Meet the Team Behind Assentra
Building expertise is only part of what we do. At Assentra, our strength comes from a team of experienced professionals who are passionate about delivering practical engineering solutions, trusted advice, and exceptional service. Together, we combine technical excellence with a commitment to helping clients make confident decisions.
Leadership Built on Experience
Our founders bring together decades of experience across engineering, construction, remedial consulting, and project delivery. Every project benefits from their collective knowledge, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to quality.
Paul Mitchell
Senior Remedial Engineer
Paul is a co-founder of Assentra (est. 2025) and brings over 25 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry, encompassing both the design and construction of residential buildings and civil infrastructure. Prior to establishing Assentra, he held senior roles at BCRC and CRD Building Consultants and Engineers, where he specialised in remedial and forensic engineering. During this time, he developed a high level of expertise in the investigation, design, documentation, and project management of complex building issues, including structural failures, water ingress, fire and impact damage, and long-term maintenance challenges.
Earlier in his career, Paul gained extensive experience in civil construction, working on the design and construct delivery of civil pipe remediation projects and railway station upgrades. He later transitioned into a Project Engineer/ Manager role with AGP, a specialist contractor focused on the design and construction of high-end metal and glazed façades for commercial and Class 2 residential buildings.
Paul’s career reflects a strong foundation in both building consultancy and remedial engineering design, coupled with practical construction experience gained through working with tier 1 and 2 contractors. This combination has provided him with a deep practical understanding of constructability, site constraints, and safety considerations, enhancing the effectiveness and feasibility of his design solutions.
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (UNSW)
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Profession Engineer NSW (Civil, Structural) PRE0002673
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Register Design Practitioner (Civil, Structural, Façade) DEP0004360
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Builders licence NSW 49695S
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Working at Heights
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Confined Space Worker
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EWP Yellow Card ticket
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SafeWork – White Card
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Engineers Australia Membership (IEAust).
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Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (UNSW) • Profession Engineer NSW (Civil, Structural) PRE0002673 • Register Design Practitioner (Civil, Structural, Façade) DEP0004360 • Builders licence NSW 49695S • Working at Heights • Confined Space Worker • EWP Yellow Card ticket • SafeWork – White Card • Engineers Australia Membership (IEAust). •
Chris Zervos
Senior Building Consultant
Chris co-founded Assentra in 2025, having worked previously as the Senior Building consultant of BCRC and Crawford and Company. In this role his main function was to Inspect and report on complex building related matters, undertake and/or co-ordinate forensic investigations, provide detailed defects reports, scope of works and cost estimates, obtain and review tenders, and manage various projects, including to train and mentor junior staff, and technical revision of colleague reports prior to them being submitted to the Client.
Prior to Crawford and Co, Chris worked as the National Pre- Contracts Manager for Eptec. In this role his main function was managing the Design, Buildability and Cost planning function for projects of the business, including assessing, designing, and cost planning of specialist engineered solutions to remediate, rehabilitate and preserve structures for clients such as Sydney City Council, RMS, Sydney Trains, various strata plans and other major asset owners of the likes.
Chris has had a long and accomplished career within the remedial construction industry beginning his career as a Estimator with an insurance and remedial building specialist, KBS Australia Pty Ltd.
Advanced Diploma Building Studies
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Diploma Property and Development
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Certificate in Construction Waterproofing
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Graduate Diploma in Management
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Full Builders Licence 238437C
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Building Expert Witness Certificate
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Australian Institute of Waterproofing
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Australian Corrosion Association
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Australasian Concrete Repair Association
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Masters Builders Association
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Infrastructure Australia Association
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Australian Institute of Strata Community Australia
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UniSearch registered Expert
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Advanced Diploma Building Studies • Diploma Property and Development • Certificate in Construction Waterproofing • Graduate Diploma in Management • Full Builders Licence 238437C • Building Expert Witness Certificate • Australian Institute of Waterproofing • Australian Corrosion Association • Australasian Concrete Repair Association • Masters Builders Association • Infrastructure Australia Association • Australian Institute of Strata Community Australia • UniSearch registered Expert •
Christos Venetsanos
Senior Forensic Engineer
Christos is a co-founder of Assentra (est. 2025) with over 15 years’ of experience in the engineering industry, specialising in forensic and structural diagnostics.
Prior to this, he held the role of Diagnostic Structural Engineer at Imparta Engineers, where he developed deep expertise in the investigation of complex building issues such as structural failures, foundation movement, water ingress, impact and fire- related damage.
He is highly experienced in conducting forensic assessments, interpreting building behaviour over time and identifying root causes through technical analysis.
Christos is adept at delivering clear, evidence-based reports and designing practical repair solutions in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. He has successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery within budget and has worked closely with various stakeholders including insurers, loss adjusters and builders.
Earlier in his career, Christos gained extensive experience in the remedial engineering sector, where he diagnosed building defects such as concrete spalling, water penetration, cracking, construction defects, structural inadequacy and subsidence.
He also conducted building condition inspections, prepared defect and condition reports, developed remedial strategies and produced detailed specifications for building upgrades. He has worked closely with strata managers, contractors and consultants often acting as Superintendent under AS4905, administering contracts and supervising remedial works to ensure compliance with specifications, timelines and quality standards.
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering UTS
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Working at Heights
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SafeWork – White Card
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Engineers Australia Membership
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Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering UTS • Working at Heights • SafeWork – White Card • Engineers Australia Membership •
Working Together for Better Outcomes
Every project is approached collaboratively. By combining our technical expertise with practical problem-solving, we provide clients with clear advice, reliable reporting, and solutions that stand the test of time.
Talk to Us About Your Needs
Whether you’re dealing with defects, planning remediation, or simply want expert insight into your building’s condition, Assentra is here to help.