When Jason Webster started as a trainee Civil Works Operator in 1996, he could not have predicted the career path with Ventia that lay ahead of him.  

Thirty years on, Jason’s impact is not only defined by job titles alone. It is defined by how deeply he understands the people behind the work, and how that understanding shapes the service Ventia delivers. For employees with passion and drive like Jason, opportunities to work across sectors and contracts create meaningful career pathways, enabling people to build diverse skills, take on new challenges, and grow long‑term careers with Ventia. 

Learning the value of people early

Jason started in Ventia’s Transport sector, working on critical transport infrastructure such as road networks, motorways and tunnels, rail networks, airports, ports, and public transport systems. As a trainee with no expectation of where the journey might lead, his exposure to hands‑on civil works, asphalt production and complex infrastructure environments taught him the technical side of the facilities management industry. More importantly, it taught him the value of teamwork, trust and being present in the work.

As Jason moved into leadership roles at a young age, often with responsibility well beyond his years, he learnt that success rarely comes from knowing all the answers. It comes from surrounding yourself with good people, listening, and backing others to do their best work.

Those lessons stayed with him as his career evolved.

Growth through challenge and perspective

Over time, Jason’s roles became more complex, from repairing and stabilising high-risk slopes to overseeing large transport and pavement contracts. These environments demanded resilience, adaptability and clear decision‑making under pressure.

But the most meaningful growth came when Jason moved into the Homes NSW contract 2009. The contract delivers property and tenancy management services to over 25,000 properties for the NSW Government, ensuring public housing assets are well-maintained and tenants have access to high-quality accommodation.

For Jason, this role represented a full‑circle moment. Having grown up in social housing himself, he understood the reality behind the properties, the tenants and the communities Ventia support. 

“That lived experience makes the work real,” Jason says.

That perspective fundamentally shapes the way Jason leads.

Customer focus through empathy

In his current role as Contract Manager Operations and Servicing, Jason brings a unique combination of operational experience and empathy. He understands the commercial and delivery pressures of large contracts, but he never loses sight of who is ultimately affected by the work.

For Jason, customer focus is not transactional. It is about trust, consistency and doing the right thing, even when it is not the easiest option.

He looks for these same qualities in his teams. Technical skills matter, but people skills matter just as much, the ability to listen, to notice what is not quite right, and to care enough to follow it through.

Jason leads by example and encourages his team to “find their further”. His teams are known for small but meaningful actions: supporting vulnerable tenants, fixing issues before they become problems, and representing Ventia with professionalism and respect in every interaction.

He backs potential, not just experience. He mentors graduates, supports trainees and encourages people, helping them “find their further” at Ventia and to step out of their comfort zone. He has demonstrated his leadership and vision by developing partnerships with Not-for-Profit organsitions such as JobQuest and Wesley Mission. These partnerships span 15+ years and have created thousands of training opportunities for people with disadvantaged and challenging backgrounds.

That mindset has helped build strong, stable teams and future leaders across the business. The Ventia Homes NSW team has a retention rate of 93% and an average tenure of 7 years, despite the work being emotionally and physically challenging. This stability has created continuity for our client, something Jason believes is one of Ventia’s greatest strengths.

What 30 years represents

After 30 years, what stands out most for Jason is not a single project or title, but the people.

Jason’s career is a powerful example of how deep operational experience, combined with empathy and integrity, creates lasting impact. Redefining service excellence is the norm when you're empowered to make a difference in the lives of those you serve and work with.