Director
Chris Keay
Chris recognised capability and acted on it. That practical first opportunity became central to the purpose Navaroo was built around.
About
Built to give New Australians a genuine first start in construction.
Navaroo is an external works contractor and certified social enterprise. It wins and delivers real construction packages so paid work, training and practical support happen on the job.
The first start
Capability opened the door.
Navaroo was founded by Hashan Senarathna and Chris Keay. The name carries the idea directly: “Nava” means new in Sinhala, and “Roo” is for Australia.
Hashan Senarathna arrived in Australia with quantity-surveying training and experience, but struggled to enter the Australian construction industry. He worked as a commercial cleaner and drove for Uber while looking for a way into the field he knew.
Chris Keay recognised Hashan's capability and gave him that first construction opportunity. Hashan later worked as an estimating manager, and the two went on to found Navaroo.
They built Navaroo so other New Australians could gain a genuine first start through paid work and training inside real construction projects. People join working crews, learn on site and receive mentoring and practical support around the job.
As Navaroo grew, strengthening its pre-contracts capability became an important next step. Nick Tasiopoulos joined as a director and shareholder, bringing extensive pre-contracts experience and a shared commitment to Navaroo's social purpose. Working alongside Chris and Hashan, Nick is helping shape the next stage of the business and create more opportunities for New Australians.
Winning and delivering external works packages keeps that purpose connected to productive work. It creates ongoing opportunities with real programme, safety and quality responsibilities, rather than an isolated placement or a social-value promise beside the contract.
Why the model matters
The work sustains the purpose.
Navaroo does not add social value beside its contracting work. It creates it through the work. Delivering defined external works packages provides paid jobs, on-site learning, mentoring and practical support within live project teams.
Tender partners engage an accountable contractor for the package and help create a pathway into construction through the same subcontract. Detailed delivery scope sits on Capability; employment practice and evidence sit on Social Impact.
Established purpose
Mission
To equip refugees and new migrants with job and training opportunities in the construction sector.
Vision
To facilitate the transition and settlement of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Australia.
Leadership
The people behind the purpose.
Chris Keay, Hashan Senarathna and Nick Tasiopoulos guide Navaroo as directors, combining lived experience of the first-start barrier with commercial delivery and project onboarding.
Director
Hashan Senarathna
Hashan's experience of the first-start barrier grounds Navaroo's focus on paid work, on-site learning and practical support.
Director
Nick Tasiopoulos
Nick brings precontracts, tendering, estimating and project-onboarding experience that helps sustain a reliable pipeline of work and employment opportunities.
Tender enquiry
Bring Navaroo in for the external works package.
Send the scope and we will review the workfront, confirm the interfaces between civil, hardscape and landscape, and build a practical site sequence around access, staging, testing and handover.