Our Story

Meet our directors - Keaton Rutherford and Tom Hardiman. We both started our Project Management journey back in 2010 on the Hunter Expressway Project. Graduate engineers thrown into a fast paced and intense construction project, working side by side and even sharing a living space for a couple of years.
When The Hunter Expressway Project wrapped up, life took us in different directions, but our friendship stayed solid. Over the next decade, we worked for different companies, delivering a range of projects, learning the ropes and gaining valuable industry experience.
In 2020, we decided to team up and create Ikigai Contractors. The name comes from the Japanese concept of finding joy and purpose in what you do – something we believe in deeply.
Since kicking off Ikigai, we've been all about managing projects smoothly and making sure things get done right. We're here because we genuinely love what we do, and we want to bring that passion, honesty, and a decade-long friendship to every project we take on.

Meet the team

Thomas Hardiman
Project Manager / Director B.E (Civil) (Hon), MIEAust, NER
Thomas has an extensive background in road and infrastructure projects. Thomas has worked for both private industry and a number of government organisations.
Keaton Rutherford
Project Manager / Director B.ConstMgt (Prop.Mng), MAIPM
Keaton has built his careeer working with the largest construction companies in Australia. Keaton has a hands on approach to work and a particular expertise in bulk Earthworks
Jayden Rutherford
Project Manager B.ConstMgt - current
Jayden has experience in a number of different construcution fields, including civil construcution, structural steel / metalworking and general commercial construction.

Our Values

Reliability is our cornerstone—we deliver projects on time, every time.Trust is earned through our consistent commitment to excellence in project execution.Communication fuels our success—open dialogue ensures project clarity and alignment.Transparency defines our approach—we keep you informed at every project phase.Relationships, not just projects—we prioritise long-term partnerships.Dedication to client satisfaction drives our every decision and action.Experience Our track record speaks volumes—we've built our reputation on integrity and results.
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Policies

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