Roads Australia

As 2024 draws to a close, Roads Australia wishes you a relaxing break through this holiday season with your loved ones. Our industry has continued to show incredible resilience this year, helping to deliver critical infrastructure amid uncertain market conditions. We thank all our members for their continued commitment to helping build productive, efficient and equitable transport infrastructure across our nation, despite the ongoing challenges. We look forward to working even more closely with our valued members to bring the private and public sectors together to help solve some of the biggest challenges facing our sector. RA will be shut down from the 23rd of December, reopening on Monday, 6 January 2025, and we look forward to another blockbuster year. Check out our highlights from the year that has been - 

“The ACT is unique – as a Territory Government that looks after both state and local government responsibilities as well as being the national capital,” said David Pryce, Director General of Transport Canberra and City Services, while delivering his keynote at our Annual Lunch and Policy Workshop in Canberra last week. David delved into the challenges inherent in delivering services, the opportunities to our sector as the new ACT Government develops a long-term vision for growth in Canberra, and the Department’s alignment with key industry objectives in boosting productivity, improving road safety and decarbonisation initiatives. David acknowledged the importance of transport to the ACT’s long-term expansion, while our other guest speakers shared insights on securing transport, as a national critical infrastructure asset (and service) of strategic importance. Sophie Bazzana, Acting Assistant Secretary for Critical Infrastructure Security Policy at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, provided a context-setting exercise, delving into the origins of Critical Infrastructure obligations, from when the government “identified there wasn’t an overarching piece of legislation” and sought to rectify it. Then, our panellists – Dr Kaitlin Shilling, Tom Kjaer-Olsen, Brenton Steenkamp and Geoff Brown discussed tactical pathways for our sector to observe, analyse and respond to risks and emerging cyber threats. They shared their on-the-ground experience in complying with the legislation, and in anticipating and mitigating the very real risks to our sector in the current regional threat landscape. We were delighted to welcome several Canberra and NSW-based members to the lunch, particularly Tara Lockwood, one of our local 2024 RA Fellows. We look forward to sharing their insights in more detail with members in coming weeks, and in developing resources to support our compliance with the positive obligations outlined in the Australian Government ’s Critical Infrastructure framework. Roads Australia acknowledges our partner and event sponsor Arup for their support in delivering a fantastic event, and Kay Salvair Smith for her excellent facilitating through Q&As with Sophie, David, and with our panel. Arup | Clayton Utz | Omni Executive Pty Ltd | Cisco | Egis | Egis in ANZ - Dr. Atheer Al-Saoudi | Mandi Mees

🚧 Making headlines on the M7-M12 Integration Project! 🚧 We recently had the pleasure of welcoming The Hon. John Graham Minister for Roads, Nathan Hagarty MP, Member for Leppington and Nicole Stoddart, Transurban’s Group Executive for Delivery and Risk to the site of our two incrementally launched bridges on the M7-M12 Integration Project. These engineering marvels are a key part of the M7-M12 Interchange that will improve connectivity and reduce travel times for the community of Western Sydney. Thanks to our partners Crisp Bros. & Haywards, Holcim Australia, InfraBuild, BKH Group, Freyssinet Australia, Borger Cranes, Zoomwave Constructions Pty Limited, BG&E, CASE Construction Equipment, Avopiling Foundation Specialists, JC Butko Engineering, Chess Engineering Pty Ltd, Witt Consulting, Riddwood Consulting Engineers, Aurecon, Capital Steel Design Steve Kiddle, Steven Kotevich, Andie Pitsiatari, Colin Hansen, Tony Waters, Stefanie Nutt, Alex Major, Tim Page, Andrew Battishall, Brooke Cocks, Steph Lewis, Kylie Keogh, Alisa Hitchcock, Amanda Keating, Lisa Keliele, Rebecca Rafter, David Wilson, Aaron (Tugga) Johnson, Todd Myers John Holland, Transurban, Westlink M7 #launchnose, #ILB, #bridgeconstruction, #Incrementallylaunchedbridges, #bridgeengineering, #superstructures, #Infrastructure, #Engineering, #RoadsMinister Stay tuned for more updates in the new year as we continue to make strides in this significant development. Don't miss the Nine News exclusive! https://lnkd.in/e7HQYGHJ

Our Annual Lunch in Perth this week celebrated the significant year of infrastructure delivery across the state.   You can access the full event photo gallery here: https://lnkd.in/gVNgWiAT   Our guest speaker, Peter Woronzow, Director-General of WA's Transport Portfolio, commended the industry's perseverance in the face of difficult operating conditions and outlined the future pipeline of investment.    "Thirty per cent of the State's asset investment program is in the transport portfolio," said Peter, highlighting the Government's efforts to establish a longer-term investment pipeline for the sector.   Peter emphasised the Government's commitment to leveraging its transport investment to deliver better outcomes for First Nations people.   "Over the period from mid 2022 to June 2026, we committed to acquire $700 million of work from First Nations businesses in the transport portfolio. We surpassed that number several months ago, we have now acquired $715 million," said Peter.    "Thank you to those people in the room who've embraced that and helped us achieve that," said Peter. "It's a great achievement and something that Deputy premier Rita Saffioti MLA and I are particularly proud about."   Thank you to our guest speaker Peter Woronzow, our event sponsor Stantec, represented by Barry Wilson and all our guests who braved the scorching-hot weather.   We look forward to seeing you all our next Roads Australia event in Perth soon!

We were pleased to sponsor the Roads Australia Annual Lunch in Melbourne for the ninth year running. These events are always a great opportunity to hear from decision makers around the country, to celebrate the year that was, and make plans for the coming year. Minister Danny Pearson highlighted the essential role transport infrastructure plays in growing Victoria’s economy and quality of life. Our Commercial Director, Andrew Jeffrey, spoke about the power of collaboration and the need for the industry to prioritise safety, people, productivity and sustainability as we deliver the infrastructure pipeline now and into the future.

We are incredibly proud of 2024 Roads Australia Fellow, Isolde Shepherd-Piet from CPB Contractors, who is making history leading Suburban Rail Loop's all women TBM crew.

Congratulations to Yasmin Roper on being selected for the 2025 Roads Australia Fellowship Program! The program is designed to develop the next generation of leaders in the Australian transport and infrastructure sector. Yasmin leads a team of 30 members to design and deliver roads projects in Victoria and South Australia. Qualified in Civil Engineering, Management and Sustainability, she is a multifaceted consultant passionate to reshape the narrative around infrastructure projects to focus more on sustainability, road safety, and agile asset management. Yasmin has been involved in delivering major highway upgrades and autonomous vehicle (AV) trials. She supports the integration of emerging technologies; her work with AVs has been critical in understanding how AV technology interacts with current infrastructure, and in improving safety outcomes. Yasmin is a natural leader and has fostered a positive team culture. “I’m looking forward to expanding my professional network, connecting with other leaders in the industry, and gaining valuable mentorship and kinship that would support my career goals.” #RoadsAustralia #Mentoring #Transport #Australia

"We know how important it is to continue investing in Victoria's growth," said Danny Pearson, Victoria’s Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Transport and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. Addressing over 500 Roads Australia Members at our sold-out Annual Lunch in Melbourne last Friday, Minister Pearson highlighted the essential role transport infrastructure sector plays in growing Victoria’s economy and quality of life. The Minister also acknowledged concerns around how the state will fund its long-term infrastructure pipeline, noting the government expected infrastructure funding to stabilise at an annual spend of $14-16 billion over the coming decade. “We don't want a situation where we have a boom or bust approach to the economy and to the construction sector,” said Minister Pearson. “We’ve got a fiscal strategy in place, and we are the only jurisdiction around the nation with a fiscal strategy in place. We're on track to look at stabilising debt as a proportion of the economy and reducing that, but we have to continue to invest investing in core infrastructure to keep pace with the level of growth. Otherwise, the risk is that as a city, we lose our liveability.” Our Annual Lunches aren’t just an opportunity to hear from decision makers around the country. Members also gathered to celebrate accomplishments throughout 2024, catch up with industry peers and make plans for the coming year.     We thank our partner and event sponsor Laing O'Rourke for their support in delivering such a successful event.   The full photo gallery is available here: https://lnkd.in/gZyWjgJj

“You’ve got to break the nexus to encourage more women into the sector,” Rob Evans told an audience of past and present Roads Australia Fellows during a recent webinar on leadership.   As John Holland’s Executive General Manager for Infrastructure, Rob is responsible for delivery of the business’ road, water and complex infrastructure projects across Australia.   His advice to Fellows was wide-ranging, including insights on how to build a trusted network, make critical career decisions and actively improve diversity and inclusion in Australia’s infrastructure sector.    Multi-state events empower Fellows and mentors to question industry leaders about how they’ve achieved career milestones, juggled their personal and family priorities, and connect with Fellows across the program – including alumni.   Find out how your organisation can participate in the Fellowship Program, supported by John Holland, next year at www.roads.org.au

Check out this incredible initiative spearheaded by 2025 Roads Australia Fellow Kylie Smart CPHR, and piloted with Seymour Whyte's Mulgoa Road team in Sydney.