2026
2006
ATHAR EID A Career That Came Full Circle
Athar Eid’s journey with Steve Watson & Partners is one shaped by growth, family, and a strong sense of belonging, a career that has evolved alongside life, yet always felt connected to where it all began.
First joining SWP as a university student while completing her Bachelor of Construction and Property, Athar was drawn to the opportunity to gain hands‑on experience and better understand the construction industry. She recalls seeing the role advertised through her university and applying as a way to explore the different pathways available within the sector.
Those early years left a lasting impression. Athar spent time out on site with SWP certifiers, particularly supporting fit‑out rollouts at Westfield Penrith and Westfield Liverpool. Working alongside site supervisors and engaging with everyday mums and dads opening their stores gave her invaluable early exposure. More than just technical experience, it helped her understand the people behind the projects, a perspective that stayed with her long after she left SWP.
After stepping away from the business, Athar entered a new chapter of life. She started a family and continued working across other areas of the construction industry. Over time, her priorities shifted, and she began looking for work that offered flexibility while still allowing her to use the industry knowledge and experience she had built.
Returning to SWP felt familiar in the best possible way, not only because of the work, but because she was reunited with some of her favourite colleagues, people she had always remembered and enjoyed working with.
The supportive environment at SWP made all the difference, allowing Athar to balance work and family life while continuing to contribute meaningfully and stay connected to the industry she loves.
Now in her role as Technical Support Team Leader, Athar takes pride in the work that often happens quietly behind the scenes. She supports technical teams by creating efficiencies and streamlining processes, enabling others to do their jobs more effectively. She continues to be been involved in landmark projects and while much of this work isn’t always visible, she is very proud of the impact she makes.
Beyond her professional contribution, Athar brings a strong sense of connection and culture to the workplace. Recently, the team came together for Eid Morning Tea, an event Athar hosted with warmth and generosity. Sharing food, she explains, is central to her culture.
As an Arab woman, feeding people is a natural expression of love, and sometimes that means happily overfeeding them! Bringing the team together in this way felt instinctive, and over the years it has become something my colleagues genuinely look forward to and even request their favourite sweets.
The morning tea provided a chance to pause, connect, and simply be together, with as many people as possible making the effort to come into the office, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company.
One of Athar’s favourite treats to bake is Ma’moul, traditional Lebanese biscuits filled with dates and walnuts.
Baking these each year brings back childhood memories of working alongside my mother, filling the house with familiar scents that signal Eid has arrived. The process itself, even the careful wrapping of the sweets is all part of the tradition. I really hope to continue this with my own children.
Athar has always enjoyed the culture at SWP, but her story reflects how workplaces thrive when they recognise people as whole humans, with careers that pause, shift, and grow alongside life. Her journey is a reminder that careers don’t have to be linear to be meaningful, and that when organisations create space for flexibility, culture, and belonging, people don’t just return. They come back to familiar faces, shared values, and a place that still feels like home.
Thank you Athar, for all that you do and everything you bring to SWP.
