Managing Director

Sam Edwards is the Managing Director at Southern Cross Contractors. Sam founded Southern Cross Electrical Contractors in 2009 and drove the name change to Southern Cross Contractors in 2020 to position the company to diversify into other lucrative market opportunities outside of the electrical sector.

After completing his electrical apprenticeship in his hometown of Moama, Sam joined Fire & Rescue NSW as a Firefighter based in Sydney and left the Fire Brigade after 13 years of service while being based in Wagga Wagga which is where SCC’s head office is located.

He is a fully qualified Level 2 Electrician with vast experience in the metering industry and extensive knowledge of the NSW Service and Installation Rules and regulatory requirements relating to the Australian Energy Market Operators Power of Choice reforms.

Sam is committed and passionate to lead future growth for SCC while keeping the company agile and nimble to adapt quickly to an ever-changing industry.

General Manager

Mark Chandler is Southern Cross Contractors’ General Manager. He is customer service focused, results orientated and has proven capability to lead high performance teams to successful outcomes.

Mark joined Southern Cross Contractors in August 2019 with 35 years’ experience managing a wide range of business functions for metering contracts in the utilities industry. Throughout his career, Mark has fulfilled a variety of roles and continually developed his expertise in the industry. In particular, Mark has led a large portfolio of meter reading and meter replacement contracts throughout Australia for a period of +20 years.

 Mark’s management capability ranges across all facets of the business including operations, commercial, HR, business development, finance, quality, safety, business systems and mobilisations. He possesses excellent client relationship and communication skills and has proven to be highly successful in helping define company direction, achieving goals and optimising business outcomes.

HSEQ Manager

Damien Bicchi joined Southern Cross Contractors in January 2020 and manages the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) functions. Damien’s experience managing HSEQ and compliance spans over thirteen years, including ten years direct exposure to the electricity, gas, water and new energy sectors, with eight years in a senior management role. Damien also has extensive experience in the Supply Chain, Retail and Telecommunications industries.

In previous positions, Damien was involved in excess of 60 contract tenders and mobilisations across the country, both in metropolitan and regional areas, including undertaking risk assessments, developing safe systems of works, training and engaging clients in the HSEQ function as well as auditing and monitoring of HSEQ performance post mobilisation.

At Southern Cross Contractors, Damien has established the HSEQ Management Systems and is the first point of call for our senior managers, operational managers, supervisors and workers for all HSEQ related matters. Damien also liaises with industry experts to ensure Southern Cross Contractors compliance to safety and legislative requirements remains at a high standard.

Business Services Manager

Jason McDonnell is Southern Cross Contractors’ Business Services Manager. Jason commenced with SCC’s in March 2019.

Prior to joining SCC’s, Jason had a long career in Emergency Services, developing his management skills as an Officer with Fire & Rescue, NSW. Jason has a Bachelor of Business Studies degree from Charles Sturt University as well as certificates in Workplace Training/Assessing, and Frontline Management. Jason is focussed on delivering positive outcomes for all stakeholders with a heightened emphasis on the end customer.

Jason is responsible for managing and developing our business systems and processes, business development/ tender proposals, company resources, and sub-contractor compliance.

Operations Manager

Steve Press is the Operations Manager at Southern Cross Contractors. Steve’s strong work ethic, communication skills, passion and ‘can do’ focus is underpinned by exceeding our clients service delivery expectations and building sustainable and transparent relationships with Meter Providers, contractors and other industry stakeholders.

Steve is a Licensed Plumber/Drainer and Gasfitter. Prior to Steve joining SCC in 2018, Steve successfully ran his own Plumbing business in Sydney for over 25 years and fulfilled an Operations Management role with a leading Gas Utility within the Riverina.

Steve has successfully leveraged relationships built during previous years to support his expedited success to date with Southern Cross Contractors. Steve’s passion to achieve the highest safety, quality and compliance standards across the business strongly support Southern Cross Contractors sustainability as a market leader in our sector.

Field Services Manager

Fraser Dawson is SCC’s Field Services Manager. Fraser provides technical and field support to the Field Supervisors and Metering Technicians.

Fraser’s electrical experience spans across a wide range of electrical environments from basic residential work to large scale mining projects. Fraser previously fulfilled a leading role with Plus ES/Active Stream in field deployment and ASP management and leverages from this experience to drive safety, quality and compliance across SCC’s field operations.

With extensive knowledge of the metering industry and the Power of Choice environment, Fraser is empowered to provide immediate, direct and accurate technical advice to all stakeholders across the company .