Staff profiles
Matthew Cantwell
Director
What’s your favourite plant?
Mmm, going through a bit of a cactus stage at the moment.
Rochelle Abood
General Manager
What do you love most about your job?
The company, the people, the clients you meet and that we take great pride in what we do…
Mark Curtis
Design Manager
What’s the best thing about spring?
Watching the gardens come to life in bloom.
Matt Cook
Construction Manager
What do you do at Secret Gardens of Sydney?
Oversee and manage all aspects of the construction area of the company.
Roger Stanton
Horticulture Division Manager
How did you end up in a gardening business?
From wholesale & retail nurseries, to the cut flower industry, to residential gardens… I’ve never considered anything else.
Simon Davies
Horticulture Project Manager
What is your favourite plant?
Betula pendula ‘fastigiata’, Silver Birch.
Andrew Fraser
Maintenance Team Leader
How did you end up in the gardening business?
I started gardening whilst studying and became obsessed with it.
Tristan Smyth
MAINTENANCE TEAM LEADER
What’s your favourite plant?
They are all perfect in their own way, but the frangipani might be my favourite for a city garden.
Max Middleton
Tradesman
How did you end up in the gardening business?
An interest in the industry led to making a phone call to Secret Gardens of Sydney. Got lucky.
Emma Harrison
Landscape Designer
What do you love about your job?
Everything. From meeting the client, seeing the potential, working towards creating their dream and making it happen.
Rhys King
Construction Site Manager
What do you love about your job?
I love working outdoors and turning unusable spaces into a fantastic and functional outdoor area for all to enjoy.
Nicholas Toop
Construction apprentice
What’s the best thing about summer?
Being outside, bbqs, beers and beach. All enjoyed with good friends.
Leo Chu
Estimator
What’s your favourite plant?
Japanese Maple
Dave Walkington
Gardener
What do you love about your job?
Good people and rewarding work.
Mark Sinclair
Maintenance Team Leader
What’s your favourite plant?
Echinocactus grusonii. Common name – Golden barrel.
Robert Finnie
Landscape Designer
What’s your favourite thing about Autumn?
Plants that change with the seasons provide great variation. I love to see a tree completely bare, it shows its true structure.
Eamon Sykes
Maintenance team leader
What’s your favourite plant?
Michelia figo (smells like hubba bubba).
Julia Voloh
Accountant
What do you love most about your job?
Variety – every day is a new challenge.
Alastair Smith
Construction project manager
How did you end up in the gardening business?
I’ve always had a passion for design and childhood love of gardening was nurtured by my ‘green thumb’ mum!
Jonathan Taylor
Construction Site Manager
What’s your favourite plant?
Waterhousia floribunda (Weeping lilypilly)
Simon Howard
Landscape designer
What do you love about your job?
The progression of taking a garden from the early stages of the page to final stages and into the ground.
Tim Williams
Landscape designer
What’s the best thing about spring?
Bushwalking & viewing open gardens.
Sam Martin
Maintenance Apprentice
How did you end up in the gardening business?
Passion – I always worked with my mum in the garden.
Jasmine Kuo
Executive Assistant
How did you end up in a gardening business?
Quite by chance but I truly love it.
Aidan Wright
Construction
What do you love most about your job?
Building smart designs, using quality materials & a well-considered plant schedule.