Our Story
Major project experience. Director led delivery.
Founded to Support. Built to Deliver.
RPM Engineering Group was established in 2025 with a clear purpose: to provide the Western Australian construction and resources industry with the kind of experienced, hands-on project management support that major capital works demand. From the outset, our focus was on closing the gap between project intent and project delivery — bringing senior-level expertise directly to the work face, where it matters most.
Now Taking on Projects as Main Contractor
What began as a project management support business has grown into a full-scope construction company. RPM Engineering Group is now positioned to take on Structural, Mechanical and Piping works as the main contractor — managing the complete delivery of projects from mobilisation through to handover. This evolution reflects the depth of experience our leadership team brings, and their readiness to take full accountability for project outcomes on behalf of our clients.
Martin and Charlie Are Ready
General Manager Martin Thorpe and Operations Manager Charlie McElhinney have spent their careers delivering some of Western Australia's most complex construction projects across the mining, resources and infrastructure sectors. Having held senior delivery roles on major capital works for leading contractors and clients, they have now channelled that experience into RPM Engineering Group — ready to serve as the trusted main contractor for clients who need Structural, Mechanical and Piping scopes delivered on time and to specification.
A Construction Team That's Growing Fast
Behind Martin and Charlie is a construction team that's expanding quickly — and deliberately. We're bringing on tradespeople and supervisors who share the same standards: qualified, experienced, and serious about doing the work right. Our workforce spans structural, mechanical and piping disciplines, and as our project pipeline grows, so does our team. We're not just adding numbers — we're building capability. Every person we bring on strengthens what we can offer our clients, and that means taking on larger, more complex scopes with the same director-led delivery that's been there from day one.
Meet the Team
Martin Thorpe
Areas of Expertise
- Problem solving and on-site engineering
- Schedule and cost management
- HSE leadership and compliance
- Quality assurance and project handover
- Contract and stakeholder management
Martin is a qualified Mechanical Engineer who began his career in Ireland working in the building services sector, where he developed a strong technical foundation across mechanical systems and project delivery. Seeking new challenges, Martin relocated to Australia and quickly established himself in the Western Australian construction industry, joining the resources and mining sector as a Project Engineer before progressing through to senior Project Management roles. Over the course of his career in WA, Martin has built a reputation for sharp problem solving on the job — finding practical, effective solutions under tough time constraints without compromising on quality or safety. He has a consistent track record of delivering projects on time and under budget, and takes the safety of every person on site as a personal responsibility. Martin takes genuine pride in handing over a high quality, successful project to a client — and that standard of care is at the core of everything RPM Engineering Group does.
Charlie McElhinney
Areas of Expertise
- Resource allocation and workforce management
- Works sequencing and schedule management
- Cost effectiveness and project efficiency
- HSE leadership and site safety
- Quality assurance and workmanship standards
Charlie comes from a metal fabrication and trades background, beginning his career in Ireland as a Fabricator, Welder and Pipe Fitter. Working across workshops and construction sites in Ireland, Charlie developed a deep, hands-on understanding of the trades that underpin Structural, Mechanical and Piping works — a foundation that has shaped his approach to construction management ever since. Seeking greater opportunity, Charlie relocated to Australia and quickly found his footing in the Western Australian construction industry. He brought with him extensive workshop fabrication experience and a tradesman's eye for quality, which set him apart as he transitioned into site supervision roles. From there, Charlie worked hard and progressed steadily into senior construction management, building his expertise across the full breadth of Structural, Mechanical and Piping scopes. He has led multidisciplinary teams on some of WA's most demanding capital works projects and understands the industry from the ground up — from the workshop floor to the project boardroom. Charlie takes enormous pride in delivering works on time, and high quality workmanship is at the forefront of everything he does. For Charlie, a successful project is one where the client receives work they are proud of — built right, built safely, and built to last.
Project Experience
RPM Engineering Group was established in 2025. Before forming RPM, members of our leadership team held delivery roles on the projects below while employed by other organisations. These projects were not contracted or delivered by RPM Engineering Group and are presented solely to demonstrate the prior experience of the individuals identified.
Work with our team
Talk to Martin or Charlie directly about your next Structural, Mechanical or Piping scope.