Our Team
The team at Category 5 have substantial experience in all aspects of labour recruitment
Perth

Jason Criddle, General Manager WA
Jason joined Category 5 in April 2018, as General Manager WA, after spending 14 years at Programmed Skilled Workforce, where he was the Executive General Manager WA/ SA/ NT. Jason has significant and proven experience managing larger scale and more intricate recruitment and managed labour solutions, across a wide variety of industry sectors. After spending...
Jason joined Category 5 in April 2018, as General Manager WA, after spending 14 years at Programmed Skilled Workforce, where he was the Executive General Manager WA/ SA/ NT. Jason has significant and proven experience managing larger scale and more intricate recruitment and managed labour solutions, across a wide variety of industry sectors.
After spending time working in some of Australia’s largest recruitment Companies, Jason wanted to go back to doing what he loves in a more meaningful way, providing excellent customer service and engaging with employees on a more personal level. Originally with a background in Trades, and now with significant financial and commercial acumen, Jason is passionate about the training and development of people and helping them reach their own career aspirations. Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Mining and Resources, Construction, Marine and Civil industries to the Category 5 management team.
Jason is an avid AFL fan, and is happiest when spending time with his friends and family.

Amber O’Keeffe – Rail Account Manager
Amber was excited to be join the CAT 5 team of passionate individuals that make up a highly dynamic company of professionals. Amber has over 15 years’ experience in recruitment and HR across Australia in sectors including rail, construction, maintenance, mining and resources. Amber has spent more than half of her career working as an...

Krystie Schoch, Mobilisation Specialist
Kystie has more than 17 years’ experience as an administration professional in sectors including corporate, construction, mining and resources. Krystie has worked throughout Australia and her current focus and specialisation is in the mobilisation of personnel for multiple project works utilising a number of key programs, including but not limited to ERMS and Workflow/ SAMS....
Kystie has more than 17 years’ experience as an administration professional in sectors including corporate, construction, mining and resources. Krystie has worked throughout Australia and her current focus and specialisation is in the mobilisation of personnel for multiple project works utilising a number of key programs, including but not limited to ERMS and Workflow/ SAMS.
Mobilisation is an important part of the Category 5 business because it assists our clients in settling personnel and additional services into their business.
Krystie is organised, efficient, and a complete team player, who goes above and beyond to ensure deadlines are met and projects delivered on time and within budget.
Krystie always has a smile on her face and is passionate about the health, happiness and safety of her co-workers and client sites. Krystie loves her family, the beach, getting out and about in nature and all things water related

Jennifer Kelly, Senior Resourcing Specialist
Jen joined category 5 early in 2019 to open the Bunbury Office, in South West WA. With a background in recruitment with a multinational recruitment and labour hire company and more than 20 years’ experience in the international freight forwarding and logistics sectors, Jen has significant experience in working to tight deadlines and recruiting the...

Emma Townson, Mobilisation Specialist
I am one of the newest team members to join Cat 5 joining in June 2019 in my role of assisting new and existing candidates mobilising to their new roles. I have over 10 years’ experience in the corporate, mining and construction sectors, working on some of West Australians biggest projects such as Gorgon, Wheatstone...
Port Hedland & Pilbara

Sam Sycamore, CEO & Managing Director
Sam is the Founder, CEO and owner of Category 5 Labour Management. With more than 15 years experience in senior roles in the recruitment, managed labour and labour hire industry, Sam is passionate about people, safety and providing a client service experience that is second to none. Born in Port Hedland, Sam has a unique...
Sam is the Founder, CEO and owner of Category 5 Labour Management. With more than 15 years experience in senior roles in the recruitment, managed labour and labour hire industry, Sam is passionate about people, safety and providing a client service experience that is second to none.
Born in Port Hedland, Sam has a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Companies in the Pilbara region. He is committed to supporting the indigenous community and the local community in general (from sponsorship of local charities and sporting clubs), through to mentoring the Category 5 team he has steadily grown over the last 10 years, Sam is hands on and leads by example.
As well as continuing to manage his own solid client base in the Pilbara region, Sam is now focused on growing Category 5 throughout Australia and NZ, to provide the same level of service to clients, and opportunities for employees, across both Countries.
Sam is passionate about Occupational Health and Safety and is 100% committed to zero harm and ensuring all members of the Category 5 team go home from work safely, everyday.
When not at work, Sam is passionate about his family, fishing and sharing his love of the Pilbara region.

Annie Brett, Senior Rail Account Manager
The most recent addition to the Category 5 team, Annie Brett joined the company in October 2018. With more than 12 years experience working in HR and recruitment roles across a broad range of industry sectors. Prior to joining the Category 5 team, Annie was an Area Manager for another large recruitment company where she...

Andy Bell, Regional Manager
Andy is the Pilbara Regional Manager, joining the Category 5 Labour Management team in May 2019. With close to ten years HR/Recruitment experience she has built a successful career in Technical and Engineering recruitment servicing the Pilbara mining industry. Andy prides herself on taking the pain out of recruitment for both her clients and candidates...

Melissa Kerr, Office Manager
Mel arrived in Port Hedland in 2016 after working for a financial institution for numerous years where she was recognised for her outstanding customer service skills and attention to detail. Commencing with Category 5 as an Administrator, Mel is now the Port Hedland Office Manager and is responsible for the overall, day-to day running of...
Mel arrived in Port Hedland in 2016 after working for a financial institution for numerous years where she was recognised for her outstanding customer service skills and attention to detail. Commencing with Category 5 as an Administrator, Mel is now the Port Hedland Office Manager and is responsible for the overall, day-to day running of operations.
Mel is the glue that holds the Port Hedland team together, and no task is too big (or too small) for her to take on. Mel has the ability to spot a potential problem before it crops up and thinks outside the box to find creative solutions for both clients and candidates.
Mel has come to love the Pilbara Region, and has close friends and family in Port Hedland. She loves to travel and spend time with her Golden Retrievers.

Nikita Knight – Rail Recruitment Specialist
Nikita joined the Category 5 team earlier in 2019 and hit the ground running when the business needed her the most. Nikita comes to Category 5 with a wealth of knowledge from her previous mobilising roles however her skillset expands well beyond this. Nikita is confident working with a wide range of people and situations,...

Erana Hadfield, Finance Manager
Erana commenced with Category 5 more than 9 years ago in the key role of Finance Manager. Prior to joining the Category 5 family, Erana was employed by a local Electrical Contractor as a Bookkeeper and Senior Office Administrator. Since commencing with the business, Erana has taken over all finance related functions including Accounts Payable,...

Dennis Halafihi, Senior Account Manager
Dennis has been with Category 5 since 2016 as a Senior Account Manager, specialising in all things related to industrial recruitment and managed labour services. After spending 4 years with Coates Hire in Port Hedland, Dennis was keen to work with a wider variety of clients across multiple industries in the Pilbara Region. Committed to...
Dennis has been with Category 5 since 2016 as a Senior Account Manager, specialising in all things related to industrial recruitment and managed labour services. After spending 4 years with Coates Hire in Port Hedland, Dennis was keen to work with a wider variety of clients across multiple industries in the Pilbara Region.
Committed to best practice systems and processes in the recruitment space, Dennis values building relationships and partnerships built on trust, above all. Dennis has held a wide variety of positions in the industry throughout his 25 year career, including being an Account Manager and Branch Manager, he is an excellent manager of people and is exceptional at understanding what is being said, as well as what is not.
Dennis is passionate about the Pilbara Region, he has extensive experience in the Rail industry dating back to his time with Laing O’Rourke when he held a number of different roles in the Rail Maintenance Division. Dennis is passionate about rail, his family, sport, camping and fishing

Danielle Grob, Recruitment Specialist
With a significant background in customer service, Dani started her career as a flight attendant with Virgin Australia after completing her Bachelor of Business and Tourism degree. She moved to Port Hedland in 2017 to be closer to her three sisters, from the Gold Coast where she was an internal recruitment specialist. With a big...
With a significant background in customer service, Dani started her career as a flight attendant with Virgin Australia after completing her Bachelor of Business and Tourism degree.
She moved to Port Hedland in 2017 to be closer to her three sisters, from the Gold Coast where she was an internal recruitment specialist. With a big personality and a passion for recruiting the right people for the right roles, Dani was a natural fit for the Category 5 team and her passion for her job is reflected in her regularly going above and beyond.
Dani is committed to safety and ensuring safety is at the forefront of her clients operations and candidates minds.
Danielle joined the company in early August 2017 as a Recruitment Specialist and takes pride in the values and services provided by Category 5. She comes with 3 years of recruitment experience and has been successful in building strong relationships with her clients and candidates.
When not at work, Dani enjoys socialising with family and friends, and spending time with her furbabies.

Natasha Bainbridge, Administrator
Tash arrived in Port Hedland from Glasgow, Scotland in 2014 to join her family in the Pilbara Region. Once competing her Hairdressing Apprenticeship Tash chose to take a different path & commenced with the team at Category 5 in 2019. Tash is the Payroll/Administration guru and helps assist the day to day running of the...
Melbourne, East Coast (AU) & NZ

Paul Tobin, General Manager East Coast (AU) & NZ
Paul is a visionary, entrepreneurial and commercial astute executive manager with a high level of experience in leading, developing and managing enterprises of diverse sizes in the electrical sector. Paul’s key strengths lie in general operations management, business development, project management, financial management, stakeholder management and team leadership. Paul has a proven track record in...
Paul is a visionary, entrepreneurial and commercial astute executive manager with a high level of experience in leading, developing and managing enterprises of diverse sizes in the electrical sector. Paul’s key strengths lie in general operations management, business development, project management, financial management, stakeholder management and team leadership.
Paul has a proven track record in adding immense value to his clients’ businesses, both from a strategic and project management perspective. He understands that people are at the heart of every project and business, and safety is at the core of every project he undertakes.
Paul is passionate about all things fitness and sport – from football to running and waterskiing. He loves being on the water and sharing his time with family and friends.

Jessica Sheehan, Rail Account Manager
Jessica joined Category 5 in Melbourne inJuly 2018, bringing more than 7 years’ experience working in commercial, administration and logistics roles within large Civil Engineering Companies and Projects. A significant part of these roles included a sub-contractor management, invoice and purchase order management, and tendering and procurement negotiations. Jess has worked on numerous major projects...
Jessica joined Category 5 in Melbourne inJuly 2018, bringing more than 7 years’ experience working in commercial, administration and logistics roles within large Civil Engineering Companies and Projects. A significant part of these roles included a sub-contractor management, invoice and purchase order management, and tendering and procurement negotiations.
Jess has worked on numerous major projects in the rail, and infrastructure spaces including: Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Project (Melbourne), North Connex (Sydney), Northern Beaches Road Upgrade (Sydney) as well as multiple large civil sib-division projects throughout Queensland (Calypso Bay, Ripley, and Peregian Springs).
Jess is committed to excellence in all aspects of client service and she is an expert in recruiting the right people, for the right projects. Jess always has a smile on her face, and nothing is too much trouble. From providing tailored advice to dedicated support to her clients and candidates alike, Jess takes pride in every project she undertakes.
Passionate about the AFL, she lives and breathes St Kilda FC, who share the same brand colours as Category 5.

Ben Castle, Rail Superintendent
With more than 24 years in the Rail, Construction and Infrastructure industries, Ben has worked with some of the biggest and most preeminent mining and construction brands in the business. A team player, committed to safety, and the processes and procedures that underpin a healthy and safe working environment, Ben is a recognised leader in...

Russell Matiu – OHW Rail Superintendent
Russell is one of the most respected and well-known Overhead Traction Linesperson in Australia and New Zealand, having worked in such roles as Construction Manager, Superintendent, supervisor and linesman. Russell joined the Cat 5 Rail team after having worked on the client side managing and co-ordinating the Cat 5 rail team. He has over 35...