Essence Project Management is a national project management consultancy founded in 2016 by James Joy and David Nicholas, built on the belief that great people attract great clients and deliver exceptional outcomes. From its beginnings in Sydney, Essence has grown into a multi-office, employee-owned business with a reputation for excellence, integrity, and innovation across Australia’s property and construction sectors.

Essence’s purpose is to create trusted partnerships that deliver enduring places, guiding every project and relationship. Essence’s flat, agile structure empowers its team to lead with confidence, collaborate effectively, and deliver meaningful outcomes for clients and communities. With 100% employee ownership, their organisational culture is one of transparency, accountability, and shared success.

Essence’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is built around five pillars: Remuneration & Reward, Well-being, Experience, Ways of Working, and Learning & Development. These are reflected in initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, wellness leave, mentoring programs, and structured career development pathways. Essence’s HEART values—Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Trust—are embedded across recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and recognition programs.

Essence maintains ISO certifications in Quality, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety, and actively contributes to social impact through partnerships with the Property Industry Foundation and Reconciliation Australia. Commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through Essence’s Climate Active carbon-neutral status and delivery of award-winning projects such as Capella Sydney and the Sydney Fish Market Redevelopment.

Essence fosters a high-performance culture through structured feedback, SMART goals, 360-degree reviews, and recognition programs, including the HEART Awards. Performance systems align individual contributions with business success, supported by digital platforms like Mastt, Aconex, Project Works, and Copilot.

Essence’s education and development initiatives—including graduate programs, leadership workshops, technical upskilling, and mentoring—build capability and future readiness. With 85% staff retention and 91% satisfaction, Essence continues to attract and retain top talent, delivering exceptional outcomes while staying true to their values.

Essence is more than a workplace—it’s a community. Essence is proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice, where people thrive, projects succeed, and purpose drives everything they do.

For more information about Essence Project Management, go to essencepm.com.au.