Andrew Chapman is the CEO of the Queensland Major Contractors Association, representing the companies delivering Queensland’s largest infrastructure projects, including roads, rail, energy, and major civil works. With over 30 years in the engineering and construction sector, Andrew brings deep insight into how Australia’s major projects pipeline is evolving and what it will take to deliver it.

In this episode, Andrew unpacks the scale and complexity of Queensland’s $127 billion infrastructure pipeline and what it means for delivery across the next five years. He discusses the key constraints facing the industry, including productivity decline, workforce shortages, supply chain limitations, and approval delays. The conversation also explores the need for more collaborative contracting models, better risk allocation between clients and contractors, and improved procurement practices to reduce disputes and improve certainty. Andrew also highlights the growing role of technology, robotics, and smarter work design in lifting productivity, as well as the importance of addressing industry culture, mental health, and burnout to retain and attract workers.

Resources and links:

Andrew Chapman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-chapman-30711216/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bronwyn Weir, Managing Director of Weir Legal and Consulting and co-author of the Building Confidence Report and Associate Professor Dr Matthew Bell, Co-Director of Studies at the Melbourne Law School, join the conversation to unpack major reforms reshaping Victoria’s residential building system. Both bring deep expertise in construction law and regulatory design, with a focus on how building regulation impacts consumers, practitioners, and industry accountability.

In this episode, Bronwyn and Matthew explore the drivers behind Victoria’s building reforms, including past system failures, combustible cladding, and weaknesses in regulatory oversight. They discuss the transition from the Victorian Building Authority to the new Building and Plumbing Commission, the introduction of first resort insurance, expanded rectification and enforcement powers, and the new building system objective focused on health and safety. The conversation also examines whether these reforms will meaningfully improve outcomes, shift industry behaviour, and rebuild trust in the construction sector.

Resources and links:

Bronwyn Weir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-weir-3076671a/

Matthew Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bell-b69a2a7/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is part two of a special three-part series exploring culture in the construction industry. Across the series, we unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector, including mental health, workforce sustainability, diversity, leadership, and the evolving expectations of construction workplaces.

Rita Zhang is an Associate Professor at RMIT University and a leading researcher in construction health and safety. For more than a decade, she has worked closely with industry to better understand the factors that influence safety performance, worker wellbeing, and organisational culture across construction projects.

In this episode, Rita shares insights from several major research projects, including improving communication between apprentices and supervisors, examining women's experiences on male dominated construction sites, and exploring how subcontracting arrangements can influence safety outcomes. She also discusses the growing role of mental health in workplace safety, the potential of AI to support risk management, and how the Safety and Health Innovation Network (SHINE) is helping industry and researchers work together to address emerging challenges.

Resources and links:

Rita Zhang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-peihua-zhang-50089255/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salam Al-Mulla has more than 15 years of experience delivering major infrastructure projects across Victoria. With a background in mechanical engineering, Salam has worked across some of Melbourne’s largest and most complex projects, including the Victorian Desalination Project, Level Crossing Removal Project, West Gate Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail early works, and the Suburban Rail Loop East project.

In this episode, Salam explains the realities of delivering large-scale infrastructure projects and the growing importance of contractual literacy for engineers and project teams. He explores collaborative contracting models, risk management, change management, and the practical challenges of administering contracts on high-pressure projects. The conversation also dives into mental health, burnout, long working hours, and the role initiatives like Wellness in Infrastructure are playing in reshaping culture across the construction industry.

Resources and links:

Salam Al-Mulla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salam-al-mulla-52ab4570/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is part one of a special three-part series exploring culture in the construction industry. Across the series, we unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector, including mental health, workforce sustainability, diversity, leadership, and the evolving expectations of construction workplaces.

With a career spanning law, journalism, public policy, infrastructure, and governance, Gabrielle Trainor has served on major boards including Infrastructure Australia, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, and the AFL Commission. Her work has focused heavily on improving culture, wellbeing, and diversity across Australia’s construction and infrastructure sectors.

In this episode, Gabrielle shares the origins and impact of the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce and the development of the Culture Standard across major infrastructure projects. She explains the connection between procurement, workplace culture, productivity, mental health, and diversity in construction, as well as the commercial realities of implementing five-day work weeks and flexible work arrangements on projects. Gabrielle also shares insights into the future of the industry, why cultural reform is critical to solving skills shortages, and how improving workplace conditions could transform construction for future generations.

Resources and links:

Gabrielle Trainor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-trainor-ao-620b6714/

Construction Industry Culture Taskforce: https://www.constructionindustryculturetaskforce.com.au/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Davies is a Principal Consultant at 9 Degrees Consulting, specialising in onshore wind energy projects with deep expertise in multi-contract delivery and split scope contracting. With a background spanning technical engineering, project execution, and commercial advisory across Australia and Europe, Andrew brings a well-rounded perspective on how wind farm projects are delivered.

In this episode, Andrew joins host Bijay to break down the evolving contracting landscape in the wind energy sector. They explore the shift from traditional EPC models to split scope contracting, the risks and rewards for developers, and how financing, cost pressures, and supplier dynamics are shaping decisions. The conversation also touches on emerging trends like battery storage, grid stability, and rising electricity demand, offering ideas for engineers, developers, and anyone navigating large-scale renewable energy projects.

Resources and links:

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-davies-9degrees/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Carly Shrever is a lawyer, psychologist and empirical researcher. Sally Ryan is a psychologist and family therapist. Both are Directors at Human Ethos, which helps lawyers experience greater satisfaction and wellbeing in their work.

In this episode, Carly and Sally unpack stress and burnout in high-pressure industries like construction and law. Speaking with host Maona Matanda, the duo explores why stress isn’t always harmful, how burnout develops, and why “busyness” culture can mask early warning signs. The conversation also offers practical strategies – from managing self-talk and setting boundaries to recognising physical and emotional red flags – and highlights leaders’ roles in fostering psychologically safe workplaces.

If this episode raises issues for you, or if you need to speak to somebody, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636.

Resources and links:

Sally Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-ryan-b320b995/

Carly Schrever on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-schrever-phd-b0034642/

Human Ethos: https://www.humanethos.com.au/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elena Stojcevski and Veno Panicker are Partners in Construction and Infrastructure at Hamilton Locke.

In this episode, they discuss why the construction industry has been slow to adopt AI despite its transformative potential. The conversation covers productivity challenges, procurement models, and barriers such as cost, risk aversion, and data silos.

Elena and Veno also examine how AI could improve planning, design, and contract management for mega projects like the Brisbane 2032 Olympics - while addressing legal risks, governance issues, and the future of work in construction.

Resources and links:

Elena Stojcevski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-stojcevski-05a98233/

Veno Panicker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veno-panicker-76738650/

Hamilton Locke website: https://hamiltonlocke.com.au/

Connect:

The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/

The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.