Our Heritage

Our General Manager, Tony, grew up in regional Victoria, making him a country boy, born and bred. He joined the military at the age of 17, where he worked for an extensive period before transitioning into the construction industry. Tony initially worked for JWH Group, in the residential building division, before moving into the land development industry as General Manager of Sales and Marketing, at one of Australia’s largest and most successful Perth-based developers. From here, Tony made the move to a Group General Manager position, before rejoining the JWH Group in 2018. Today, Tony is the General Manager of The Rural Building Co. and WA Country Builders.

A seasoned and experienced sales professional, with a career spanning more than two decades, Peter is The Rural Building Co.’s Sales Manager. Peter loves navigating the challenges that come with building on a rural site, and working with the team to find solutions. Peter enjoys keeping busy and active, using his leisure time to play touch rugby, golf, squash and water sports.

Design Manager Rob has spent more than three decades immersed in architecture, interior design and construction. For the first decade of his career, Rob honed his skills at various architectural firms in Perth, specialising in luxury housing projects. After gaining valuable experience, he transitioned to working as an interior designer. After this, Rob joined the JWH Group. Over the course of the last two decades, his career has taken him across the vast expanse of Western Australia. From bustling urban centres to remote coastal towns, he’s had the opportunity to work on a wide range of housing typologies. Each project has presented its own unique challenges and rewards, shaping Rob into the versatile professional he is today.

Born and raised in Geraldton, our Building Manager, Mike, is a second-generation builder. Starting as a plumbing apprentice, and then working through the supervisory and construction manager ranks, Mike has worked across an extremely broad range of construction projects in his rich career. A registered builder, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge of construction methodologies and building practices. When not at work, Mike unwinds on the golf course, at the Eagles, or on his Sunday morning bike rides with mates.

A draftsman for 25 years, Drafting Manager Daniel Bruyninckx is an experienced and passionate part of the Rural Building Co team. He’s been with the JWH Group since 2002, making him the seasoned expert in drafting management, construction documentation, and client relationship management. Daniel’s passion for the residential construction industry is in his blood; his grandfather was a bricklayer, coming to Australia after the war as a Dutch immigrant. Daniel grew up in the Perth hills, and has recently moved to suburbia, where his young daughter keeps him on his toes! For Daniel, it’s the diversity and quality of the product at the Rural Building Co. that keeps every day interesting. “We’re not like every other builder, we don’t have a cookie-cutter approach,” he says. “It relates to growing up in the hills, and appreciating the awesome product at the end.”

Darren has lived in Albany all his life and has worked in the building industry for over 26 years. Darren has built several new homes in Albany and uses his experience to assist clients with every aspect of the building process. Darren is married with two children and loves surfing, fishing and camping and spending time with family.

Building runs in the family for Regional Manager, Giles. Growing up, he was surrounded by bricks and mortar with his father and grandfather operating a building company from the late 1960s. Raised in the south-west, Giles shares sense of community and connectedness with the residents. He understands the importance of living in a safe place that contributes to a positive lifestyle and wellbeing. Joining the JWH Group in 2004, Giles has spent the last two decades working for various divisions in the Group, with a high level of experience in sales and managerial roles. When he's not working, Giles enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son on their small farm, and riding his vintage motorcycles.

Construction Supervisor Ian Johnston has spent the last two decades working in the industry, beginning his career as a carpenter, and later obtaining both his Builder’s Registration, and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management and Leadership. Ian has spent many years living on the east coast of Australia, in a bid to experience as much of the country as he can. Now settled back in WA, Ian spends as much of his spare time as he can surfing, sailing, and at the beach with his partner Hanna, and their dog.

Jason qualified as a carpenter in 1992 and ran his own carpentry business in Albany for eight years before joining the Rural Building Co. team in 2000. He became a Construction Supervisor in 2009 before being promoted to Construction Manager role in 2013. A tradesman at heart, Jason’s skills, knowledge and industry experience are extensive, and he has a passion for working together with clients to build their perfect homes. In his spare time, Jason loves to get outdoors; racing go karts with his son, or riding dirt bikes.

A carpenter by trade, Construction Supervisor Todd Knuiman completed his apprenticeship in 2009. While running his own carpentry business, Todd spent 10 years subcontracting to the JWH Group, before taking on a role as a construction manager at a building company. In November 2021, Todd returned to JWH Group. In 2023, Todd completed his Diploma in Building and Construction, and has since gained his Building Practitioner’s Licence.