Building Beyond Boundaries.

Determined, passionate, and driven, we are proud to introduce Riley Mason, one of Newpol’s valued Site Labourers.

This year, Riley celebrated his 3-year anniversary with Newpol, marking an important milestone in both his career and personal growth. Anyone who has worked alongside Riley can immediately see his passion for the construction industry. His enthusiasm fuels his drive, his work ethic sets him apart, and his positive energy makes him a standout presence on site. Riley’s love for the industry is undeniable, and his peers recognise the pride and commitment he brings to every project.

Riley has already established himself as a natural leader, stepping up during the St Paul’s Centre Redevelopment when the project demanded it. His willingness to take on responsibility and lead by example reflects both his maturity and his drive to succeed and builds the foundation for his long-term goal of progressing into a Site Manager role.

“Riley is eager to learn and fully dedicated to any task or commitment he undertakes. Despite being relatively new to the industry, he demonstrates a drive and passion well beyond his years. He is an incredible asset to Newpol, and it’s truly an honour to work alongside him.”
— Grant Coulthard, Site Manager.

Riley was recently selected to play for the Collingwood VFL side, a significant step in his professional football journey. To celebrate this milestone, we caught up with Riley on site at Carlo Acutis Primary School to talk about his time at Newpol, his VFL experience, and how he balances the demands of both careers.

Where would you like to see yourself in the next few years?

Ideally, I’d like to be managing my own site. Running a project from start to finish would be a huge achievement.

How has Newpol provided mentorship or support to help your development?

Newpol has supported my overall career development by providing excellent mentors and relevant training. I’ve had two site managers, in particular, who have taught me a great deal and consistently encouraged me to take on greater responsibilities.

How would you describe the culture and leadership at Newpol—and how does that shape your day-to-day experience?

The culture here is great and everyone gets along, and while it’s a hardworking environment, there’s also a strong focus on work/life balance.

The leadership is supportive too. From the top down, they want everyone to succeed and keep growing, which makes a big difference.

Can you share a moment when guidance from a colleague or leader really made a difference?

Working alongside our Site Manager, Grant has really made a difference. He has taught me a lot on the administration side of things, including inductions, conducting toolboxes and site walks—this has allowed me to take on more responsibility. He's guided me through the running of a site and has shown me how to overcome various obstacles at different stages of the project.

Which project has been the most meaningful to you—and why?

Definitely the St Paul’s Centre Development in Box Hill. It was meaningful because I was there from start-to-finish, and I had various opportunities to step up and take on more responsibility. It pushed me to learn quickly, and provided me with a lot of confidence. Overall, it was just a great project to be part of!

You’ve recently joined the Collingwood VFL side—congratulations! How do you balance footy and construction?

Working long days on site and then heading straight to training definitely takes its toll, however, Newpol has been really accommodating. It all comes down to being disciplined, organised, and willing to make sacrifices that benefit both my footy and work.

How has Newpol accommodated or supported your sporting commitments?

Newpol has been super accommodating. They have been super flexible when it comes to my training schedule and other football commitments, even if it's last minute, which has been so beneficial to my footy.

How do you balance the demands of both work and footy?

Both take a lot of dedication and hard work. I think the passion I have for both keeps me going and focused on my goals.

Being super organised is another way I balance both, planning out my time, making sacrifices when needed, eating properly, and also making sure I get some time to rest and look after myself.

Have you found that skills from footy help in your construction career—or vice versa?

The biggest skill is hard work, putting in the effort means reward. Both footy and construction require problem-solving, and adaptability. You need to be ready to adapt as things don’t always go to plan.

What personal values do you bring to your work, and how do they align with Newpol’s values?

Respect, trust, and resilience. Respecting the people you work with, trusting the team, and being resilient when challenges come up.

What advice would you give to someone just starting in construction?

Be a sponge—learn as much as you can, ask questions, and soak up the knowledge around you. The more curious and eager you are, the faster you’ll develop.

"Be a sponge—learn as much as you can,
ask questions, and soak up the knowledge
around you."

Are there ways you would like to give back one day—through mentoring or outreach, for instance?

Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to mentor someone starting out in the industry to help them grow and develop, the same way Grant and Heino have guided me. Passing on that knowledge would be really rewarding.

What’s something you’d like to construct that would positively impact your community or the environment?

I’d love to be involved in a sports centre redevelopment. Sport is such a big part of my life and the wider community. Building a space that brings people together would be really meaningful.

And finally, what advice would you give to young people trying to balance sport and a career?

Set clear goals for both, and be driven to achieve them. You must be willing to make sacrifices along the way, but if you stay disciplined and focused, those sacrifices will pay off.

It was a pleasure learning more about Riley. We can't wait to see where his dedication and passion—in both football and construction—will take him next.