Meet the Team.

From dedicated Project Managers, to Draftspeople and Architectural Designers, Finance Management, Marketing right through to manufacturing Tradespeople, our whole team collaboratively produce each pod to the highest quality, all while delivering a signature client experience.

Stuart Giles
Executive Chairman & Managing Director

Stuart Giles was the driving force behind the establishment of Australia’s largest comprehensive cancer care provider, Icon Group, and played a key role from 2016 in driving substantial international expansion across Asia. A pharmacist by background, Stuart and his wife, and long-term business partner, Cathie Reid AM, have owned and operated a network of pharmacies around Australia for nearly 25 years. Following the sale of Icon Group, Stuart stepped down as Founding Chairman of Icon Group in late 2020 to focus on Arc31 Family Office opportunities and philanthropic investment initiatives.

In July 2021 Stuart was appointed the inaugural Founder in Residence of the Transformer program, providing mentoring to entrepreneurial students at Bond University. Through his role at Bond, Stuart was able to see the potential and opportunity of ModnPods as a solution for the housing affordability crisis, holiday park accommodation, meeting challenges around workforce provision and job creation, as well as housing and workforce scarcity in regional and remote areas.

John Christie | ModnPods

John Christie
Founder

John is originally from the United States and migrated over to Australia in 2014. Before moving to Australia, John spent seven years in the corporate world and an additional six years in the United States Navy as a Search and Rescue Swimmer.

John left the US Navy in 2014 to pursue his long-held vision to start his own business, which led him to Australia to complete his MBA and Master of Finance at Bond University on the Gold Coast, achieving exceptional academic results.

Driven by his sense of purpose and service oriented vision, it was during this time that John founded ModnPods in 2015. Originally formulated on a container model, ModnPods quickly evolved into the architecturally designed, environmentally conscious, prefabricated modular pods range that is attracting substantial interest from clientele in the residential, property development, tourism, education, agricultural and mining sectors, who are looking for affordable quality, beauty and sustainability in full end-to-end housing solutions.

ModnPods has been a passion of Johns along with traveling, surfing and spending as much time with friends and family as he can.

Andrew Reid
Chief Financial Officer

Andrew is a talented business leader with a commitment to achieving sustainable growth in a responsible manner with an emphasis on values-based organisations.

A Chartered Accountant, Andrew’s financial management experience developed over more than a decade working with a wide range of businesses spanning multiple industries, from micro-businesses to national and international operations. Moving into healthcare, Andrew’s strengths including his interest and experience in M&A helped develop and grow businesses from existing, turnaround and startup positions, and as CEO delivered high growth and expansion with more than 10x growth in activity and earnings while maintaining organization-wide commitment to patient care.

Crystal Russell
Director - QIC

Crystal joined QIC in April 2007 having the opportunity to be involved in the program build from the ground up post the inception of the program in late 2005. Crystal now leads the Brisbane based team focused on Asia Pacific opportunity which is predominantly focused on Australia across fund, co-investment and direct Queensland mandates.
Crystal is a member of the QPC Leadership Team and Investment Committee. Crystal has worked across the global portfolio from European buyouts to Venture and Growth. Crystal led our investment in a number of Queensland based investments including Icon Group and North Australian Pastoral Company.
Crystal sits on a number of fund Advisory Boards and as an Observer or Board member of investee companies.

 

Sharn Piper
Chief Revenue Officer

Sharn began his career early as a carpenter, later earning an MBA with Distinction in Sales and Marketing from Auckland University of Technology. Before joining ModnPods, he founded and led We Are Attain, a sales and marketing agency specialising in B2B and construction, achieving an impressive average annual growth rate of 140%. Sharn combines his strategic thinking with a passion for building relationships and solving problems, keeping him motivated and fulfilled.

With 25 years of experience in construction, business management, sales, and marketing, Sharn brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on expertise to the ModnPods team. He provides leadership and oversight to the Sales, Marketing, and Design teams, focusing on strategic growth to ensure exceptional customer service and consistently meet client expectations.

In his spare time, Sharn enjoys coaching youth boxing, riding motorbikes, surfing, spending time at the beach, and hitting the gym.

Howard Field
Sales Manager

Howard is a highly experienced results orientated Sales Manager, committed to achieving long term partnerships with key customers. Howard has worked very successfully in the Airline industry for 30 years representing premium brands such as Emirates and Cathay Pacific. He was instrumental in furthering Cathay Pacific’s footprint in Queensland which included the successful increase of dedicated services and new aircraft to both Brisbane and Cairns.

At ModnPods, Howard‘s primary focus is developing new partnerships and nurturing meaningful relationships with our customer base. His caring and personable nature, combined with a strong drive for success and exceptional ability to engage and collaborate with business associates, ensures the creation of truly valuable partnerships.

In his spare time, Howard enjoys playing golf, watching AFL, and supporting his three teenage children.

 

Alex Piccolo ModnPods

Alex Piccolo
SENIOR DRAFTSPERSON

With over 20 years in the Architecture and Construction industry working in different countries and many different roles, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the ModnPods Team.

Having completed a Bachelor Degree in Architecture and Town Planning in Brazil, he then further studied Building Design and Construction here in Australia. Since moving from Brazil to Australia, Alex’s focus has been on project development and drafting, allowing him to further develop exceptional skills in the design and renovation of both residential and commercial projects.

He has a strong ability to anticipate obstacles and present innovative solutions. Each project is unique and presents its own challenges and he believes that this is what makes his job exciting! When not at work, Alex enjoys spending time with his family. He is also a keen Surfer and can be found in the ocean whenever he has some spare time.

Alba Berger | ModnPods

Alba Berger
Interior Designer

Having studied interior design, architecture and sustainability, Alba’s diverse knowledge and skillset are invaluable to her role and impact here at ModnPods. Half Brazilian and half Salvadoran, Alba grew up in El Salvador and speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English fluently.

Most recently Alba lived in Brazil, but left to follow her dream of studying sustainability here in Australia. With a passion for tiny houses, sustainability, bio construction and innovation, Alba truly lives and breathes all things ModnPods.

In her free time she loves getting stuck into a good book, travelling and connecting to nature wherever possible.

Michael Condliffe
Technical & Design

Michael Condliffe brings over 25 years of experience in architectural design and construction to ModnPods. Starting his career as a qualified builder, Michael transitioned into architectural design in 1994, where his talent was quickly recognised with numerous Master Builders Association awards for his designs.
Since 2021, Michael has specialised in modular building design, bringing a unique blend of hands-on construction knowledge and technical design expertise to ModnPods, where he joined the team in 2022. His comprehensive understanding of the entire design and build process – from concept development to technical drafting – allows him to create modular solutions that are both innovative and practical.
Michael’s focus on sustainable design, attention to detail, and passion for creating spaces that elevate both form and function ensure that ModnPods remains at the forefront of the modular industry.
“Working in design is a passion for me. The creativity involved in construction and the development of new concepts and details are what drive me every day. It’s the opportunity to transform ideas into tangible structures that fuels my enthusiasm for design.”
Outside of the professional sphere, Michael spends quality time with his family. Additionally, he enjoys unwinding on the golf course, pursuing personal fitness goals at the gym, and exploring new challenges that life offers.

 

Guy Martin
General Manager Developments

With over 25 years of experience in construction management, Guy is skilled in collaborating with industry professionals and creating partnerships to deliver premium products for the housing market.

His management of internal trade teams and external consultants is hugely beneficial to our team and meeting deadlines for our customers. He has a thorough and technical understanding of modern and innovative building materials and their performance best suited to the harsh weather elements throughout Australia.

Guy carries a positive attitude toward achieving ‘operation excellence’ within our organisation and believes sharing success with all team members is a vital reward for hard work and dedication when reaching business milestones. He also sweetens workers with lollies on Fridays before disappearing for the weekend.

Kelly Grimley
Project Development Manager

Kelly’s role within the ModnPods team see him overseeing the site investigations and installations. He is a strong advocate for modular building, believing it is the future of construction. With a career highlighted by winning numerous housing awards, Kelly takes pride in his work within project development, where he enjoys building relationships and fulfilling clients’ wishes.

Kelly studied architecture through the BOAQ board exams, which equipped him with the skills to plan, design, and build effectively. His strengths within his role at ModnPods include meticulous planning, innovative design, and efficient building processes. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys playing golf and watching AFL.

Emma Jensen | ModnPods

Emma Jensen
Project Manager

Emma kick-started her career at Mantra (now Accor), where she oversaw fit-outs and projects across an impressive lineup of 130 hotels, including Mantra, Peppers, Art Series, and BreakFree, all over Australia.
Eager to broaden her construction horizons, she then made her way to a commercial builder, where she thrived as a Project Coordinator. There, she successfully wrapped up refurbishment and fit-out projects for the Hospitality and Aged Care sectors.
Now, Emma brings her keen eye for detail and passion for process improvement to our team as our Project Manager. She will be the mastermind behind your project, ensuring everything runs smoothly until the final delivery and installation stages.
Outside of work, Emma’s heart belongs to her adorable Husky, Havana who joins her on all kinds of adventures around the beautiful Gold Coast.

Lisa Rattray | ModnPods

Lisa Rattray
Project Coordinator

Originally from across the ditch in New Zealand, Lisa made Australia her home in 2009 before embarking on a decade-long career in Artist Management, specialising in touring logistics and events with Sony Music Australia.

Her management talents extended to a roster of acts spawning from hit TV series’ X-Factor, Australia’s Got Talent and Australian Idol.

Lisa has recently settled into Gold Coast life where she splits her time between the beach, tennis, hiking and, of course – live music.

Her impeccable skills in logistics and coordination combined with a passion for modular living, make her a perfect addition to the ModnPods family.

 

Craig Ferrari
Production Manager

As the Production Manager at ModnPods, Craig brings 30 years of experience in the building and construction industry, including 21 years with another transportable building company, where he served as Foreman for 19 years. Craig ensures the high-standard production of pods in a safe and enjoyable work environment.

Drawn to ModnPods for its innovative approach to design and construction, Craig excels in problem-solving and team leadership. He enjoys seeing his projects in action, especially while camping, and appreciates seeing others benefit from his hard work. In his spare time, Craig loves camping, paddleboarding, and spending time with his family.

 

Claire Mccarthy
Accounts Administrator

After working for two decades as a Registered Nurse throughout Ireland, Claire and her family packed up and made the move to the Gold Coast in 2019. With this move, Claire has swapped out the fast paced environment of RN life, to utilise her impeccable attention to detail and now focuses on her Accountancy and HR Management qualifications.

Managing ModnPods day-to-day accounts payable, Claire is at the frontline of communication with our suppliers and maintains valuable relationships with them all, while offering support to our Chief Financial Officer. Claire also plays a large role in the growth of the business with Human Resource Administrative support, processing payroll and generally keeping us all on track.

Claire is quoted to say that her career highlights are ‘saving lives and balancing numbers’, it’s safe to say that Claire is a dedicated and passionate team member, bringing her positive attitude to each and every task.

When Claire isn’t at work, she loves to spend valuable time with her husband and daughter, including taking her to Irish dancing practice and competitions. Of course the family’s other two babies are always a long for the ride, Eywa and Luna (Golden Retrievers).

Larissa Rose | ModnPods | Sustainability Manager

Larissa Rose
Sustainability Manager

Larissa Rose, the Director and Founder of GG Enviro, and a wealth of knowledge in environment, climate change, sustainability, and renewable energy. She is the recipient of multiple awards and is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the environment, as well as the critical roles that adaptation and mitigation play presently and in the future. Larissa excels at setting and achieving goals that align with ModnPods environmentally conscious foundation and business model, while continuously being an incredible mentor to our team in this space.