Meet the Team - Zdravko Cvetanoski

Hawthorne Civil's Engineering Manager Zdravko Cvetanoski has a passion for engineering and a track record of project success, delivering major projects across Australia. But he also has a love of football, a creative side and ties to combine the two with taking time out to travel.  We caught up with Strav to learn a little bit about him.

Why did you become an engineer?

From when I started school I have been fascinated by infrastructure, particularly bridges. I have always been interested in how things around us get built. In addition, I felt I could make a real difference in helping shape society by solving social, technical and operational issues that enable safe infrastructure delivery.

What do you love about working in the engineering and infrastructure industry?

The people, the daily challenges and the practical nature of the industry. In addition, constant innovation provides exciting new methods that help deliver high-performance engineering outcomes.

What are you working on at the moment?

The ongoing growth for Hawthorne Civil while supporting our project managers and teams delivering critical infrastructure throughout Australia.

What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?

Some stand-out achievements have been my contribution to the Harwood Bridge, Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade and Carmichael Rail Network. However, my most outstanding achievement has been  my involvement in the Hawthorne Civil’s growth over the last couple of years. This growth has seen the organisation expand across different disciplines while diversifying clientele, providing an excellent platform for further organisational growth.

What’s the best project you have worked on?

All of them! If I were to choose one, I would say the best project I worked on was the Coombabah Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade during my Abi group days. The team from CaSPA had a fantastic culture which helped deliver the project through trying circumstances. I am grateful to the CaSPA team for their support and mentorship throughout the project, which has provided me valuable tools and learnings that I still use in my current role.

What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career? 

Trust your gut.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

Watching the mighty Reds. I was recently in Paris for the Champions League Final. Yes, they lost. However, watching the reds in Europe is always an incredible experience!

What do you enjoy about being part of the Hawthorne Civil Team?

Enda's Dad Jokes. In all seriousness, being part of an energetic and innovative team that challenges each person to achieve their best makes work even more enjoyable

What Hawthorne Civil Project are you excited about working on?

All of them! Since we gained our TMR Prequalification’s at the start of the year I’m excited about the new challenge of delivering projects as a Principal Contractor.

Tell us a little bit about your background - where are you from, family, hobbies, interesting facts etc?

Don't let my name fool you. I am as Aussie as they come. I was born in Australia to Macedonian Parents. My parents lived in a village in rural Macedonia and migrated to Australia in the '70s. They worked hard to create something for their children, which I have been fortunate enough to witness and implement in my day-to-day life. I’ve done lots of travelling - my favourite place so far is Croatia, particular the Dalmatian coastline. I'm a football (soccer) fanatic and enjoy freelance photography, which keeps my creative side ticking. Sometimes I go by the name "Disco Strav" or "DJ ZedC" - Yes, I was a DJ back in my youth.