Our Founder
Tribute to Eric Alom: A Visionary Leader and Engineer
With profound respect, we honor the legacy of Eric Alom, the founder of Olympus Projects Ltd, who passed away on May 4th, 2024. Eric was a highly accomplished engineer, project manager, and visionary leader with over a decade of professional experience across civil, structural, and project engineering.
Eric’s career spanned numerous countries and sectors, where his expertise in delivering both small- and large-scale projects made a lasting impact. He demonstrated remarkable talent from the outset of his career, working on projects ranging from a few hundred thousand dollars to multi-billion-dollar ventures. One of his notable roles was as a project engineer with Ausenco, a top 500 Australian engineering company, where he contributed to the A$2.4 billion Kestrel Coal Mine Extension in Central Queensland. A key accomplishment during his time at Ausenco was overseeing the development of site infrastructure, including delivering a 300-men camp, critical to the project success.
Eric’s exceptional experience extended into building design, where he played a pivotal role in some of Papua New Guinea’s most iconic multi-storey buildings. These included the Windward Stage 2, Holiday Inn All Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Grand Papua Hotel, Avara Annex, and the BSP Commercial and Data Centre. His contributions to the urban landscape of Port Moresby have become defining elements of the city’s skyline, reflecting his mastery in engineering and design.
In his later years, Eric took on more senior project management roles, showcasing his leadership on large-scale developments. As project manager for the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC), he led the delivery of the Star Mountain Plaza Development, a billion-kina project that was vital to Port Moresby’s preparations for the 2018 APEC Summit. Beyond Star Mountain Plaza, Eric managed the successful upgrade of the Pacific MMI and Pacific Place in Downtown Port Moresby, rebranding the latter to MRDC Haus—a significant milestone for MRDC and the city.
Eric’s portfolio also includes the project management and delivery of critical projects, such as the development of a state-of-the-art Mobil fuel station in Port Moresby, in partnership with Mobil Oil New Guinea and Lifu Holding Limited. He oversaw the upgrade of the First Heritage Centre and the Hohola Police Station, further demonstrating his commitment to infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea.
A notable highlight of his legacy is the Mendi to Nipa Rural Electrification Project. This initiative involves a 22KV power line extension from Mendi via Karinz and Lai Valley in Mendi Munhiu District to Nipa, covering a total distance of 35 km. Currently, there is no power supply from the Ramu Grid to Nipa and beyond. Upon successful delivery, this project will provide reliable power directly from the Ramu Grid in Mendi to Lai Valley and Nipa for the first time since independence. This project is staged and will be delivered in three segments, showcasing Eric’s commitment to improving the quality of life in rural communities.
Eric’s professional journey took him across New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands, including the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. His deep knowledge and experience gained over seven years working in New Zealand and Australia and three years in Papua New Guinea were instrumental in shaping many successful projects across the region.
A highly respected member of the engineering and project management communities, Eric was affiliated with several professional organizations. He was a member of the Institute of Engineers Australia (MIEAust), the PNG Institute of Engineers (MIEPNG), and the International Project Management Institute (PMI). He held a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Auckland and a Master of Engineering in Project Management, with high honors, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Eric’s visionary leadership and unmatched expertise were central to the success of Olympus Projects Ltd and the numerous ventures he was involved in. His legacy will continue to inspire the company, his colleagues, and the wider industry for years to come. His contributions to infrastructure and his commitment to excellence in all areas of his work will be remembered as the foundation of Olympus Projects’ values and mission.
Rest in peace, Eric. Your work, passion, and vision will never be forgotten.
