END OF YEARS MEMBERS UPDATE - DECEMBER 2023

Welcome to the last IAQ Members Update for 2023.

In this Update:

1. Chair's closing remarks
2. The CEO's Final Roundup
3. 2023 Recap: Taskforce and Working Groups
4. Rounding off the Year: The Future Infrastructure Leader Scholarship
5. Event Gallery - Members end of year celebration
6. Save the Date - 2024 IAQ Infrastructure Assembly
7. 2024 Events Calendar

Thank you to all of our wonderful members who attended our End of Year Members Celebration last week. It was a great way to finish off 2023. Watch the wrap up video below.

A special thanks to those who dedicate a considerable amount of their time to the operations of the IAQ, with her first full year under her belt, our wonderful CEO, Louise Van Ristell along with the tireless efforts of Kim Ellis and our policy and communications officer Harvey Williams. I would also like to thank those who continue to give their time for the betterment of industry, the 2023 Executive Sub-Committee comprising; Jason Cooper, David Lester, Joel Martin, Louise Duffy, Luke Whistler, Paul Rigo, Robbie Claase, Sarah McCreesh, Terry Rossitto and Loren Hickey.

2024 is already shaping up to be even bigger with a number of events, engagement activities and initiatives already in the works. Arguably though, most excitingly 2024 marks the 30th birthday of IAQ! In recent months we’ve been discussing how we best recognise the contribution that IAQ has made to advancing infrastructure, and I look forward to announcing shortly our plans for this throughout the course of the year.

I hope that everyone has a happy, safe and relaxing festive season with loved ones, and I look forward to connecting with you all next year.

The CEO's Final Roundup

What a busy year 2023 has been for IAQ. From the get-go we had a scene setting event with the cast of DSDILGP, allowing our members and government to do what IAQ does best, work together.

In 2023, IAQ has held the most events in its calendared years, and increased member offerings for Taskforces and Working Groups, by introducing a Regional Taskforce, a Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and IAQ Connect for the next tier of career minded individuals and businesses. I would like to thank the Chairs, Vice Chairs and all members of each Taskforce and Working Group for their dedication and efforts to work with us, government, and sponsors. You have all created and curated educational and informative events and webinars, truly benefiting our members and introducing our Association to potential and new members literally across the state and country.

Our signature Assembly event had the highest attendance this year, another testament to the richness of offerings delivered by IAQ. You can view the day’s events and celebrations here. Next year’s Assembly theme is ‘Building a Resilient Queensland’. Keep an eye out for the sponsorship packages which will be released in the coming weeks. The 2024 calendar is jam packed with not to be missed events, webinars, meetings and think tanks. I cannot wait to share these with you.

Our advocacy and collaboration with government and across other industry groups has culminated in IAQ being a sought-after Association for expertise, insight and influence. Again, my thanks to everyone for your support and involvement. We truly are a group of motivated, energetic and engaged professionals, seeking solutions to those wicked problems that may come our way across the ever growing and ever-changing infrastructure sector.

Finally, I would like to thank the Board and Executive Members, and Kim Ellis and Harvey Williams, for their support and enthusiasm this year, it is infectious. Safe and happy holidays to everyone at IAQ.

Regional Infrastructure Taskforce (RIT)

RIT had a transformative year as it successfully transitioned from Better Infrastructure Outcomes (BIO) Taskforce to Regional Infrastructure Taskforce. Key updates from the year are:

• An overall profit of nearly $4,000.00 from Regional Industry Forums
• North Queensland Industry Forum was held on 22 March 2023 in Townsville with the event being well attended and resulting in a profit to IAQ
• Central Queensland Forum was held on 18 May 2023 in Gladstone with the event being well attended and resulting in a profit to IAQ
• Far North Queensland Forum was held on 20 July 2023 in Cairns with the event being well attended
• Mackay Industry Forum was held on 06 October 2023 with the event being well attended
• RIT Chair attended, as an invited guest, the Queensland Local Content Leaders Network on 04 August 2023. Provided an overview of the RIT and discussed how IAQ and the QLCLN can work together for regional forums and discussions
• Developed an article on using the migration system to benefit Queensland’s regions with Policy and Communications
• Developed a Consultation Draft of a Whitepaper focusing on how Business Cases can include:
  • measures with respect to supply chain initiatives and targets (local buy etc.);
  • delivery targets / desired benefits; and
  • enabling infrastructure.

Catalysing Infrastructure Transformation Taskforce (CIT)

CIT had a hugely impactful 2023 across industry and government. Key updates from the year are:

• Worked with Policy and Communications to create a resource/database of domestic and international AI companies for DSDILGP to draw on as it increasingly adopts AI in infrastructure planning and delivery
• Worked with Policy and Communications to develop research articles on societal challenges, and how infrastructure can be used to solve them. This included articles on social housing, nature-related financial disclosures and adequately valuing nature
• RIT Chair hosted the Infrastructure in AI Webinar that saw industry expert presentations from Aurecon’s AI expert, Theodoros Galanos, Building 4.0 CRC’s Professor Chris Knapp and MinterEllison partner, Sian Keast
• The Taskforce was invited to attend an onsite tour of the QBuild Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Training Centre at Economic Development Queensland’s Northshore development in September
• CIT hosted DSDILGP representatives who presented the Reducing Government Emissions Roadmap. On the back of this, an industry survey and report on reducing government emissions in infrastructure were developed in collaboration with DSDILGP.

2032 Games Taskforce

The Games Taskforce was incredibly busy and productive this year, hence why it changed from working group to taskforce status. Key updates from the year are:

• The Taskforce continued to rollout the roundtable series after the pilot one on Accessibility, hosted by RPS in late 2022, which included sessions on:
  • Sustainability, hosted by WSP
  • Digital Twins, hosted by 2XM Consult
  • Diversity and Inclusion, Workforce Planning and Skills, hosted by Davidson
  • Precincts, hosted by Arcadis
  • Mobility, hosted by GHD
• A plan on a page was developed as to how IAQ would assist in the planning and delivery of the 2032 Games in a way that adds value - offering to government a resource of deep and diverse expertise with no strings attached
• Working with Policy and Communications, an intel summary of the roundtables was handed to Damon Hall, Executive Director, Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure Office at DSDILGP
• Ensured an iterative refinement of the plan on a page by revising it in November, which set new targets and focus-areas for 2024.

Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

We formally launched our Diversity and Inclusion Working Group on the 10th of May, after months of work behind the scenes from Helen Hutchings, Shaylee Cowan and Adam Walsh, the group's Chair and Co-Vice Chairs. This working group has been in the works since the end of last year. Key updates from the year are:

• Developed their plan on a page and strategic plan as the year progressed
• D&I in collaboration with Phillips Group created a short survey containing questions regarding diversity, with the respondents’ answers illustrating their organisation’s attitudes towards it, and sent it out to members. The results were included in the August Member’s Update
• The Working Group hosted the Hiring for Diversity Webinar on 8 November, which focused on removing unconscious bias, constructing family-friendly work patterns, leveraging migrant talents and bridging skills gaps from adjacent industries.

Emerging Professionals in Infrastructure Queensland (EPIQ)

• After the successful first site visit at Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, the team at BESIX Watpac, E3 Advisory, and Brisbane City Council invited EPIQ for a series of site visits throughout 2023 that were well-attended
• EPIQ - Emerging Professionals in Infrastructure Queensland and the WSP Emerging Professionals Network hosted a Delivering Regional Infrastructure event in July, where Paul Rigo and Ben Hughes discussed challenges in engineering, procurement and delivery of infrastructure in the regions
• In September EPIQ hosted an event alongside Queensland Health, where they heard from to hear from Priscilla Radice on how the Health Capital Division are delivering Queensland's largest ever infrastructure program, the Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan
• EPIQ members were front and centre during the IAQ Assembly in October. Our emerging leaders discussed exciting projects they were working on and what they found most motivating about Queensland’s infrastructure plans in the build up to 2032 and the renewable energy transition
• Held the Queensland 2040 – The Future of Infrastructure Advisory event on 10 August. Members had the opportunity to hear from panellists from the public and private spheres like the Director-General of DSDILGP, Mike Kaiser, Deputy Director-General of Infrastructure & Regional Strategy at DSDILGP, Leah Kelly, the Deputy Consul General of Queensland and Northern Territory, Lucy Monaghan, Deloitte’s Kellie Nuttall and Mott MacDonald’s John Dyson.

IAQ Connect Working Group

IAQ Connect transformed from an idea coined by Hayley Grossberg and Robert Hoffman into a steadfast reality in May this year. Key updates from the working group are:

• The launch, which was facilitated by Marie Gales and took place at Jacobs on 17 May, hosted guest speaker Rhyl Jones McCoy who offered invaluable insights into the industry, career growth and giving back up and down, along with speed-networking opportunities
• Held the Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery event at WSP on 27 July
• IAQ Connect hosted the Brisbane Metro Experience Centre event on 1 November alongside Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Move. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Walentina Gonzalez and David Harrison.

IAQ signed off on an incredibly productive and stimulating 2023 with the awarding of its Future Infrastructure Leader Scholarship. We received 20 nominations from our wonderful members, all of whom were highly competitive. This was narrowed down to three finalists who attended IAQ’s end-of-year celebration at Aquila.

Members had the chance to chat with and hear from all three finalists, Adriana, Bhoston and Archy. Unsurprisingly, all three had achieved incredible things in their young careers, and have even bigger dreams for Queensland’s infrastructure industry.

Delta Infrastructure Advisory Associate Director, Adriana Gowthaman, wants to leave a legacy that will inspire and empower women of diverse backgrounds to excel in this industry. Bhoston Savage, Project Engineer at John Holland, aspires to be a leader at the forefront of delivering infrastructure to regional and remote communities in Australia. Meanwhile, Senior Project Engineer for CPM Advisory and Construction Management, Archy Kahondo, has a burning passion for leveraging AI to revolutionise the infrastructure industry by enhancing efficiency, eliminating burnout and improving safety standards.

Congratulations to Archy, our winner on the night, and our finalists for making it into the top 3! We look forward to seeing Archy at IAQ’s events in 2024 and to what he’ll undoubtedly achieve in Queensland’s industry as he progresses. 

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