UTAS The Shed

Sam commenced his career in the construction industry in the UK where he initially trained and was employed as an civil and structural technician working for a large structural steel fabrication contractor.

Sam further progressed his part-time studies to obtain his Bachelor of Engineering while working fulltime within a medium sized engineering consultancy.

In 2022 Sam and his family relocated to Tasmania and he commenced working with Rare as a structural engineer focusing on commercial and industrial projects.

Sam maintains a strong interest in software modelling and analysis, this technical expertise together with his practical construction industry experience makes him highly sought after by clients requiring solutions to complex above ground structures.

In 2025 Sam joined the Architectural Structural Division within Verto.

Jordan commenced his career in 2020 as an intern and then graduate engineer within two medium sized consulting engineer practices located on the Gold Coast.

In 2022 Jordon relocated to Sydney and was employed as a structural engineer within a structural engineering practice specialising in bespoke architectural projects. During this time Jordan gained an appreciation and valuable experience on the impact that good design can have on the built environment and how structural integration is an important element of this.

Jordon relocated to Tasmania in 2024 and joined Aldanmark, now Verto, as an engineer within the Architectural Structural division.

Stuart commenced his career in hydraulic engineering in Hobart as a licenced plumber. He progressed and built on his trade experience as a teacher at the Hobart Technical College and then as a building services designer within consulting engineering companies and industry.

Stuart joined Aldanmark in 2014 as a senior building services designer in both the building hydraulic and civil disciplines. During his tenure within Aldanmark Stuart has been involved in the design and supervision of hydraulic services for several complex projects within the commercial, health, education and residential sectors. Stuart joined Verto in 2025 through the merger of the two companies Aldanmark and Rare.

Stuarts extensive industry experience provides him with a natural ability to provide commercially practical solutions for our clients. Stuart is passionate about sharing his extensive knowledge and experience through the mentoring all staff within Verto.

Dan Gardner commenced his career in the construction industry in Tasmania as a carpenter and builder. Dan returned to studies and completed a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Tasmania graduating in 2003 with first class honours.

Dan together with his brother Mark and his father Alan formed Aldanmark in 2001 where Dan was a founding director and senior structural engineer. Over the last two decades Dan has been instrumental in the growth of Aldanmark to become a leading engineering consultancy in Southern Tasmania. He has been responsible for the design and delivery of several complex building and infrastructure projects throughout the state.
Dans extensive practical industry experience and inclusive approach in problem solving has seen him develop a reputation of trust with his all his clients.

Dan joined Verto in 2025 as Principal Engineer following the merger of the two companies Aldanmark and Rare.
Dan is committed to providing the highest levels of service for all his clients through out Tasmania and is passionate about continual improvement within the company.

Daniel Ford is an accomplished Project Management leader with decades of experience delivering high-profile infrastructure and civil projects across Tasmania.

As Head of Project Management at Verto, he leads multidisciplinary teams, overseeing complex projects from concept to delivery, ensuring alignment with client goals, timelines, and budgets.

With a focus on quality, stakeholder engagement and risk management, Daniel has successfully delivered significant projects across water, healthcare, and civil infrastructure sectors. His strategic oversight, combined with a hands-on approach, enables him to navigate complex challenges and deliver outstanding results.

Daniel’s expertise in managing the full project lifecycle, from design to construction has earned him a reputation for excellence in both the public and private sectors.

Sam commenced his career in the building industry in the  residential sector as a certified carpenter. Sam returned to study and subsequently graduated with honours from the University of Tasmania in 2015 and joined Aldanmark, now Verto, in the same year.

Sam has worked on the design and delivery of a number of large scale commercial and multi residential projects for both private and public clients. Sam has a keen interest in finite element analysis and 3D modelling software.

Sam’s previous practical construction experience together with his structural qualifications make him highly sought out by key commercial clients. Sams inclusive nature ensures that all the members of the project team are fully aligned.

Matthew graduated from Monash University with a double degree in Engineering and Commernce, and commenced working at Aldanmark, now Verto, in 2018.

Matthew has completed the engineering design for large scale and complex building structures for private and public developments in the sectors of multistorey residential, commercial, health, education and public buildings, as well as high-end private residences.

Given his qualification in Commerce, Matthew has the ability to understand issues from multiple perspectives and logically resolve complex engineering and construction issues with a holistic view of the project in mind. This approach helps Matthew lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team from concept design through to construction, achieving an efficient and cost-effective outcome.

Matthews detailed technical knowledge and his collaborative approach with architects, builders and the design team, has led to gaining the trust of his repeat clients.

After graduating from the University of Tasmania in 2009 Brendan commenced his engineering career with the Hobart based engineering consultancy Aldanmark where he progressed from graduate engineer to civil and structural engineer. In 2016 Brendan relocated to London UK to work with Costain Skanska to gain experience in large infrastructure projects such as the Bond Street Station and the Thames Tideway.

On his return to Australia in 2018 he commenced work with Bouygues Construction as a major temporary works design manager principally working on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project. In 2020 Brendan returned to Tasmania and commenced work with Rare Innovation. Since joining Rare Brendan has developed and grown the commercial structural division of the business designing and delivering major above and below ground infrastructure projects.

Brendan became a director of Rare and then Verto in 2025.

Brendan has an acute ability to simplify and resolve complex engineering and constructional issues through thinking at many levels simultaneously to arrive at an integrated solution.

After graduating from the University of Tasmania with the Don Hazell prize and scholarship, in 2012 Rob commenced work with Hazel Brothers as a site and construction engineer. During this time Rob gained valuable construction industry experience on civil and building projects. Rob joined Aldanmark, now Verto, in 2016 as a Structural Engineer and continued to develop his skills through his part time study gaining his MBA in 2020.

Rob has since developed the specialist market for forensic engineering within the business which sees him and his division undertake structural compliance and rectification solutions for damaged structures. He also has developed a strong base for multi-residential structural design and certification which has seen him attract a number of large multi-residential home builders. Rob’s practical approach together with his industry experience enables him to resolve complex statutory, compliance and construction issues.

Rob became a director of Verto in 2025.

Zac commenced his career with Rare, now Verto, in 2021 after he relocated to Tasmania from Melbourne. Since joining Verto Zac has worked on the design and documentation of a number of projects ranging from temporary works design, civil projects such as liquid retaining tanks and residential projects. He has also undertaken numerous structural adequacy inspections and authored a number of complex technical reports.

Zac has developed an interest in 3D point cloud scanning and has utilised this to develop internal systems that benefit our clients and projects, in particular forensic projects.

Zac is based in the Launceston office of Verto and as such is able to service our clients in the North and Northwest of the State.

Peter commenced his career in the construction industry within the Australian Army where at home and on deployment overseas he established and managed electrical and refrigeration infrastructure support services for major projects.

After leaving the Army Peter was employed within a variety of project management consultancies where he delivered specialist portfolio and project management services to the Defence, Transport, Energy and Renewables sectors. Subsequent to this Peter joined the Facilities Maintenance company – Ventia to lead the operational and maintenance upgrades to RAAF Woomera to extend the Bases capabilities to meet the new operational requirements for the next twenty years. In 2022 Peter returned to Tasmania to undertake a role as General manager with Tasracing where he was responsible for the development, delivery and maintenance of that agencies built assets across the state.

Peter joined Rare and then Verto in 2025 as a Senior Project Manager where he has been instrumental in delivery major social infrastructure projects through out the state. Peters ability to coalesce people and teams to work toward a common purpose is exceptional, he is passionate about delivering the very best for our clients.

Andrew commenced his career in the construction industry in 1996 after graduating in Civil Engineering from the University of Tasmania. Initially he was employed as a design engineer within an engineering practice in Tasmania. After this he was embedded within a major state government agency and subsequently within a large NGO both involved in the delivery of significant social infrastructure projects across Tasmania.

Andrew joined Rare innovation in 2019 where he established and built the project management division delivering some significant public health and tertiary educational facilities. In 2025 Andrew became a Director of Verto with the merger of Rare and Aldanmark.

Andrew maintains exceptional stakeholder management skills which enables him to manage complex projects of various stakeholders with competing demands. He has innate ability to draw people and teams together to deliver social infrastructure that not only satisfy the requirements of the project, but also to provide extended quality of life benefits for the end users and people of Tasmania.

Nathan spent the first seven years of his career with the worlds largest ground engineering contractor – Keller Ground Engineering where he was both a site engineer and later a project engineer on some significant road and bridge projects within Australia including the Hunter Expressway Interchange.

In 2017 Nathan relocated to Tasmania and joined local bridge and engineering construction company VEC Civil Engineering where he continued to build on his depth of construction experience in roads and bridge construction.

Nathan joined Rare Innovation later to become Verto in 2022 and since that time has become an integral part of the Bridges and Marine Division. His extensive construction and design experience in major below and above ground infrastructure is highly valued by all his clients.

Nathan is committed to providing practical, economically efficient and enduring structures for his clients, he never settles and always strives for the best.

Rod spent the fist ten years of his career gaining a wide variety of experience in various roles as structural engineer, civil engineer, municipal engineer and civil construction foreman. As a result of this, Rod developed a great depth of understanding in engineering and the construction industry which enabled him to establish his own firm – Engineering Edge – in 2004. Rod developed Engineering Edge to be one of the major engineering consultancy practices in Northern Tasmania, leading onto the formation of Rare Innovation in 2017, until its amalgamation with Aldanmark to become Verto in 2025.

Rod has designed and managed over $500 Million in infrastructure development across Australia, delivering 350 road, rail and pedestrian bridges and associated structures.

Rod’s reputation and extensive experience within the industry has seen him become the engineer of choice for many of Tasmania’s large construction contractors and government agencies. Rod thrives on the challenge to solve seeming unresolvable problems and deliver projects for his clients beyond their expectations.

Adam commenced his career in the construction industry as a journeyman plumber in the early 1990’s. In 2001 Adam joined Warren Smith and Partners as Hydraulic technician and later designer. In 2003 Adam relocated to Darwin and worked in the office of Connel Wagner, now Aurecon, as a hydraulic designer working on a number of large scale commercial and public buildings in the education, residential and health sectors.
In 2012 Adam relocated to Tasmania and joined the engineering consultancy JMG in Hobart where he remained for eleven years. In 2023 he joined Aldanmark, now Verto, to establish and lead the Building Hydraulics Division.

Adam has a unique set of experience ranging from his time on the front line as a plumber, as a technician and now as designer. As a result Adam is able to provide practical solutions to both contractors, sub contractors and clients on the most practical and effective solutions to Hydraulic design.

Adam’s inclusive and calm manner underpins his cohesive approach to design and delivery of his projects.

Adam Seaton commenced his career working with one of Tasmania’s major bridge contractors -VEC where he gained first hand experience in the design and construction of bridges and marine structures.

In 2014 Adam joined Engineering Edge consulting engineers in Launceston where he established and developed the bridge and marine division. In 2017 Adam continued as the lead bridge and marine engineer when Rare Innovation was formed from Engineering Edge.

Adam became the head of the Bridges and Marine division of Verto in 2025 with the merger of Rare and Aldanmark.

Over the last 18 years, Adam has designed documented and delivered a number of significant new road, rail and pedestrian bridges across Tasmania. He has also been involved in a number of bridge strengthening projects as well as acting as Quality Assurance Verifier for a number of bridge, culvert and shore based marine structures.

Adam is extremely dedicated to his specialisation of Bridges and Marine structures, his attention to detail and the drive for structural and constructional efficiencies make him highly sought after by his clients.

Jon Barnes commenced his career in the construction industry at the grass roots level as a builders labourer. 

After graduating from architecture, Jon progressed into construction and client-side project management working within several tier one construction companies. During this time Jon was involved in the management, procurement and construction of several large scale and complex social infrastructure projects.

Jon has also held executive consulting positions to the government in the health and educational sectors. Most recently Jon was the Australian managing director for a large international property consultancy company based in Sydney.

Jon returned to Tasmania in 2023 and accepted a position at RARE Innovation as managing director where he was responsible for rationalising and realigning the business for future growth and expansion. In line with this he was instrumental in promulgating the merger of the two companies Rare and Aldanmark to form Verto in 2025.
Jon became a director and joint managing director of Verto in 2025.

Jon is passionate about driving the long-term strategic success of Verto and is committed to the businesses core values, in particular, focusing on the delivery of the highest quality of engineering and project management solutions for all of Tasmania.

Mark Gardner commenced his career in the construction industry in Tasmania as an apprentice carpenter with Hansen Yuncken. On gaining his trade qualification Mark continued with further studies completing a Bachelor of Engineering and a Doctor of Engineering both with first class honours from the University of Tasmania.

Mark together with his brother Dan and his father Alan formed Aldanmark in 2001 where Mark was a founding director and senior structural engineer. Over the last two decades Mark has been instrumental in the growth of Aldanmark to become one of the leading engineering consultancies in Tasmania and in 2025 was instrumental in forming Verto through the merging of the two companies of Aldanmark and Rare.

Mark joined Verto in 2025 as Managing Director.

Mark’s detailed analytical talent together with his practical industry experience provides him with a unique set of skills that are highly sought within the construction industry. He is known for providing commercially viable solutions to complex engineering problems across a range of sectors.

Mark is committed to the operational efficiency of Verto with the end goal to provide the best level of service and sustainable solutions for all our clients and for the wider community of Tasmania.

After graduating in engineering from the University of Tasmania, Tim relocated to London where he spent the next ten years working within large engineering consultancies on major multi storey commercial and residential developments. Tim returned to Tasmania in 2012 and joined Aldanmark as a senior structural engineer focusing on complex building structures. Over the past decade Tim has developed a specialist team dedicated to servicing the building design and architectural profession.

Tim has been responsible for the design, resolution and supervision of significant building projects for leading Australian architects. He led the team responsible for the structural design of the University of Tasmanian Inveresk project which won the Australian Engineering Excellence Award.

In 2025 Tim became a director of Verto and heads the Architectural Structural Division for the company.

Tim is committed to producing the best design outcomes for the built environment of Tasmania and this together with his passion for architecture has gained him the trust and recognition of architectural and engineering professions.

Danton graduated with honours in Civil engineering from the University of Tasmania in 2018 and commenced his career with a major Tasmania construction contractor – Hazel Brothers. 

Danton joined Aldanmark in 2019, now Verto, and soon became an integral part of the Civil engineering division. He has worked on large scale residential land development, commercial properties and subdivisions.

Through this experience Danton has developed a specific interest in vehicle circulation management, stormwater detention and sewer servicing. Utilising his experience in the construction sector Danton has the ability to work with his clients to deliver practical and commercially successful projects. 

Rod Jesson commenced his career in Sydney NSW working with and for large local and state government agencies where he was exposed to managing multiple stakeholders to achieve robust solutions within strictly defined budget criteria.

Rod came to Tasmania in 2000 and joined Rod Neville at Engineer Edge as a principal civil engineer with a view to grow that sector of the business. In 2017 Rodney became a founding partner of RARE Innovation where he continued to develop and expand the companies civil engineering capabilities. In his time at Rare, Rod has worked with major private and institutional developers, and has also developed strong client relationships with local and State Government agencies. Rod’s speciality is working on and with clients on large scale urban and suburban land development. His experience in design and the ability to negotiate with statutory bodies is highly sought after by clients.

Rod became a Director of Verto in 2025 with the merger of Rare and Aldanmark. Rod is passionate about driving solutions that improve the quality of life for all Tasmanians.

Nathan joined Aldanmark in 2014 after graduating in civil engineering from the University of Tasmania. Nathan was initially exposed to a variety of engineering projects from a wide range of clients. Nathan then built on this experience and focused on developing the civil engineering discipline within the business. He was instrumental in securing and delivering some significant land sub division and development projects for institutional and private clients. 

In 2025, and as a result of the merger between Rare and Aldanmark, Nathan became a Director of Verto.

Through his involvement in land development Nathan has developed specialist expertise in stormwater management and modelling. He is committed to continually improving the companies design methodology, systems and platforms.

Nathan possesses excellent stakeholder and people management skills, his calm, precise and logical approach to problem solving is highly valued by all his key clients.