Jaleesa Leota

Managing Director & Co-Founder

Gidday, Kia Ora, Talofa and Hello,
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I’m Jaleesa, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Elite Construction Recruitment, proud Kiwi turned Sydney-sider, and someone who finds real purpose in helping people find where they belong in an industry that keeps the world moving. Once a Rugby Union supporter (go the All Blacks!), I’m now a converted NRL fan, Up the Wahs, of course! 😊
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I kicked off my journey in internal recruitment, working shoulder-to-shoulder with global organisations across ANZ and teams across all aspects of construction and engineering. That’s where I saw the magic that happens when the right person is in the right role, projects ran smoother, teams were stronger, and people actually enjoyed coming to work (imagine that!).
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When I moved into agency recruitment, I learned the hustle, the fast-paced wins, the occasional chaos, and the real joy of helping someone land a role that could change everything. But even then, I knew I wanted to do things differently. I didn’t want to be just another recruiter throwing CVs around, so I set out to create a business where people’s careers come first, teams are made with the right people and not just another number, relationships are valued, and every placement makes a difference.
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I come from a big family of tradies, white-collar professionals, and everything in between, so I’ve always understood this industry from all angles. When I moved to Australia at 22, I had no idea I’d one day be running my own recruitment agency… but here we are, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Today, I’m backed by a brilliant, down-to-earth team with over 10 years of experience in client stakeholder management, candidate care, and finding top talent, even for the roles that have been in the “too hard to fill” list for months. We’re not in this to push paper, we’re here to place people where they truly belong, to build trust, get results, and make recruitment feel like a breath of fresh air.
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Whether you’re a small business on the rise or an established company looking for the right fit, or a candidate ready to take that next step ECR is here to support you every step of the way. With passion, hustle, and maybe a few footy references along the way.
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Feel free to reach out and say Hello, I look forward to connecting with you. 
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- Jaleesa