Soma Giovannini
Creative Director | Business Development
Soma is a co-founder of Abode Restoration, bringing over 30 years of experience as an artist and designer. She has an extensive background in the fashion industry, working as a designer, style forecaster and sales/marketing manager. Additionally, Soma has lectured in 'Design Foundations and Development' at RMIT University and holds a deep respect and interest in the built environment.
At Abode, Soma is responsible for business development, marketing, and administration. She is passionate about providing excellent customer service and works closely with clients to ensure their expectations are met. Soma also enjoys painting and has a keen interest in all art, music, cooking, architecture, interior design, philosophy and Buddhism.
Thomas Carson
Director | Heritage Restoration Consultant
Tom, co-founded Abode Restoration with over 40 years' experience in restoring some of Australia's most iconic buildings, including Central Station and St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, and St Patrick's Cathedral and The GPO in Melbourne. He sold his shares in HBS Group in 2015 to focus on Abode full-time and has a deep interest in building conservation theory. Tom holds a Commercial Builders License and has learned the trades of bricklaying and stone masonry. He completed further studies in his craft at Basilica Di San Marco, Italy and in Languedoc, France.
Tom has provided advice and assistance to government and professional organizations on restoration methods and is sought-after for his extensive restoration experience. He's also a sculptor, flautist and cyclist.
Project Management
Dominique Carson - Commercial Projects Manager | Carpenter
Dominique holds a Certificate III in Building and Construction and a Domestic Building Unlimited licence. He has vast experience with extensions, renovations, refurbishments and restoration. From 2011-2015 Dominique worked for HBS Group as an Estimator, tendering for large scale projects and as a Foreman, programming work for clients and overseeing contracted works, such as The Grand Hotel Refurbishment, Kew Cemetery Clock Tower Refurbishment and The Yorkshire Brewery. Dominique is Tom's son, a gym-junkie, keen football player, water-skier, lover of the bush and is valued for his calm and deliberate management of projects.
Thomas Madden - Commercial Projects | Contracts Manager
Tom 2.0 is responsible for total project management including controlling budgets, managing stakeholders, client relationships, negotiating subcontracts, and providing day-to-day communication with the project team to ensure jobs remain on schedule and within budget. With his practical background in Shop Fitting and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Tom has delivered numerous successful heritage restoration and building remedial projects for Commercial and Infrastructure clients. He also Project Managed and delivered the design and construction of the Metro Tunnel HQ User Experience Centre. When he is not being uber organised in the office, Tom enjoys making the trip back to the family farm to be with nature and traveling with his partner.
Chris Lipp - Residential Project Manager
Chris’ passion for Australia's building heritage brought him to Abode from the domestic world of building & renovation. Having started out in Industrial Design, he later completed his Certificate III in Carpentry (he was awarded the Apprentice Carpenter of the Year) and now manages Abode’s Domestic projects. In his spare time Chris can usually be found fixing one of his classic cars, listening to vinyl or exploring country Victoria with friends & family.
Estimating
Cynthia Lee - Head Estimator
Cynthia holds a Masters of Civil Technology and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. She has a proven track record in tendering and delivering both small and large scale residential and commercial projects with multiple complexities. Exposure to a variety of projects has enabled Cynthia to hone her management and technical skills in providing tender submissions, cost estimation, contract admin, procurement, site management, as well as stakeholder relationship management. Cynthia enjoys listening to jazz, traveling and magical books and movies.