1156451

Accomplished and client-focused, Jim is ultimately responsible for the performance of all the operational departments within Proterra Group. 


He brings together his extensive experience in major infrastructure projects across the civil, mining, environmental and building sectors to guide the department leaders to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients. He is a diplomatic leader and analytical thinker who can inspire and cultivate productive working relationships with employees and partners alike. 


Jim is Chartered and an RPEQ Engineer holds a QBCC license and is a Certified Practising Senior Project Manager. He is strongly involved in the local community and has held executive positions with UDIA, a board position with Mary MacKillop Catholic College and he is a current member of the Highfields Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. 

Fiona O’Dea
Finance Manager & Owner
BBUS Accounting
Fiona O’Dea
Finance Manager & Owner
BBUS Accounting

Fiona is the Finance Manager at Proterra Group. She has been with Proterra Group since 2015 and has been instrumental in driving the financial growth of the company. Fiona comes from a background in the commercial construction and engineering sectors working both in site and non-site-based roles. These roles have varied from financial management to project reporting, site, and contract administration in addition to quality assurance and workplace health and safety.


In addition to her role as Finance Manager, Fiona is also a mentor to young future leaders within the Toowoomba business community, acting as a mentor with the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce Future Leaders Advisory Group Mentor Program and Pyjama Foundation. 

Anni Colbran
Waste Manager
Anni Colbran
Waste Manager

Anni is the Waste Manager at Proterra Group. She specialises in waste management strategic planning and operational management of weighbridges, resource recovery areas (RRAs), transfer stations and landfills.


Anni’s wide-ranging knowledge and understanding of the waste management industry, current legislation and waste strategies for regional areas makes her an expert on sustainable waste management.

Michael Shellshear
Engineering Manager
Engineer RPEQ 17364
Michael Shellshear
Engineering Manager
Engineer RPEQ 17364

Mick is the Engineering Manager at Proterra Group. He has a diverse knowledge base including water supply and wastewater infrastructure, road infrastructure design, engineering plans and reports, waste facility design and project management of a range of projects including construction, maintenance, and natural disaster recovery projects.


In addition to his role as Engineering Manager, he is a highly experienced RPEQ-registered civil engineer. He directly supports his team of technical professionals to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions.


Mick also supports personnel within our business on their RPEQ pathway.

Joel Devey
Assets Manager
Joel Devey
Assets Manager

Joel is an Assets Manager within the Asset Management team at Proterra Group. Thanks to his 10 years within the industry, he has a broad range of skills including technical writing, engineering account management, mechanical drafting, procurement, sales, and logistics.


He thrives in a busy work environment, with his strengths being the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical colleagues, grasp a wide range of sales, commercial, technical, operational, and legal concepts and bring them together to form proposals.

David Bell
Regional Projects Manager
David Bell
Regional Projects Manager

David is the Regional Projects Manager at Proterra Group. He has extensive knowledge and background in Road Construction and maintenance, particularly in Road Maintenance, Bitumen / Asphalt surfacing and pavement space. He has an Associate Diploma in Civil Engineering and has experience working in all tiers of the industry. Project management, tendering, contract management, estimating, client liaison and business management are some of his skill sets. David’s role is to provide leadership and management to Proterra Group's natural disaster recovery projects and other civil projects across the regional areas.


David is active in the roads industry having been on various committees and chairperson positions over the years and is a regular at attending conferences and delivering presentations.

Ashleigh Morrow
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering
Ashleigh Morrow
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering

Ashleigh is a Civil Engineer with a strong background in local government and who is passionate about delivering projects on time and within budget for councils. 


She has experience in project management, development engineering, water and wastewater engineering and a great record for delivering real outcomes for regional communities on the Downs.

Clare Ferguson
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons)
Clare Ferguson
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons)

Clare is a Civil Engineer at Proterra Group who is energetic and passionate about all things engineering, in particular, moving dirt. 


She has been involved in several major projects that included bulk earthworks, drainage, sewer and water main installation and has gained knowledge in quality assurance working on large infrastructure projects in Queensland over the last five years.


Clare has strong ties to the Institute of Public Works and Engineering Queensland Branch, presenting her thesis titled "Building Better Roads - the Management of Repeated Damage to regional unsealed roads due to Flooding" as a finalist of the 2021 Futures Challenges and is also currently an IPWEAQ Young Ambassador.

Courtney Shadbolt
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
Courtney Shadbolt
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

Courtney is a Civil Engineer at Proterra Group and has management experience working on projects for the Toowoomba Regional Council since 2018. Her major projects include managing the construction of the Highfields Library and overseeing the Sustainable Transport Refresh Strategy.


Courtney has extensive experience within her field, working hard and excelling in all she puts her mind to. She is active in the industry as an IPWEA-QNT and Engineers Australia member, and in her spare time, volunteers in her community. 

Lachlan O'Dempsey
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil/Structural) (Hons)
Lachlan O'Dempsey
Civil Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil/Structural) (Hons)

Lachlan is a Civil Engineer at Proterra Group and is proficient in the areas of road construction and water infrastructure construction working on major projects throughout Queensland. 


He thoroughly enjoys being on-site and working closely with supervisors to help solve any issues at hand and is active within the engineering construction industry and offers great onsite knowledge to the Proterra Group team. 

David Mitchell
GIS Officer
Bachelor of Spatial Science (GIS) (Hons)
David Mitchell
GIS Officer
Bachelor of Spatial Science (GIS) (Hons)

David is a GIS Officer within the Asset Management Team at Proterra Group. 


He has experience with ArcGIS, ArcPro, QGIS and ERDAS software, as well as data analysis and modelling and Basic SQL, Javascript and Python programming. 


As a Geospatial Graduate, David is experienced in the support and management of spatial datasets, digitising new spatial data into existing spatial datasets, updating and maintenance of existing and new attribute data within spatial datasets, and asset mapping.

Brett Vella
Technical Officer
Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Specialising in Water Engineering)
Brett Vella
Technical Officer
Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Specialising in Water Engineering)

Brett's strengths include Investigating storm-water complaints, design of storm-water infrastructure, assessing the permissible building footprint for development and approval and assessment of storm-water management plans. He also undertakes tender estimates and compiles all tender and contract documents. Preparation of tender adjudication documents and procurement reports.

Peter Crisp
Technical Officer
Associate Degree Civil Engineering
Peter Crisp
Technical Officer
Associate Degree Civil Engineering

Peter is a Technical Officer at Proterra Group, currently working as a Site Supervisor with Western Downs Regional Council delivering their reseal program. 


A skilled Engineer, he has over 35 years of experience working within Local Government, particularly those within our regional areas. His areas of specialty include prioritisation of annual reseal programs, identification of treatments, seal designs, preparation of tender documents and contractor management. 

John Abbenhuis
Waste Coordinator
John Abbenhuis
Waste Coordinator

John is a Waste Coordinator at Proterra Group. 



His role involves working directly with the Waste Manager to coordinate people, plant, subcontractors and suppliers across all waste facilities operated by Proterra Group. 



He is highly experienced across the waste discipline, with his skill set including operation and management of waste facilities, landfill operation, hazardous waste management and waste and recycling collection and disposal. 



John is also a people person who has strong management and customer service skills.

Cameron Mocke
Project Manager
Cert IV Project Management
Cameron Mocke
Project Manager
Cert IV Project Management

Cameron has over 20 years of experience in the civil engineering sector. 


He is exceptionally well organised and has a strong rapport with colleagues and clients and has worked across many local government regions within Queensland.


Cameron’s skills extend to the project management and inspection of works on bridge construction, gravel and sealed road repair, maintenance and construction management of large infrastructure projects, contract administration, project scoping, safety and quality control. He has a major focus and expertise in the submission and tender management of works funded under QRA schemes. 

Geoff Rintoul
Project Manager
Advanced Diploma Building and Construction Management
Geoff Rintoul
Project Manager
Advanced Diploma Building and Construction Management

Geoff is a highly experienced professional and enjoys working within the many diverse and unique roles in the civil and built environments especially those in Western Queensland. 


Geoff’s specialty is working for the Local Government and has proven to be very adaptable in taking on several challenging roles over the years. This along with leadership and management experience in the military, private and public sector enables Geoff to take on and resolve difficult challenges and deliver results.

Peter Collins
Project Manager
Bachelor Engineering Technology (Infrastructure Management)
Peter Collins
Project Manager
Bachelor Engineering Technology (Infrastructure Management)

Peter is the Project Manager with our DRFA in Goondiwindi. He is currently working on delivering restoration projects from multiple flood events in the past 3 years of extreme weather. 


Over the past 17 years, Peter has worked in the civil construction industry with State government, local government, and commercial contractors. His experience includes project management of road construction projects, routine maintenance contracts and pavement rehabilitation projects as well as various asset management projects.


Recently specialising in client-side contract management and flood restoration project delivery for local governments Peter’s experience and communication skills are a key asset in his successful delivery of a diverse range of projects.

Nicole Wuehrl
Assistant Project Manager
Diploma Project Management
Nicole Wuehrl
Assistant Project Manager
Diploma Project Management

Nic is our Contracts Administrator based in Cunnamulla and if you ask our Project Manager, he’ll tell you she runs a tight ship. 


She previously worked for the Department of Defence background (spending 15 years in the Navy) as a Naval Police Coxswain Investigator.


Once discharged she moved up to Nanango and began one of her many infrastructure roles with Nanango Shire Council, now South Burnett Regional Council. These roles included secretary to the Director of

Engineering, Technical Officer, Budget Management Officer and Contracts Management Officer. All this experience has allowed Nic to integrate seamlessly into our project team in Cunnamulla.

Sandra Mocke
DRFA Administrator
Cert IV Training and Assessment
Sandra Mocke
DRFA Administrator
Cert IV Training and Assessment

Sandra is a DFRA Administrator at Proterra Group.  


She specialises in submission building, progress reporting and closeout of submissions for QRA using the Management and Reporting System (MARS). 


She has a passion for managing, understanding and resolving all things administrative and contractual in the DRFA world is part of Sandra's DNA, making her the perfect support for our active civil teams. 


Shane Weber
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Civil Construction Supervision
Shane Weber
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Civil Construction Supervision

Shane has 38 years of experience in Council construction and maintenance works. Coordination and supervision of work crews, contractors and programming of Council work activities within the council-adopted budgets. 


Shane's collaborative leadership style has been developed over years of working in civil project teams in a variety of roles, from plant operator up to project manager. Shane is just as comfortable working with council crews as he is managing civil contractors. A high quality of delivered work, on time and within budget, is a hallmark of any project Shane is managing. 


Peter Polizzi
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Civil Supervision
Peter Polizzi
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Civil Supervision

Peter is a Project Coordinator at Proterra Group. He has over ten years of experience in supervision and operating plant and various machinery. 


Peter's skills enable him to orchestrate a smooth flow of running job sites, as well as organising jobs and time management to ensure a cost-effective, above-client-expectation result. 

Lowell Tillack
Site Supervisor
Cert IV Supervison
Lowell Tillack
Site Supervisor
Cert IV Supervison

Lowell has 25 years of supervisory & construction experience in the engineering sector. 


Lowell’s Skills extend to site supervision, bridge construction, gravel and sealed road maintenance, plant operation,

construction management, contract documentation, project scoping, traffic and quality control. 


Lowell has been responsible for the Supervision of a range of civil engineering works including the construction of bridges throughout Queensland and New South Wales, levee bank construction at Charleville and flood damage restoration work for the Local Government.

Victor Anderson
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Construction Management
Victor Anderson
Civil Supervisor
Cert IV Construction Management

Victor is an experienced civil construction supervisor/ inspector with over 32 years of experience in the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of road infrastructure projects.


Victor has extensive knowledge of the requirements of road construction and road maintenance, having worked on numerous TMR projects. Victors also has significant experience in managing resources (plant, labour, and subcontractors) for road construction/ maintenance having worked as a construction/ maintenance supervisor for TMR for over 27 years.

Mick Buetel
Civil Supervisor (Trainee)
Cert IV Civil Supervision
Mick Buetel
Civil Supervisor (Trainee)
Cert IV Civil Supervision

Michael Buetel is working with Proterra Group as a trainee Civil Supervisor in Quilpie.


His role is to assist the Civil Supervisors in delivering civil road construction projects in a timely, cost-effective and safe manner. 

Grant Sommer
Civil Inspector
Cert IV Civil Supervision
Grant Sommer
Civil Inspector
Cert IV Civil Supervision

Grant is a Civil Inspector within our Regional Projects team. 


He has many years of experience as a Civil Supervisor and multi-skilled Operator working in regional and remote areas. Within a machinery operation role, Grant specialises in maintenance grading, culvert installation, gravel re-sheeting and road alignments. 


As a supervisor, he is proficient in all aspects of supervision for his crews to complete quality civil works. 

Wayne Bradley
Civil Inspector
Cert III Civil Construction
Wayne Bradley
Civil Inspector
Cert III Civil Construction

Wayne is an experienced Civil Inspector and Supervisor who has worked in the civil construction industry and local government for over 40 years.  


He is experienced in all aspects of civil road construction, works supervision and quarry management in both a local government and private industry environment.

Don Sudholz
Civil Inspector
Don Sudholz
Civil Inspector

Based in Goondiwindi, Don is a Civil Supervisor for Proterra Group. He has over 35 years of earthmoving and civil construction experience, starting his career working in a hands-on role in the Sudholz family business.


Over the years, Don has managed many projects, and subcontractors and liaised with local councils, government departments, and prime contractors. His skills include designing and 3D drafting, managing clients, staff, and subcontractors from irrigation development to mining and civil construction. 


Don has a great work ethic with experience in contracting utilised throughout his career and is dedicated to the Goondiwindi region and his family. 

Micheal Cooke
Civil Inspector
Micheal Cooke
Civil Inspector

Micheal is currently a Civil Inspector with Proterra Group's Regional Projects team. His role includes assisting the Goondiwindi Regional Council LGA to inspect and maintain regional roads and assist in flood damage recovery. 


Micheal has over 40 years of Project Management and Construction Industry experience and throughout his career has prioritised safety, compliance, community engagement, addressing concerns, managing consultations, and ensuring compliance with environmental and mining regulations. Overall, his qualifications and experience highlight proficiency and professionalism in his field. 

Adam Rowe
Trainee Civil Inspector
Adam Rowe
Trainee Civil Inspector

Adam is a results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience in the Civil and Mining industry. Skilled in leading teams of various sizes, ranging from two-man projects to overseeing 20-person operations, Adam is proficient in operating a wide range of heavy machinery, including front-end loaders, excavators up to 115 tons, graders, and dozers. 


Adam can oversee a job from start to completion while following all requirements and safety procedures, and leading his team efficiently. 


Brok Whale
Field Officer
Brok Whale
Field Officer

Brok is a Field Officer within our Assets Management team. 


Brok is experienced in the construction field, working on a large range of private and public infrastructure. 


He has experience in a range of pipe condition assessment methods including CCTV and QuickView and easily adapts to any new technology. Brok's day-to-day roles involve a high level of teamwork and liaison with Council personnel and members of the public. 

James Blackley
Field Officer
James Blackley
Field Officer

James is hard-working and ambitious, whether working autonomously or in a team. Throughout the last few years, he has worked hard to become competent with the technology for his future and current fields, taking his roles seriously and working towards his goals. 


With his last year at University underway, James is studying Spatial Science majoring in Geographic Information Systems. With a broad skill set, he has been involved in various disciplines throughout his work life so far and has completed all required skills to succeed.

Callum Ebneter
Undergraduate Civil Engineer
Callum Ebneter
Undergraduate Civil Engineer

Callum is an Undergraduate Civil Engineer at Proterra Group. Expected to graduate in 2025, he has been striving towards his goals through any opportunity given to him and doesn't shy away from leadership working in a Shift Supervisor role at Red Rooster for the past five years. 


Callum works hard as a student and has been a labourer on top of his other duties, giving him hands-on experience in the work and learning environment and showing consistency and detail in his work. 


He is using his time at Proterra Group to learn about all facets of civil engineering and to gain industry knowledge pre-graduation. 

Tiapye Saal
Marketing Coordinator
Tiapye Saal
Marketing Coordinator

Tiapye is the Marketing Coordinator at Proterra Group.


Her role focuses on managing our digital media, including content creation for our website, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Stef Cherry
HR & Finance Officer
Stef Cherry
HR & Finance Officer

Stef is the HR &  Finance Officer at Proterra Group. 


With over 15 years of experience in finance across a range of industries, Stef is a finance all-rounder. 


Her role at Proterra Group involves payroll, accounts payable and receivable and HR administration. She is mid-way through her Cert IV in Accounting & Bookkeeping with aspirations to then further her knowledge by completing a Diploma in Human Resources. 

Goondiwindi Waste Facility
Goondiwindi Waste Facility

Our Goondiwindi Waste Facility Team includes; 

  • Angus Morris (Relief Waste Facility Operator)
  • Trish Kyte (Weighbridge Operator )
  • Ethan Montgomery-Kuehne (Waste Facility Operator)
  • Stephen Rohde (Waste Facility Operator). 
Inglewood Waste Facility
Inglewood Waste Facility

Our Inglewood Transfer Station Team includes; 

• Peter Martin (Weighbridge Operator)

• Wayne Greentree (Waste Facility Operator)


Longreach Waste Facility
Longreach Waste Facility

Our Longreach Waste Facility Team includes; 

• Keith Harvey (Waste Facility Operator)

• Robert Ludkin (Waste Facility Operator)


Charleville Landfill
Charleville Landfill

Our Charleville Landfill Team includes; 

• Claude Jones (Gatehouse Operator)

• Eddie King (Waste Facility Operator)

• Roy McCarthy (Waste Facility Operator)

• Tyrone Kozak (Gatehouse Operator)



Mundubbera Waste Facility
Mundubbera Waste Facility

Our Mundubbera Waste Facility Team includes; 

  • Kerrie Davidson (Weighbridge Operator)
  • Margie Fischer (Weighbridge Operator)
  • Ron Fischer (Waste Facility Operator)
  • Maurice Bustamante (Waste Facility Operator) 
Share by: