About
Universal Communications Group (UCG) is one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s leading suppliers of a range of broadband design, cabling and construction services, particularly for next generation cable networks.
For 20 years, we have provided innovative fulfilment solutions to the telecommunications sector, connecting premises to our clients’ networks. Over this time we have counted among our clients some of Australia’s and New Zealand’s largest and most respected blue chip telecommunications operators.
More recently we have been heavily involved in the deployment of the National Broadband Network in Australia and the Ultra-Fast Broadband Network in New Zealand. UCG operates on both sides of the Tasman Sea, now boasting a team of designers, project managers, field supervisors and customer liaison personnel in all key regional locations. We are highly regarded, often being the “go-to” organisation to test or trial new concepts on behalf of our clients.
With its experienced, focused and innovative team of people, along with industry-leading systems, UCG is at the forefront of where the telecommunications broadband industry is heading today.
Universal Communications Group’s Management System is independently certified by SAI Global to the following standards:
• AS/NZS 4801 Health & Safety Management Systems
• AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
• AS/NZS ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
Directors
Rafael Luna
Executive Chairman
Mr Luna is the original founder of UCG and has been in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years.
He has extensive experience in all areas of the telecommunications and media services industry, with a successful track record of delivering complex, high volume fulfillment projects.
Mr Luna has hands-on experience building the management team and operating systems of UCG to successfully roll out installation and maintenance services nationally for blue-chip companies such as Austar, Foxtel, Optus and Telstra – managing over 500 technicians and 160 staff.
Mr Luna has a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration from the University of Queensland and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Professor Iain Morrison
Non-Executive Director & Deputy Chairman
Professor Morrison’s other Directorship experience includes; Director of Melbourne-IT, where he was foundation director of the University of Melbourne-established company from 1996 through to his retirement as a Director in 2012, Director of Tele-IP, a telecommunications company, Director of AuDA, the Australian Domain Name Regulator, Director and subsequently Chair of the Victorian Multimedia Centre Pty Ltd.
His previous appointment was as a Professor of Information Systems at Bond University, Professor of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne where he was also Assistant Vice-Chancellor (IT) and Registrar (IT) for 10 years.
ROGER MCARTHUR
Executive Director
Roger has over 40 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. Starting as a Radio Technician in New Zealand Post, before training and qualifying as an engineer with the New Zealand Police then completing a MSc and working as a research scientist at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories in the UK. Roger has worked for telecommunications operators, vendors and consultants in Europe, Middle East and Australasia. Roger has worked for UCG for over 10 years and has been instrumental in its growth and development in Australia and New Zealand.
Roger engages with all levels of UCG’s business to drive technology and process innovation, to the benefit of both UCG and its clients. He has been responsible for innovation and delivery on a number of firsts for UCG’s clients such as pioneering materials specification and design standards for MDUs with nbn. Roger gets involved in the planning stages of projects, including installation and maintenance activities, through to planning, and commercial assessment of technology based projects. Roger is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
MARK FOLEY
Non-Executive Director
Mark has over 20 years’ experience in senior management including as CEO/Managing Director of ASX publicly listed Broadcast Services Australia Ltd (BSA), Director of Brumby’s Bakeries Holdings Ltd., non-executive Chairman of Utility Services Group Limited and non-executive Director and CEO for charity organisation Youngcare.
Mark is also currently Chief Operations Manager for the FKG Group.
Graham Twartz
Non-Executive Director
Graham was appointed to the Board in October 2017.
Graham has over 30 years of experience in finance and executive positions mainly in publicly listed companies. Graham provides independent business advice to a number of businesses, generally covering the development of strategy or assistance in the execution of transactions.
Graham chairs the Advisory Boards of technology companies, Comunet and Avinet.
Previously Graham was CEO of Hills Industries after being Finance Director of that Company for over 15 years.
Dante Miranda
Executive Director and CFO
Mr Miranda joined UCG in 2001 and is an accountant by profession with over 15 years’ experience in accounting, finance and management.
He has experience and knowledge in corporate governance, finance and administration. As Chief Financial Officer, he is focused on ensuring finances are properly managed, and also shaping the direction of future growth plans.
Previous experience includes: audit within a chartered accounting firm, audit and advisory with the Australian Taxation Office, administration and support for the British Transport Police, several senior finance and management roles within the telecommunications, tourism and the airline industry (including Head of Finance for Airlines of Papua New Guinea – a publicly listed company trading in the Port Moresby Stock Exchange – where he was instrumental in the company’s IPO and the establishment of policies, procedures and reporting to satisfy the board and public listing requirements).
Mr Miranda has a Bachelor of Commerce from James Cook University and is a member of CPA Australia.
Clint Luna
Non-Executive Director
Clint joined UCG in 2009 and held both operational and commercial roles within the business leading to his final role as General Manager Operations Australia ending late 2018. Clint has taken up the position of Chief Executive Officer of MVP Asia Pacific Inc, a Philippines based company MVP connects small, medium and large enterprises with offshore professionals for the purpose of reducing overhead costs and increasing scalability. Clint’s previous roles were Group Commercial Manager where he had overall commercial responsibility for the Australian and New Zealand operations, as well as General Manager – Bespoke, FTTB, HFC and Greenfields. With involvement in the setup and operation of every department, Clint has a comprehensive end-to-end understanding of the business.
An experienced executive and board member with a demonstrated history of working across multiple industries, Clint has a history of process reengineering and the setup of offshore teams done the right way. Clint draws on his prior experience in commercial development in the pharmaceutical industry as well as management and analyst roles in the automotive sector in order to ensure UCG’s success.
Mr Luna has a Bachelor of Business focused in Business Administration and Management from The University of Queensland.
Executives
MURALEE SIVA
Chief Executive Officer
Muralee has over 25 years’ leadership experience and joined UCG in 2018.
Previous experience includes: CEO of PNG Air – a publicly listed company trading in the Port Moresby Stock Exchange, CEO of Skytrans, a regional airline in Cairns and many other leadership roles in the tourism, public practice and airline industries. At PNG Air he was instrumental in transforming the business from small charter airline to become one of the leading regional airlines in PNG by introducing brand new fleet and re-branding the airline.
Dante Miranda
Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Dante is focused on ensuring finances are properly managed across the Group, and also shaping the direction of future growth plans.
Dillip Kanji
Chief Operating Officer
Dillip has over 25 years’ global experience with large infrastructure projects across NZ, Australia, USA, Mexico and India at both strategic and operational levels and has a proven ability to create high performing teams, programme recovery and driving performance. He is responsible for defining and implementing business improvement initiatives that improve current operational performance as well as providing a solid base for scaling the business.
Dillip has an honours degree in Engineering from the University of Auckland.
Roger Crellin
Executive General Manager New Zealand
Over the past 20 years, Roger’s experience has spanned four continents, leading innovative commercial businesses across a variety of disciplines and verticals. He is passionate about growing strong professional relationships with clients and colleagues for improved business services.
Joining UCG in 2019, Roger oversees the strategic and operational leadership for UCG New Zealand, including the continuing improvement of business operations for the direct support and execution of the Government Chorus led Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative.
He holds an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School and is an Accredited Business Mediator.
Samantha Cox
Group Commercial Manager
Samantha joined UCG in 2014 and provides overall contract management services to UCG. As a highly flexible leader, Samantha has been able to deliver tangibles by adapting quickly to the ever-shifting corporate priorities across Australia and New Zealand.
Corey McCarthy
Group People and Culture Manager
Corey provides comprehensive human resources management services to support the acquisition, development, productivity and satisfaction of the Company’s employees and subcontractors (which number around 400 and 1200 respectively) across Australia and New Zealand. The services include recruitment, training and development, remuneration and benefits, coaching, employee and industrial relations.
Steve Alani
Chief Information Officer
Steve started with UCG in 2018 leading our digital transformation strategies and systems to support the growth of UCG. Steve has over 15 years’ experience managing the technology for different sectors, including Healthcare, Logistics, Construction and Government. His main focus is digital business disruption and cyber security. Steve has a Bachelors and Post Graduate degree in Business Information Systems from Massey University in New Zealand and is pursuing an Executive Master of Business Administration.
Phil Braz
Group Business Intelligence Manager
Phil has been an information systems professional for more than 30 years’ working on projects for large enterprises in Australia, NZ, North America as well as numerous countries across Asia and the Pacific. He is responsible for defining and implementing business intelligence and analytics strategies and initiatives that facilitate a data driven culture within the business.
Phil has a Master of Business Analytics from Deakin University in Melbourne.
SCOTT DUNMORE
GROUP COMPLIANCE MANAGER
Scott has had over 20 years Integrated Management System and Lead Auditing experience this includes being an Owner/Managing Director of an International Third Party JAS-ANZ Accredited Certification Body, Lead Auditor for a number of International Certification Bodies and Systems Consultant for many industries, this includes Defence, Information and Communications Technology, Civil Construction, Construction, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing.
Scott has the responsibility to manage and audit the legal & regulatory compliance within the Group, ensuring the Management System Accreditations & Certifications are maintained.
IAN HATTON
General Manager Smart Cities
Ian has over 15 years’ experience in Executive and managerial roles, in government, property and technology disciplines. Since moving to Australia from the UK in 2010, Ian has delivered one of the largest smart city programs in Australia, winning multiple awards, and delivered infrastructure and services for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as complex brownfield development projects in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Ian joined UCG in March 2021 to establish and grow the company’s Smart City line of business.
Ian has post graduate qualifications in management and leadership from the Chartered Management Institute (UK) and Cambridge University (UK).
