Our People
While our fleet of heavy equipment is certainly impressive, we pride ourselves on the quality of our people and the integrity of our leadership.
Our capable and talented workforce brings deep experience and high standards of safety to all projects.
We invest in our people and our communities by employing local. We are a diverse and inclusive employer and have been at the forefront of Indigenous training over more than three decades.
Leadership Team
Jon Andel, Managing Director
With more than 26 years bulk earthwork experience and rehabilitation project management with Tier 1 companies across Australia and in remote and regional Western Australia. Jon has successfully delivered projects >$700M in value with over 1,000 employees. Jon is Cardinals’ 3rd Managing Director in its 61-year history and proudly continues the tradition of a strong work ethic and commitment to building and nurturing collaborative client relationships.
Mark Buemi, Executive Director
Mark has been with Cardinals, since 2011. He has over 20 years earthworks and heavy haulage experience, and he holds a MC license. Mark oversees our extensive fleet of plant and equipment and has an extensive network of supplier and OEM relationships. This allows Cardinals to rapidly deploy and scale its asset fleet as required to meet project demands.
Richard Seet, Chief Financial Officer
Richard is a highly accomplished Accountant and Finance professional with a valuable Information Systems qualification. Richard has an extensive background spanning various sectors, from large Multi-National enterprises to mid-tier organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Jeffrey Kerferd, Head of Operations – GM
Jeffrey brings 15 years’ experience within the resources sector gained across Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Along with an MBA, Jeffrey holds a GCERT (OHS), GCERT (Mineral & Energy Economics) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Wayne Cogdon, Area Manager
Wayne has extensive experience delivering large scale bulk earthworks and rehabilitation projects across Australia. He has over 45 years of industry experience. Wayne is a firm believer in culture. He strives to ensure that Cardinals hold true to our values as the business continues to grow and evolve.
Our History
Cardinal Contractors has a proud six decade history of creating communities, infrastructure and progressing Western Australia.
Cardinal Contractors sprang from humble beginnings in 1963 as a bulldozing and earthmoving operation called CGW Bulldozers, fuelled by the gumption of three young Collie locals.
A trip through Collie and surrounds still bear the hallmarks of their work and legacy. The Collie pool, speedway, workers' club and various residential zones were all early projects which laid the foundations for both the town and the company's growth.
Cardinal Contractors grew and prospered in the 1980s signing State significant projects including the earthworks for the Harding River Dam in the Pilbara which became Karratha's chief water supply. By 1987 the company expanded into the goldfields and beyond.
In the 1990s Cardinal Contractors project book included the North Dandalup Dam, the Jundee and Bronzewing Gold Mine airstrips, and the River Diversion Project for Western Collieries (now Wesfarmers). The company was bought by Wesfarmers Coal Pty Ltd in the late 1990s and continued building its capability into the new millennium.
Cardinal Contractors expansive footprint of machinery and prowess across Australia's landscape earned the company its name following its sale from Wesfarmers Coal as its reach had expanded across all four cardinal points of the compass: north, south, east, west.