Canberra Builder 2/2021 by Master Builders ACT

EDITION 2 / 2021 Master Builders Association of the ACT and Region Magazine

IT ALL STARTS WITH A SPARK MEET THE WOMEN CHANGING THE FACE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

MBA: HONOURING AND CHAMPIONING POWERFUL WOMEN IN MALE DOMINATED FIELDS

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T R A D E O N LY | B Y A P P O I N T M E N T 3 1 D A C R E S T R E E T, M I T C H E L L A C T 2 9 1 1

CONTENTS

MASTER BUILDERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Graciete Ferreira Treasurer Frank Porreca Chair, Commercial Sector Council Matthew Rayment Chair, Residential Sector Council Bryan Leeming Chair, Subcontractors & Suppliers Sector Council Rosa Josifoski Chair, Civil Contractors Council Nick Zardo Chair, Professional Sector Council John Nikolic MBA National Representative Simon Butt CEO Michael Hopkins Master Builders Association of the ACT 1 Iron Knob St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 PO Box 1211, Fyshwick ACT 2609 Tel: (02) 6175 5900 Fax: (02) 6280 9118 Email: canberra@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au Magazine Editor Chelsea Mitchell Tel: (02) 6175 5973 Email: cmitchell@mba.org.au Advertising enquiries Chris Moylan Tel: (02) 6175 5970 Email: cmoylan@mba.org.au Creative Consultant Pamela Slocum Mob: 0411 759 989 Web: pspamelaslocum.com Cover image supplied by Ginninderry

Former SPARK participant Kerry Girvan is carving out a career in civil construction.

OF INTEREST

FOREWORDS 5

Where are They Now: Excellence Awards Edition

Michael Hopkins discusses lobbying for a greater investment in a skilled industry.

The Mill Architecture + Design Director, Shannon Battinsson, chats with us about the highlights and exciting projects she’s worked on since her first Excellence Awards win in 2016.

NEWS & EVENTS

Success BUILT on Incredible Projects, Investment in People and Determination

A Message from the President Gracie Ferreira pens a letter to the future female leaders of our industry.

A Message from the CEO

Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction Rebecca Vassarotti MLA

Minister Rebecca Vassarotti shares her experiences working across several male dominated fields.

© This publication is copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical photocopy, recording or otherwise without the permission of the Master Builders Association of the ACT. Disclaimer: readers are advised that the Master Builders Association of the ACT cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of statements made in advertising and editorial, nor the quality of the goods or services advertised. Opinions expressed throughout the publication are the contributors own and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the Master Builders Association of the ACT.

Introducing the Five New Female MBA Staff Members Meet the talented women who have joined our organisation.

Universal Design is the Key by Yolanda Wang MBA Member, Yolanda Wang, discusses factoring in accessibility into residential spaces.

We chat with Nadine O’Keeffe from Built, to find out about achieving success and harnessing potential.

2021 Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Earth Awards Event Wrap-Up 24

Catch up on the spectacular awards night, and find out about the incredible projects that have shaped our region.

THANK YOU CANBERRA You have voted us as the best guest experience for three years running and voted for us as the best servicing experience in 2020.

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Although I am the first female President of Master Builders ACT, I am intent on making sure I am not the last.

A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT, GRACIE FERREIRA

To Women Considering Joining the Construction Industry When I started out in the industry as an Administrative Assistant, women were few and far between on worksites. In my career I’ve had the privilege of being on the board of the ACT Training Fund Authority, the ACT Regional Building & Construction Industry Training Council, Canberra’s Police Community Youth Club and the Default Insurance Fund. I am also a Director of Pacific Formwork, a specialist provider of formwork solutions, and Precast Projects, a manufacturer and installer of precast. The scarcity of females in the industry was something I noticed early on in my career, and through my role at Master Builders I have been able to proactively work on changing this.

Through sharing our stories, successes and lessons learnt, we can encourage more women to join this remarkable industry.

Although I am the first female President of Master Builders ACT, I am intent on making sure I am not the last. In my time as MBA ACT President, I have been part of the development of many female orientated initiatives including the Women in Construction Group, the Women in Civil Construction program and the Women in Trades program. It’s been through the MBA and these valuable programs that I have met many incredible women working in the construction industry.

Some of these amazing women are featured in this edition, including Emily Shoemark from Snedden Hall & Gallop who writes on the Right to Disconnect From the ‘Digital Leash’. In this edition we also talk with the Founder of Build Like a Girl, Jo Farrell, and find out about her experiences being the only female onsite at the start of her career. On page 20 we sit down with the Institute of Architect’s President, Shannon Battinson, to find out about the home that brought her the Mill Architecture + Design’s first Excellence Awards win in 2016. Nadine O’Keeffe shares the values and career lessons that have skyrocketed her to the General Manager of the Built ACT Business Unit on page 40. This edition is all about showcasing the talented women in our industry and sharing the reasons more women should join the building and construction sector. I am pleased to say that when it comes to women at the helm of building and construction membership organisations, Canberra is the leader nationwide. Through sharing our stories, successes and lessons learnt, we can encourage more women to join this remarkable industry that has provided me with so many wonderful experiences. To any woman looking to join our industry, whether you are looking for an office position or an onsite role, the industry has opportunities on offer, now it’s up to you to take them. I’ll see you onsite in the future. Graciete Ferreira President of Master Builders ACT Director of Pacific Formwork

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Peace of mind. The Master Builders Fidelity Fund was established in 2002 to protect the interests of both consumers and builders in the ACT. For Builders, the Master Builders Fidelity Fund provides financial certainty as money held by the Fund remains in the ACT. It is securely invested and used for the betterment of the ACT builders and consumers and is therefore not subjected to the vagaries of international markets and events. The Fidelity Fund issues Fidelity Certificates which provide consumer protection for owners of new homes and those making significant changes to homes. The Certificates protect the owner during construction and for up to five years from the date of practical completion. Master Builders members receive reduced premium rates and we also offer special discounts for volume users of the Fidelity Fund. For more information contact the Master Builders Fidelity Fund. Go online and find the cover that is right for you. www.mba.org.au/consumer-advice/home-warranty-insurance

Master Builders Fidelity Fund 1 Iron Knob St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 PO Box 1211, Fyshwick ACT 2609 Tel: (02) 6175 5995 Email: mdouch@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au

We are calling on the ACT Government to follow the Federal Government’s lead and significantly increase its commitment to skills funding, particularly for construction apprenticeships.

A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MICHAEL HOPKINS

Skillful Investing is Needed for Economic Recovery As we cross the halfway point of 2021, we are focused on lobbying the ACT Government for a greater investment in a skilled sector in the upcoming August budget. In the 2021/2022 budget, the Federal Government committed to 5000 more training placements for women, to encourage more females to break into non-traditional trades. At Master Builders ACT we are strong advocates for seeing more women in leadership roles and we are committed to leading by example. The majority of our Managers are female, as well as our executive leadership team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our hard-working executive team, Commercial Director, Liz Nair, Member Services Director, Ashlee Berry, Finance Director, Pam le Roux and our newly appointed Training Director, Jo Whitfield. You can find out more about Jo on page 24, in our new team member feature. The Federal Government’s budget recognised that the building and construction industry is powering the Australian economy, with a focus on infrastructure building, apprenticeships, and job creation as pivotal for rebuilding Australia’s economy. The strong commitment by the Federal Government to skills and apprenticeships provides the framework needed for the ACT Government to also increase apprenticeship funding in its August budget.

A skilled construction sector will undoubtedly benefit the ACT economy overall.

The National Skills Commission’s Average Price Benchmarking Report shows that the ACT is the worst performer of all Australian States and Territories when it comes to funding many construction apprenticeships. We are calling on the ACT Government to follow the Federal Government’s lead and significantly increase its commitment to skills funding, particularly for construction apprenticeships. A skilled construction sector will undoubtedly benefit the ACT economy overall. In terms of the economy recovery, on page 13 MBA Australia Chief Economist, Shane Garrett, predicts that home renovations will continue to expand in Canberra even with HomeBuilder applications now closed. While he notes $1.12 billion worth of non-residential building jobs received approval in the ACT over the year ending February 2021, there are still concerns about the lack of substantial investment in the building pipeline. The Federal Government’s recent announcement of the $26.5 million William Hovell Drive duplication investment is a welcomed start to creating a pipeline of work for our civil members. In this edition we get the chance to celebrate some of the hardworking CCF ACT members, through the 2021 CCF Earth Awards wrap-up on page 50. Congratulations to all the winners from the night on your outstanding projects, I hope that you and your teams had the chance to celebrate all of your hard work. I would like to extend a huge thank you to our 2021 CCF Earth Awards sponsors including Headline Sponsor, Capital Asphalt. While CCF ACT President, Nick Zardo, couldn’t be in attendance because he was volunteering his time at the Variety Charity Bash, he is still featured in this edition on page 22 celebrating Guideline ACT’s 30-year member milestone.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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I am excited to work with the sector to build trust in the community that the homes they invest in will support their aspirations, their hopes and dreams.

Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction Rebecca Vassarotti MLA

I have worked across a number of sectors, and particularly enjoyed working with the disability sector, where I saw the stark contrast in housing – highlighting a chronic shortage of housing that meets the needs of people with disabilities or other limitations in their mobility. A decade after the voluntary universal design guidelines were produced by Livable Housing Australia, only about 5% of Australia’s housing stock is accessible.

It’s been a difficult, few months for many women.

During my time with Community Housing Canberra, I learnt about the need to ensure that spaces are designed in a way that has people at the centre. I learnt that connecting with local communities always delivered better outcomes, and people who live in places understand the way streets and suburbs work.

The shocking revelations about the appalling actions in our Federal Parliament has sparked a national conversation about the treatment of women in the workplace. This conversation has recognised the particular challenges faced by women working in male dominated industries – politics is one, but of course, building and construction is another. A key reflection from this national conversation is the importance of female leaders supporting each other, working together to confront challenges and coming together to share their stories in the hope that it might be helpful in someone else’s journey.

My time as a community member on ACAT also provided rich experience around the human impact of housing design. I saw first-hand the consequence of people with low incomes living in older, very inefficient housing. As we know all too well, good homes are critical to the wellbeing of people.

Given this, I am delighted to share a bit about me and how I arrived in the position I am in today.

While these experiences have been extremely diverse, they have been immensely helpful in developing an understanding about the relationships between housing and people, and how houses directly improve the lives of people, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community.

I am a bit of a novice in the political sphere, having only recently been elected to the Legislative Assembly, accepting the big, unexpected job of being a Minister.

The construction industry should feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction in building homes that meet the needs and desires of our community.

While this was somewhat daunting - and yes, believe me was accompanied by a dose of imposter syndrome - I did it because timing is never perfect and because it is important to have diversity in our leadership roles.

I am excited to work with the sector to build trust in the community that the homes they invest in will support their aspirations, their hopes and dreams.

I take comfort in the fact that I took on Ministerial roles after some very significant life experience.

I believe that we are all united in a common endeavour to build a better Canberra – one in which everyone has a place to call home that is safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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Super and The Gender Gap Research shows that women tend to retire with less super than men. In fact, 1 in 4 women retire with no super*. There are several factors that contribute to this. Women are more likely to take more time out of paid work to have families, they’re more likely to work part-time and, generally, they’re paid less. Women also live longer than men^, which means it’s even more important that they have enough super to last their retirement. The events of the pandemic will further accelerate this inequality, especially for young women who’ve accessed their super early and as a result, miss out on decades of compound interest on their retirement savings. SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE THE GAP? First and foremost, make sure your employer is paying your super. The amount your employer pays is usually at least 9.5% of your regular pay.

A NOT SO SUPER FACT In 2016/17, the average super balance at retirement for men was $336,360* For women, this figure was $277,880*

You can also: > Combine all your super together into one account It’ll be easier to manage, and you could save on fees. You can do this online and find out more information about consolidating your super at cbussuper.com.au/super/ consolidate-or-find-my-super > Find your lost super If you’ve had multiple funds and your details have changed, your old super fund may have lost touch with you and transferred your super to the ATO. This money is called ‘lost super’, but it’s super you can still claim. Use the link above and we’ll show you how. > Top up your super by putting in extra yourself You can do this by paying more from your before-tax salary (salary sacrificing) or from your after-tax salary. An after-tax super contribution may see you eligible for the Government’s contribution of up to $500. It may seem like a small amount now, but it can make a big difference later.

> Check your insurance Most Cbus members will receive some cover for death and total and permanent disablement upon joining. Check if you have insurance cover elsewhere and consider transferring your other insurance into one account for easier management. > Ask your partner or spouse to make a spouse contribution They’ll receive a tax offset of up to $540 if you earn less than $40,000 for the 2020-21 financial year. Visit cbussuper.com.au/super/making-super-contributions for more information and to understand how the offset works. There’s a lot you can do to boost your super and improve the quality of your retirement. And if you need help, just give us a call on 1300 361 784. This update was brought to you by Cbus, the industry super fund for building, construction and allied industries.

* Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Women’s economic security in retirement Insight Paper, February 2020, https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Women%27s_economic_security_in_retirement.pdf ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Life expectancy continues to increase in Australia Media Release, 4 November 2020, https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/life-expectancy-continues-increase-australia This information is about Cbus. It doesn’t take into account your specific needs, so you should look at your business needs, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy. Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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What Does the Future Hold for Canberra’s Building Industry? By MBA Chief Economist Shane Garrett

By global standards, Canberra has fared quite well during the pandemic, with a very low rate of infection. The structure of the local economy has also been very protective: there is little by way of an international tourism scene and the large number of public service employees has provided the labour market with a valuable firewall.

out around 2021-22 and then start to expand again as migrant inflows to Canberra start to recover post-Covid.

It is against this backdrop that Master Builders Australia’s latest forecasts have been published. While HomeBuilder has been working a lot of magic around the country, the benefits to the ACT have been more limited because of the structure of residential building in Canberra, which is much more focussed on higher density dwellings. The boost to detached house building has still been significant, although we expect this to settle back to more typical levels over the medium term.

Over the year to February 2021, $1.12 billion worth of non-residential building jobs received approval in the ACT, but, surprisingly, only 34.5 per cent of this was accounted for by public sector work. Like most other parts of the country, the nonresidential building pipeline is in reverse in the ACT. However, we do expect a modest recovery to unfold over the next few years.

While the pipeline of new apartment and unit building work had been moving backwards even before the pandemic, we project that the volume of building in this part of the market will bottom

HomeBuilder has also spurred home renovations activity. With such robust growth in house prices taking place in Canberra, our expectation is that home renovations work will continue to expand even though HomeBuilder has closed.

Stage 1 of the Canberra’s light rail project was the big show in town for engineering construction activity in the second half of the 2010s decade. There is currently a lull in this part of the local construction market as we await the start of work on Stage 2 of the project which is due next year.

Master Builders forecasts of new dwelling starts by type to 2024–25 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 2017–18

2018–19

2019–20

2020–21

2021–22

2022–23

Detatched houses

2023–24

2024–25

Apartments and units

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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WOMEN BUILDING AUSTRALIA UPDATE BY MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA CEO DENITA WAWN

Master Builders Australia has been delivering the Women Building Australia program for the past 3 years. The program has grown from the initial Women Building Australia National Mentoring program for women in the early stages of their careers. Women Building Australia is also increasing awareness about career opportunities in the building and construction industry amongst female school leavers, their parents and career advisors at career expos.

people who would like to use female operated building and construction suppliers. The program provides a dedicated harassment and discrimination support line for women in the industry, which provides practical advice on issues of discrimination and harassment and recommends avenues that are available to women.

During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Master Builders was in discussions with the Office of Women to expand the Women Building Australia program to provide more opportunities and support for women in the building and construction industry. This extension has meant that Women Building Australia is able to expand our activities to provide support for women in the industry around business resilience and harassment.

Master Builders Australia has been delivering the Women Building Australia program for the past 3 years.

We are making a big difference and successfully supporting female participation in our industry. We are increasing awareness of the wonderful career opportunities and array of jobs that are available for women.

Master Builders Australia is working with the Office of Women, whose support has enabled us to run and expand the Women Building Australia program. We are making a big difference and successfully supporting female participation in our industry. We are increasing awareness of the wonderful career opportunities and array of jobs that are available for women. With women currently making up only 14% of the industry’s total workforce and only 1% of building trades, the industry is missing out on the skills and talents of half the population. Attracting the best workers regardless of their gender means our industry will benefit and evolve with new skills, ideas and innovations, the business success of building businesses will be boosted, and more women can take advantage of the fantastic career and job opportunities that our industry provides.

The expansion of the Women Building Australia program has allowed us to set up a dedicated website that provides resources and support for women in the industry and provides business resilience coaching programs for female owned or operated businesses. In addition, we are now able to establish a female led business register to provide a resource for

WOMEN BUILDING AUSTRALIA UPDATE

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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I think cyber insurance will be a particular area of interest for members of the Women in Construction Group, because of the forward-thinking members the group attracts.

The Women in Construction Group have a number of upcoming events for the year, including a Small Business Learning Session, an exclusive onsite Strathnairn Charity House event, and a HBDI Learning session. Nick is ready to be an active partner at these events saying, “I’m looking forward to the networking opportunities at the Women in Construction events and finding out how MBIB can continue to meet members’ insurance requirements.”

Master Builders Insurance Brokers (MBIB) are coming onboard as a partner of the Women in Construction Group. Master Builders Insurance Brokers ACT Business Development Manager, Nick Morgan, says this is a logical next step for the business, “We have always been avid supporters of women joining the construction industry, it’s terrific to now solidify this support with our new partnership,” Nick says. Master Builders Insurance Brokers offers insurance services to the construction industry which includes contract works, home warranty, surety bonds and risk management advice. All profits go back into the construction industry, so Nick is already very familiar with supporting the industry to grow. While female participation is significantly lower in the construction industry, Nick believes initiatives like the Women in Construction Group, will help close that gap saying, “I think the general consensus is that members want to see more women join the industry but they’re not seeing those applicants right now. But with the Women in Construction Group showcasing the outstanding efforts of females in the industry, I believe we will see more women join.”

In the building and construction industry there is a growing demand for cyber insurance as businesses to continue to expand into the online marketplace, “I think cyber insurance will be a particular area of interest for members of the Women in Construction Group, because of the forward-thinking members the group attracts.” MBIB recognises that cyber breaches are a very real threat facing modern businesses and they are here to advise industry of their legal requirements, “companies with annual turnovers of more than 3 million are legally required to inform all affected parties, as well as notify individuals affected by the breach,” Nick says. Master Builders Insurance Brokers have women employed across different levels of the company around the country. Nick is eager to see the skills more women will bring to the construction industry saying, “I’m surrounded by smart and accomplished women in my professional and personal life, and it’s exciting to think where the construction industry will go with greater female representation.”

ACT Members looking to find out how Master Builders Insurance Brokers can assist you in insuring your business and equipment, can contact Nick on (02) 6175 5975 or email act.insurance@mbib.com.au

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

EVENT WRAP-UP: The Spectacular 2021 International Women’s Day Luncheon

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

The Women in Construction Group started 2021 with a bang, with the first event held on 16 March 2021 being the inaugural International Women’s Day Luncheon. The event was held at the picturesque location of the Glass House at Pialligo Estate. Guest speakers included MBA ACT President, Graciete Ferreira, Australian Racing Legend, Emily Duggan, and Founder of Build Like a Girl and General Manager at Kane Constructions, Jo Farrell. Guests were greeted with a glass of champagne and canapes in the beautiful greenery surrounding the venue. Attendees enjoyed delicious platters of Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Cous Cous and Grilled Chicken while hearing from our three truly inspiring guest speakers. We hope to see many members at future Women in Construction events. Additional partnership opportunities are available, please contact MBA via events@mba.org.au.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Excellence Awards Edition At Master Builders ACT we have been graced with many stunning Excellence Awards entries, including the 2016 winner of the CustomBuilt Home: Less Than 150M² category by The Mill Architecture + Design and 360 Building Solutions. It was a memorable experience for Shannon Battisson from the Mill Architecture + Design; it was her first year of MBA membership, her first Excellence Awards win and her first time designing her own home. We sat down with the newly elected National President Elect of the Australian Institute of Architects to find out more…

PHOTO FROM 2016 OF THE CUSTOM-BUILT HOME: LESS THAN 150M2 WINNER

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

SHANNON BATTISSON, DIRECTOR OF THE MILL ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

Q. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING ON THIS PROJECT IN 2016? S: It was about designing a home for my family which was really fun. It was the first time I got to design my own family home but we also had no money so we were trying to achieve something really special for a really small amount of money – we built the house for $300,000. To build an 8-star house for that kind of money was exciting and a great challenge. We were then able to use winning the award to help promote that good architecture and good building outcomes do not need a huge budget, you can achieve a lot if you’re prepared to think about it and get it right from the start and then work with a good builder to carry it through. Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECTS YOU HAVE WORKED ON? S: We are lucky we do a big variety of projects and we have some incredible clients who make it fun to do what we do. We are in the process of finishing the next house for my family and are engaging the same builder that we won our very first award with (360 Building). This has been exciting and challenging in a whole different way, but it is a rewarding thing to do and having built so many projects now with the team at 360, it is a great process to go through when you know each other very well. We’ve being doing a lot of renovations to beautiful, old mid-century Canberra Houses that are a big part of our architectural legacy but often perform terribly in our climate, so they are freezing in winter and boiling in summer. Some of our favourite projects recently have been taking those old houses and integrating the same environmental credentials that we build into our new builds and retrofitting them in so that the house gets to live another day, and be far more enjoyable to live in.

PRESENT DAY PHOTO OF THE HOME

Q. HOW CAN WE COLLECTIVELY ENCOURAGE MORE WOMEN TO JOIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? S: It’s such a great industry to be a part of and I think one of the best parts about it for a woman is that it’s so varied, there’s not one set path. I’m so excited that when I go on site, I see more of our trades are women. I spend all of my days inside at my computer so when I visit a building site and see women on the tools, there’s no way I could do that yet here’s this woman out there doing something she loves, good on her. It’s really impressive that people find a part of our industry that they love and the fact that it might not be traditionally a role a woman did, they don’t let it stop them. Don’t let the fear of being one of only a few women doing something stop you. We have such an incredible breadth of experience and culture in our industry and it’s only going to be better through diversity. The best thing we can do to encourage more women into the industry is to say Just because we might be outnumbered now, don’t let any kind of hesitation stop you from pursuing something that interests you. It’s great to get up every day and do something that you like doing.

Q. WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? S: I think for all of us but particularly for architects and for designers it’s to never stop learning, we never finish learning you don’t get your degree and never have to think about it again, building techniques are always changing. Construction is such a massive contributor to the climate crisis and whilst that’s sobering it’s also empowering, we are so well placed to make a massive impact on how our climate recovers and so that ability to always learn and adapt your thinking to grow as a professional is the best advice. I still work every week with a mentor to help me grow as a designer, and I have colleagues in different firms around Canberra who I work with from a business standpoint when I have questions.

For Shannon, her respect of the industry in all its facets is a winning attitude all on its own, “It’s a team thing, the construction industry. One of the things I love most about being a part of it and about the different building companies and architectural companies that we work with and collaborate with is that genuine desire to work as part of a team for a great result for a client and I think that’s one of the best parts about being part of organisations like the MBA.”

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

MEMBER MILESTONE

3EA0RS

GUIDELINE ACT MEMBER MILESTONE: A Venture Down The Road Less Travelled For the last 30 years of MBA membership, Guideline ACT have carved themselves a pathway lined with incredible projects, award wins and an outstanding reputation amongst other members of the Civil Construction sector. Guideline ACT are a Civil Engineering Construction company that began in 1985 and have gone on to complete over 520 projects over the years. The company’s four key priorities are: safety, environment, quality and productivity.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Guideline ACT Managing Director, Nick Zardo, is an important figure in the Canberra Civil industry. He is the President of the ACT Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) and sits on the National CCF Board as Treasurer. When Nick thinks about his favourite part of being an MBA member he thinks of his ongoing advocacy efforts, “Being actively involved on various boards now, I have to say taking industry issues up to government and coming away with some wins now and then is very satisfying. I enjoy catching up with fellow contractors and participating with the Civil Sector, celebrating its achievements at the ACT CCF Awards too.” Nick acknowledges the contribution former Guideline ACT Directors Gavan McArdle and David Jones made to the industry, explaining, “They both instilled a sense of value in an Industry voice and the MBA in me.” Over the decades of outstanding projects, one that Nick still holds dear is the Cotter Dam Remedial Works Project in 1999, “It was a hands-on role for me, delivering the project as the site engineer and at times, site foreman. The dam that was originally built in 1912 has now been swallowed up by the new Cotter Dam. Simply, it was an incredible one-off local experience.” Nick made special mentions of other projects including the Isabella Weir upgrade (2018), Constitution Avenue Upgrade (2016) and the Central Valley Earthworks at the National Arboretum (2010). Guideline ACT is very involved with the children’s charity, Variety, which supports Australian kids with disabilities, chronic illness or are faced with financial or geographical hardship. Their journey with Variety began in 2013 when Nick and Jack (retired workshop manager) decided to participate in the NSW Variety Bash with a sunny yellow 1971 HG Holden Ute, travelling through NSW country towns. In 2021 Guideline ACT will enter “Team Tonka” in its eighth consecutive bash and it’s a big year for the ute, celebrating its 50th Birthday and still going strong.

Guideline ACT was one of the first companies to join the inaugural Women in Civil Construction program. Over the last eight consecutive NSW Bashes, ‘Team Tonka’ has travelled over 26,000 kilometres through dust and mud visiting schools and communities, bringing smiles to the kids. In that time and through the generous efforts of the community, ‘Team Tonka’ has raised over $98,000 for The Children’s Charity. Nick is grateful for the overwhelming support from the Canberra Civil Industry in particular saying, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our past and ongoing supporters”. Along with their years of involvement with the Variety Bash, Guideline ACT are supporters of many local charities including: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Canberra Hospital, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and various local sporting clubs including The Monaro Panthers Soccer Club and The Wests Rugby Club. With many outstanding achievements under their belt, Guideline ACT are looking at how they can improve their Corporate Social Responsibility, “An exciting and proactive project we are currently undertaking is to understand our real environmental footprint and how this can be practically reduced across the entire business. I believe Guideline ACT has a social responsibility to be as sustainable as possible,” Nick says. Guideline ACT was one of the first companies to join the inaugural Women in Civil Construction program which provides practical and theoretical experience for women looking to join the civil sector. But despite these programs, Nick says unfortunately the numbers aren’t translating, “The inclusion of women in the Civil Construction Industry across every role is something I am particularly passionate about. It’s a no brainer, however, remains elusive.” While the involvement of females in the construction sector still remains low generally, Nick has seen tremendous success firsthand through the Women in Civil Construction program, “Two years on, this has proven to be an incredible success story for Guideline ACT as we have five women with us all progressing very well, with a few making career progression moves within the organisation.” We look forward to continuing to build female representation in the civil construction sector with Guideline ACT.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Introducing the 5 New Female MBA Staff Members We are excited to introduce the 5 women who have recently joined Master Builders ACT. The five women are: > Jo Whitfield – Training Director > Alexandra Tupper – Events Manager > Amy Blyton – Accounts Assistant > Abigail Wakefield – Assistant Accountant > Abby Fulton – Communications Intern Get to know the women below with this question & answer.

What is your favourite book? I love anything by Jeffrey Archer which is fiction but currently I’m into “Happy” by Turia Pitt. She has some great life perspective and interviews some amazing people for the book. Which movie do you think everyone should watch at least once in their life? It’s a tie between “The Imitation Game” with Benedict Cumberbatch and “Bombshell” with Charlize Theron. Both based on true life which makes them all the more fascinating. What famous person alive or dead would you like to have dinner with? Marie Curie – my heroine

JO WHITFIELD

What is your favourite quote? “Success is never owned it’s rented, and the rent is due every single day” Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? Angelina Jolie What is your favourite building in Canberra? My own home! But out of landmark buildings, the Hyatt Hotel. Beautiful 1920’s architecture blended with modern features, timeless. What Canberra event do you look forward to the most? Multicultural festival – great food and atmosphere.

What is your favourite book? Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Which movie do you think everyone should watch at least once in their life? Harry Potter What famous person alive or dead would you like to have dinner with? Brett Young (American country/pop singer and songwriter) What is your favourite quote? Everything Happens for a Reason Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? Anna Kendrick What is your favourite building in Canberra? The Arboretum What Canberra event do you look forward to the most? Night Noodle Markets ALEXANDRA TUPPER

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

What is your favourite book? I don’t have a particular favourite book, but I do have two favourite authors, Non-Fiction – Cathy Glass and Fiction – Maeve Binchy. Which movie do you think everyone should watch at least once in their life? Toy Story What famous person alive or dead would you like to have dinner with? Julie Andrews What is your favourite quote? Dance as though no one is watching you, Love as though you have never been hurt before, Sing as though no one can hear you, Live as though Heaven is on Earth. Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? Emma Watson AMY BLYTON

What is your favourite building in Canberra? Telstra Tower What Canberra event do you look forward to the most? Skyfire and Floriade

What is your favourite book? Anything non-fiction that can challenge my way of thinking. Two books I have particularly enjoyed recently are Lost Connections by Johann Hari & The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg. Which movie do you think everyone should watch at least once in their life? The entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Every single movie (& TV Show). There is something for everyone and they all tie together so well! What famous person alive or dead would you like to have dinner with? JFK and Jackie Kennedy, such a powerful and iconic couple. What is your favourite quote? “You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” – Alice in Wonderland ABIGAIL WAKEFIELD

Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? Kayla Scodelario What is your favourite building in Canberra? The Arboretum. What Canberra event do you look forward to the most? The Canberra Airport open day has been my favorite event so far, but I have not lived in Canberra for too long, so I haven’t yet experienced much of what is on offer.

What is your favourite book? The Very Hungry Caterpillar Which movie do you think everyone should watch at least once in their life? Kung Fu Panda What famous person alive or dead would you like to have dinner with? Marilyn Monroe What is your favourite quote? “Life is what you make of it. You can make it easy on yourself or you can make it hard”- Deep Roy Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life? Mila Kunis What is your favourite building in Canberra? The Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum Canberra ABBY FULTON

What Canberra event do you look forward to the most? Enlighten – Noodle Markets

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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WHY I CHOOSE TO TRAIN WITH THE MBA Master Builders Group Training is here to encourage and support women in the construction industry and create highly skilled future members. But don’t take our word for it, hear from some of the women who already train with us. I choose to train with the MBA GT because:

“I like being able to train in blocks and have hands on training that works for me. My employer, Pichelmann Custom Building Services, sends all of their apprentices here. It’s also great to be able to have those practical skills that you get from learning a trade.” - Lilly Pichelmann “They are highly supportive of female tradespersons and have a great team of trainers and good facilities. The best thing about training with MBA is the comfortable sense of family amongst peer apprentices and trainers. I looked forward to tech sessions and had so much fun while learning valuable skills alongside my peers. As a female, I was always respected and encouraged to expand beyond my comfort zone in order to better my skills in the industry. MBA helped me find the confidence to thrive in my career as a carpenter.” - Ally Knights “The Women in Trades program introduced me to the MBA and I continue to train with the MBA because of the ongoing support they provide me. Whenever I have questions or queries I always go to the trainers because they are always willing to help. If they don’t have an answer, they always get back to me with something and provide the right guidance.” - Anita Hac

“I saw a poster advertising training in carpentry at the MBA and I thought it would be a good way to get into the industry. I enjoy training here so I’m really glad I made that decision.” - Kaylee Gregory “Having the job security that MBA provides is really good, also my family thought the MBA would be better suited for me. I like that anytime I have asked my trainer for help, he has been able to provide me with an answer that worked for the situation. Some of my peers come here for training, which is great because I don’t feel like I have been thrown in the deep end and am offered practical advice.” - Julia Drew “My employer sends all of their apprentices here because they’ve built up that relationship with the MBA. I like doing stuff with my hands and creating things and this training helps me follow my passion.” - Isabel Casey

To start your own training journey with the MBA, call (02) 6175 5900 or visit our website.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Stop and Smell the Roses Able Landscaping sowed their first seed back in 1971 as a residential landscaping business, and they have now blossomed into Canberra’s largest commercial landscaper. They specialise in delivering landscape and minor civil construction projects as a principal contractor and subcontractor with the ACT and Federal Government and various local companies. They also offer a wide range of landscaping services including reinforced concrete paving, bitumen straw mulch, excavation, irrigation, gravel paving, playground installation, security works, topsoiling and more. They create stunning landscapes for schools, playgrounds, offices, parks, embassies and commercial developments. They operate with a key focus on client collaboration to deliver the highest quality finished project.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

MEMBER MILESTONE

3EA0RS

Y Able Landscaping have displayed an outstanding contribution to shaping Canberra’s landscape over their 50 years of operation. They are responsible for major landscaping projects around the region including: Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, Australian Botanical Gardens, the ANU precinct, Reconciliation Place, development of Gungahlin, Weston, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong and Belconnen. Able Landscaping was recently awarded the Landscape Design and Commercial award at the 2020 Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards. More recently, Able Landscaping completed the landscaping on the Tirri Wirri School to create a space that caters for children of all abilities. Director, Jodie Ridley, began her journey with Able Landscaping as part of the accounts team, and in 2018 she and Johnny Noja purchased the business from Joe Meneghel. The company was founded by local farmers, Robert Campbell and Peter Morrison back in 1971. It may have once been a two-man operation, but the company has now grown to 50 staff members. Joe Meneghel’s hard work and dedication to Able Landscaping was instrumental in taking the business to the level it operates at today. Recently, Able Landscaping completed one of the company’s largest projects to date at the ANU, Kambri redevelopment. The project consisted of the redevelopment of the main forecourt with extensive amounts of soft and hard landscaping over a 5-month period. This project required precise planning and coordination of multiple trades and suppliers and as the project was nearing completion, there were up to 60 employees and subcontractors working simultaneously to meet the client’s completion date. Able Landscaping have grown to now own and operate its own plant and machinery, which includes: > Bobcats > Excavators > Trucks > Water trucks > Seeders > Required tools and equipment > Trimble GPS setout system

Able Landscaping are a favoured subcontractor amongst our members. Ben Helmers, Managing Director of Woden Contractors describes the professionalism displayed by Able Landscaping, “Over our many years of working together Able Landscaping continue to provide an outstanding service. Able has worked with us on many challenging projects and were instrumental throughout the final stages of construction.” Able landscaping was engaged to undertake the external works package at the Australian National University Union court upgrade, Kambri. Ben Owen from Lendlease Building says of their work on the project, “Able Landscaping was able to demonstrate innovative approaches to their work by accelerating the works through various stages, such as the use of a paving machine to assist in reducing manual handling risks in the installation of pavers on University Avenue. It is a pleasure working with their team and we would not hesitate in recommending Able Landscaping.” With multiple entries in this years’ Excellence Awards, we look forward to seeing what is next for this incredibly successful company.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

BUILD LIKE A GIRL: A Program that has Created a Movement When Jo Farrell started out in the building industry over 20 years ago, she had many doors slammed in her face, because the industry wasn’t prepared for the power of a woman on a building site. Jo has worked hard, challenged stigma and empowered other women, all while building a high-profile career in the construction industry. She is now the General Manager at Kane Constructions. During her two decades of experience in construction, Jo has endured the discrimination of being a female in a predominately male industry. Her experiences drove her to start Build Like a Girl, a non-profit movement that encourages women to train, become employed and stay employed in the construction sector. Jo says the movement aims to create, “High volume tangible change with women getting into trades, through better collaboration with industry bodies and change providers and building relationships within the industry. We also want to provide support and mentoring for women that continues after they are employed too,” Jo said. Jo approaches the construction industry with the belief, “Your gender should not inhibit you from working in the industry at all,” and it’s on this foundation that the program was built. It also resembles some of the best career advice that she ever received from her industry mentor of 15 years who said, “Don’t take no for an answer and don’t be afraid to change the status quo.” Jo is on a mission to stave off stigmas and work to create positive cultural change. Jo’s own advice to women in the industry, “You need to work hard to get anywhere, and you need to embrace the good, the bad and the ugly. Walk in with your eyes open, it’s important to remember that construction is an art form in itself, and it can stand the test of time.” Her passion for construction and her appreciation of brilliant buildings, has kept her spark alive, even when faced with ridicule when at times she was the only female onsite. With Build Like a Girl reporting that women make up just 2% of the building industry, there is a clear disparity amongst industry gender representation. But it’s a complex issue and it can be hard to figure out where the issue lies, “It’s interesting we’re hearing from women looking to get into the industry who have knocked on a lot of doors and can’t be taken seriously, and on the other end we’re hearing companies say that they can’t find any female workers, it’s almost like ships passing in the night,” Jo explained.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Considering the long hours and high stress that can come along with the job, Jo offered some advice to employers looking to attract more female workers, “You need to cater for women in the business, female toilets are a great start but it’s all about having open discussions about how our behaviour needs to be tweaked a little bit. Companies don’t realise that you don’t need to paint the walls pink. It’s about making the industry more appealing to everyone, and more female workers will follow naturally.” Build Like a Girl will also be heavily involved with the Strathnairn Charity House project, which will be built and sold by women, with the profits going to charities that benefit women. Jo is also looking to introduce valuable workshops and new programs that will encourage women to get on the tools. We look forward to seeing greater female representation in our industry.

2021 STRATHNAIRN CHARITY HOUSE UPDATE

THE TURNING OF THE SOD The sod has officially been turned on the Strathnairn Charity House, a house that will be designed, built, staged and sold by women. The project will benefit four local charities: Karinya House, Hands Across Canberra, Canberra City Care and Pegasus Riding for the Disabled. Master Builders ACT President Graciete Ferreira, Ginninderry Training & Employment Manager Emma Sckrabei and Hands Across Canberra Chair Diane Kargas Bray AM, led the official turning of the sod. It was a successful event that marked the beginning of a monumental moment for women in the building and construction industry.

Participants from Ginninderry’s SPARK Women in Trades program will use the project as a live training site.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

CANBERRA’S BRIGHTEST SPARK Meet the program breaking down barriers and changing lives in Canberra Sitting in Canberra’s north-west and expanding over the New South Wales border, Ginninderry is one of Canberra’s newest developments. But it’s a development that’s about a whole lot more than just bricks and mortar. “Ginninderry is very different from most developments. We approach every decision that we make with the triple bottom line approach. So it’s not just about economics, it’s also about the environment, and it’s about the social side of a project,” says Emma Sckrabei, Ginninderry’s Head of Community Training and Employment. “You can build the most wonderful houses and the wonderful parks and streets. But if you don’t have a strong solid community, you don’t have a lot in my opinion. We believe that knowledge and education is power, and the more people that are educated, the more people that are working, the better that community is.” In March 2016, the Ginninderry Joint Venture established the SPARK Training and Employment Program, to deliver a unique initiative that uses infrastructure works and commercial land sales to generate economic opportunities for the local community. In partnership with Non-Government Organisations and Registered Training Organisations, SPARK delivers programs aimed at members of the community who are disconnected from the labour market, helping people take the next steps in training and employment. “SPARK really focuses on working with those people in our community who are disconnected from the labour market, and who have maybe not had great experiences with education before. So it’s about supporting them, giving them some more knowledge, taking their blinkers off, letting them see what else is out there, and then supporting them on whatever education, training and/or employment pathway is right for them,” says Emma. FORMER SPARK PARTICIPANT MAREE MACGREGOR FOUND HER DREAM JOB THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Since its inception, the award-winning program has delivered 1,160 training places to the local community, 423 unpaid work experience placements and 492 new jobs. And SPARK is

about a whole lot more than just the training. The program is designed with the participant at front of mind, and they’re engaged in a holistic way. “It’s about how we support them in life, and how we help overcome the bumps in the road that come along. So when someone does our SPARK program, it’s not just about meeting them and getting them there for the first day. It’s supporting them along their whole journey, and we support them after the program finishes as well,” says Emma. Like for SPARK participant Maree Macgregor. She had been struggling to get back into the workforce after a lengthy period off, raising her kids. She was already struggling to find a job, which was a blow to her confidence, when her husband was unexpectedly killed in an accident, leaving her shocked and heartbroken. “Because of my age, I had a lot of trouble getting a job, and I was still mourning my husband, so I was wanting to work but not knowing if I could,” she said. She came across Ginninderry’s SPARK Training and Employment Program, and went on to complete a Certificate II in Business, before going on to complete the SPARK Horticulture & Conservation Land Management Taster Program, which led her to discover a passion for horticulture. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but the support through SPARK meant she kept going. “I actually nearly quit three or four times. It was a lot of maths and measuring and I’m not good at that at all, and I was nearly going to give up,” she said. “Emma [Sckrabei] was wonderful, she just kept talking to me about it, saying, ‘I’m not gonna let you give up’. If it wasn’t for her and the SPARK programs, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today.” One of the big focusses for the SPARK program is training targeted at women, and programs include Women in Civil, Women in Trades, and Women Return to Work. “Given that Ginninderry is a construction project, we know that there is a major skill shortage in the construction industry. And traditionally, construction has generally only recruited from 50 per cent of the population. So it makes sense that if construction is screaming out for people, that we developed a strategy to show women what a career in construction could look like,” says Emma. “In 2019 and again last year, we partnered with the Master Builders Association and the ACT Civil Contractors Federation to deliver a specific programme to get more women into the civil industry. Because you can’t be what you can’t see.”

FORMER SPARK PARTICIPANT KERRY GIRVAN IS CARVING OUT A CAREER IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION.

The program is a hands-on, intensive course to help women into the world of construction, and includes industry placements. Over the two years, the program has had 20 women who completed it and went on to employment within the civil industry. For 49-year old Kerry Girvan, the program opened up a completely new vocation later in life. Having previously worked in farming, horse work and cattle work, Kerry had never considered a career in construction, but she saw the Women in Civil Construction program pop up on the internet, and thought she’d give it a go. While the manual labour side of the training didn’t phase her, Kerry was apprehensive about the bookwork, but with the help and support of her teachers, she sailed through the training. At the end of the program, she secured a permanent job with BASE Contractors doing “a bit of everything” including cementing, levelling, laying slabs and digging trenches. Kerry says she can’t recommend the program enough, adding that “it’s opened everything up,” and given her “bigger opportunities to go further”. “I have a constant wage coming in without having to worry about the drought,” she says.

For more information on the SPARK program and to see how it has changed the lives of more of its participants, visit ginninderry.com

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Shaw Building Group’s 2021 Charity Bowls Day

LAURA MCGEE (PICTURED) WAS A STAR PLAYER ON THE TEAM.

Shaw Building Group ran their annual ACT Bowls Day on 4 March 2021, raising $123,667 for Carers ACT. The teams were tasked with dressing as a famous person they wish were still alive, with MBA staff member Laura taking out the prize for best dressed with her Princess Diana homage. The MBA had a team of four talented women, who were pipped at the post by the Gerald Slaven Ford team by a slim margin. Despite not taking home the win, the team represented the fighting spirit of the MBA. We profiled the four gifted women behind the MBA bowls team…

MARCIA (MARILYN MONROE) - FIDELITY FUND ADMINISTRATOR Sporting inspiration: Johnathan Thurston Marcia helps MBA members obtain their builders fidelity fund cover and certificates. She has become a very highly regarded team member in her seven years with MBA. Marcia was selected for the team by MBA ACT CEO Michael Hopkins, because of her previous regional triumphs,, “I was recruited by Michael, and I had an unofficial role coaching the other team members. I noticed on the day that the greens were running fast so I was able to give the girls support with my previous bowling experience,” Marcia said. Marcia’s style as a player is described as: > Smooth > Focused > Experienced

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

MILA (BRUCE LEE) - MBA FUNDING OFFICER Sporting inspiration: Layne Beachly

THE MBA TEAM - FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MARCIA DOUCH, MILA BARTHOLOMEW, LAURA MCGEE AND COURTNEY JOHNSON.

Mila is responsible for apprentice payroll, apprentice recruitment, host employer recruitment and relationship management with both apprentices & host employers. Mila was motivated to join the tournament because of her desire to represent the MBA and because of her personal experience with Carers ACT, “I wanted to be part of the day to support the charity. My mum cared for my grandmother for 12 years and she was supported by Carers ACT so I know how valuable their work is in our region.” Mila was grateful she got the opportunity to hear a local woman talk about her own experience with Carers ACT, “My favourite part of the day was listening to a young girl telling her story about how Carers ACT have supported her family and given her opportunities. I was also pretty excited to be the successful bidder for the Charcoal BBQ, but my husband… not so much!” Mila said.

THE DRESS CODE WAS FAMOUS PEOPLE THEY WISH WERE STILL ALIVE, AND STEVE IRWIN WAS A POPULAR COSTUME CHOICE.

Mila’s style as a player is described as: > Amateurish > A team-player > Secretly competitive

LAURA (PRINCESS DIANA) WINNER OF BEST DRESSED AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LEGAL ADVISOR

COURTNEY (JANIS JOPLIN) - SHORT COURSE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Sporting inspiration: Wayne Gretzky

Sporting inspiration: Jo Weston

Laura is a welcomed new addition to the Member Services team, assisting members by providing general legal advice, industrial relations advice and assisting with debt recovery and contract disputes. Laura says she was aided by her prior bowls experience, “I think my ten-pin bowling experience aided my lawn bowls technique, lawn bowls isn’t huge in Canada so I was lucky to have some other bowling experience.”

Courtney is a valued member of the Short Course team who is responsible for the successfully delivery of Traffic Control, Implement Traffic Control Guidance Plans, Working Safely with Asbestos Containing Materials, First Aid and CPR.

Laura was eager to be part of the bowls day saying, “It was great getting out there for a good cause and it was a good opportunity to meet other members of the industry. Plus, I wanted to represent the Member Services team, and I hope I did them proud.” Laura’s style as a player is described as: > Improved > A slow starter

Courtney decided to join the team, eager to involve herself in the community spirit, “I joined the day because of the social aspect and getting to meet other people in the construction industry. I was also excited to bond with the brilliant women in the MBA team. It was great to be able to meet so many MBA members too.” Courtney’s style as a player is described as: > Hopeful > Fun-loving > Keen to learn

> Determined to win

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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THE JOURNEY UP THE CORPORATE LADDER with Sarah Mason-Jones and Rebecca Scully from Trinity Law

LEFT TO RIGHT: TRINITY LAW DIRECTORS SARAH MASON-JONES AND REBECCA SCULLY

SARAH MASON-JONES

REBECCA SCULLY

Sarah Mason-Jones describes her start at Trinity Law as her first “real” job, starting in 2008 as a graduate. Sarah says of her first position in the company, “That role saw me work across all of Trinity’s teams and be involved in a wide variety of matters – in my early years I routinely worked on debt recovery, building and other disputes and residential sales and purchases.”

Rebecca Scully started at Trinity Law as a receptionist when she was in the process of finishing her studies. She is now Principal at Trinity Law, specialising in property development and commercial property including acquisitions and disposals and retail and commercial leasing.

I love being able to help people achieve a tangible outcome – settling on a house, locking away a joint venture, getting a property leased.

Sarah is now one of the Partners at Trinity Law and as she says, “At heart I am a property lawyer, and I work across Trinity Law’s Property and Small and Medium Enterprise teams.” Sarah is passionate about the legal industry and so much so that she shares her knowledge with 3 junior lawyers through the Trinity Law mentoring program. When asked what she loves about the industry Sarah says, “I love being able to help people achieve a tangible outcome – settling on a house, locking away a joint venture, getting a property leased. It’s even better when all advisers to a transaction share this same view and we can work together in a practical and useful way. I also love that I have been able to build some great relationships with clients over the years and have been able to see businesses grow and develop.”

For Rebecca, her passion for the legal field has been evident since her teenage years, “I knew from about age 16 that I wanted to be a lawyer but not the area I wanted to specialize in. Initially the attraction was a natural affinity for problem solving and written advice and I had not imagined working in the commercial property and property development spaces until I started at Trinity Law and became attracted to this type of work,” Rebecca said. Rebecca quickly showed a lot of promise in her role, “On my third day as receptionist I was promoted to paralegal, assisting one of the partners John Irvine. Since then and in my 8 years at Trinity I have subsequently been promoted to Solicitor, Associate and now Principal so you could say I have worked across almost every position in the firm which has provided an excellent foundation for my career.” Rebecca’s career progression is a great success story for other female professionals looking to progress their careers in a male dominated field. Rebecca is committed to sharing her experience in the industry saying, “We have a mentoring program within our firm under which I mentor two junior solicitors within the firm. Outside of this I have maintained close relationships with a number of young lawyers that have previously worked at Trinity Law and engaged in assisting them grow their careers in other areas.”

We have a mentoring program within our firm under which I mentor two junior solicitors within the firm.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

From Little Things Big Things Grow

Q. What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

Sam Hodson purchased Capital Asphalt back in 2016 as an existing small-scale business with 5 crew members and after 6 months, Nathan Ellwood bought into the company. The business has grown from fixing footpaths to major civil projects around the Canberra Region. Capital Asphalt have made themselves an integral part of the Canberra Civil Sector, and are growing our region through building and employing local. We sat down with Sam and Nathan to find out more about the Capital Asphalt Team.

N: Don’t take no for an answer.

S: Diversify, don’t have all of your eggs in the one basket.

Q. What is your favourite part about working in the construction industry? S: I love the people. It’s extremely satisfying seeing the job from the start, quoting it, winning it, doing our pre-site meetings and all the way through to delivery and close out. N: I like Canberra because it’s a close-knit community in construction. I know who they are and they know who we are and we talk and say hello and there is always opportunity to work with them. There’s loyalty in Canberra with companies which is good to see. Q. What do you think that companies can do to attract more women to join the construction industry? S: Highlight the roles in the industry and provide women with a breakdown of what they would be doing. There’s a lot of roles in this industry, so it’s about emphasising the different roles out there and that would suit.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: DIRECTOR SAM HODSON, DIRECTOR NATHAN ELLWOOD AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER CHRIS BIMROSE BELOW: PHOTO FROM THE LAUNCH OF CAPITAL ASPHALT’S NEW ASPHALT PLANT

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

N: That’s a good question. Probably more education around what they can make, everyone sees an asphalt salary starting at $50,000 but those workers that start on a base salary do so much overtime that they end up making $150,000. There needs to be more education about what can be achieved if they put in the hard work. This would attract any one male or female.

While Sam and Nathan welcome female applications for onsite roles there is an intelligent and determined team of women running the office.

K: Find a job you like, there’s nothing worse than going to work every day and not enjoying it. But also, I think treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself.

We spoke with three of the women at Capital Asphalt:

L: Just give it a go. Give it a go and give it all your best. Learn from your mistakes and your shortfalls, but give it a go.

> Yanny Zou, Finance Manager

Q. Who is your career role model?

> Kristina Anderson, Office Manager > Leisa McDonough, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager Q. What attracted you to the construction industry and a role at Capital Asphalt? Y: Capital Asphalt is a local company with very nice people and a welcoming environment. I love the company culture and I believe I fit in the team very well. Also, when I first started in 2018, Capital Asphalt was still very young and I saw this as an opportunity to contribute my professional skills to a fast moving company. K: I love that Capital is a locally owned business. It’s different every day; challenging and diverse. Sam’s daughter and my daughter went to preschool together and Sam’s wife Claudia & I became great friends. Claudia & I were at coffee one day and she asked if I wanted a job, I’ve never looked back. L: I like a challenge and believe learning new things is always interesting and keeps you on the go. Capital Asphalt is a very caring, family orientated business that’s immensely progressive. Q. What’s some of the best career advice you’ve received? Y: As an accounting and finance professional, the best career advice I’ve ever received is ‘think of yourself as a lifelong learner’, because we always need to keep learning in today’s dynamic, challenging and demanding business environment.

YANNY ZOU, FINANCE MANAGER

Y: Melinda Gates. She is a great female leader, a brave campaigner for women’s rights and a respectable charitarian – she is everything I hope to be. K: I read this article recently about Jennifer Robinson, she’s an Australian Human Rights lawyer and she comes from a small town in Berry and just through sheer hard work, has become very successful in London. She’s self-made but she’s got that humble, hard-working Australian attitude. L: I don’t have one particular person but my career role models would be any female coming into a male dominated industry and hanging in there and there’s some really great women out there giving it a go. Q. How can employers attract more women to join the construction industry? Y: To attract more women to onsite roles, employers need to provide more suitable safety equipment and workwear in different sizes and styles. Employers also need to provide essential facilities like female toilets and changing rooms. I hope the gender gap in the construction industry will be narrowed through all our efforts in the long term. K: I think parents and teachers should recommend a diverse scope of jobs available under the construction umbrella to female students. L: Employers need to know that women are willing to give things a go and often strive to make a difference in the workplace.

KRISTINA ANDERSON, OFFICE MANAGER

LEISA MCDONOUGH, HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

NADINE O’KEEFFE: Success Built on Incredible Projects, Investment in People and Determination

WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

Nadine O’Keeffe is the General Manager, ACT for construction company Built, and is one of the growing number of female leaders at the company. Established in 1998, Built has grown to be one of the largest, privately owned Australian construction groups, operating throughout Australia as well as New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Since establishment, Built has continually focused on building a strong culture that bonds their people and drives their business. In support of this culture, the Built Worthy values were established early on and remain the measure and benchmark for everything the Built team does. Resonating throughout Built, the Built Worthy values are:

NADINE O’KEEFFE, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE BUILT ACT BUSINESS UNIT

> Own the problem > Be real > Embrace change > Think smart, act smart > Start strong, finish stronger > Love what you do. Upon reflecting on the Built Worthy values Nadine mentions, “everything we do every day is changing, particularly in construction and I think it’s important that we do embrace change. Different challenges come up on jobs, and while we may have done things one way yesterday, today we need to think differently.” When asked about the best advice she’s ever received from someone in the industry, Nadine recalls something her Uncle, a Canberra commercial and residential builder said to her, “Just go for it. Give it a go, give it a crack if it doesn’t work that’s fine, take another tack, but really jump in and have a go.” Since starting out in the industry 25 years ago as an Architect, Nadine has left her mark on a typically male dominated industry, and she confidently encourages others to follow in her footsteps. “I value collaborating with my teams, developing and supporting people through competency and skill development. It is inspiring seeing people coming up the ranks into their new roles, as our overall delivery capability grows.”

With multiple projects on the go, at the end of the day Nadine says you really need to love what you do.

The Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services Centre project has been a particular stand out project for Nadine as she reflected, “that was a really good project from beginning to end. We established the team who presented superbly on the day as part of the tender interview, really connecting with the client and understanding what they wanted to achieve. The whole project team developed a deep respect for what Winnunga do, and what the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ACT community face. The outcome of this project has been remarkable.” Nadine’s success in the industry is largely due to her passion for exciting projects. “A significant part of my role is securing new projects and targeting those really interesting projects. I’m interested in the jobs that are out of the box and challenging, because we enjoy working with clients to overcome those challenges, providing solutions, and adding value toward better outcomes.” With multiple projects on the go, at the end of the day Nadine says you really need to love what you do. “There is a lot of long hours in this industry, you’ve got to enjoy the process along the way. Even though there are challenges and there can be some tough times, it’s important to celebrate success and have a bit fun along the way.” With a talented team at Built, Nadine has advice for other employers looking to encourage more women to join the industry. “By promoting all the opportunities this industry has to offer and the great things women can achieve professionally, we can support the diversification of our industry whilst cultivating positive cultural and commercial outcomes.” Nadine said. When asked about what major developments are coming up for Built over the next twelve months, Nadine said “It’s an exciting time for Built, with continual growth, we are looking forward to what the future holds.”

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

National Library of Australia, Canberra

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6/5/21 10:31 pm

Right to Disconnect From the ‘Digital Leash’ BY EMILY SHOEMARK

Does Australia need a ‘right to disconnect’? For some workforces, the ‘digital leash’ allows employees more flexibility so they can complete their work outside normal working hours. This allows a balance to be achieved with family responsibilities that impact their ability to be in the office for the standard workday. However, this does not mean employees have to work longer hours. It just means they have more flexibility around the timing of their regular work hours.

With smart phones and devices becoming part of our daily lives, workplace boundaries have become blurred as more people access work emails and take phone calls outside the workplace. In 2020 Hubspot reported that 35% of business professionals check email on a mobile device. The compulsion employees can feel to respond to emails and answer calls outside regular work hours is often referred to as the ‘digital leash’. Many employers and organisations have increased their use of technology because of COVID-19. Working from home and remotely has become part of the norm, and the digital leash is continuing to extend even further. In Victoria, the newly negotiated Victoria Police Enterprise Agreement 2019 includes a ‘right to disconnect’ clause for police officers. This means that managers must respect leave and rest days and avoid contacting employees outside work hours unless there is a genuine emergency or welfare matter. This radical development has received a lot of media attention, and aims to shift the ‘always on’ culture so that officers can switch off after their shift. Under the clause, police officers can legally refuse to respond to, or engage with, any after-hours contact by Victoria Police unless they receive an ‘availability allowance’, payable for every hour the employee is off duty but able to be contacted.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

With the freedom and flexibility that technology provides comes a risk to employers as they do not have access to the extended ‘workplace’ at home. This could result in workers compensation issues if an injury occurs while working remotely. The ‘digital leash’ also leads to concerns about mental health. The inability of an employee to fully switch off from work can lead to burn out if employees are working additional hours at home and away from the office, as well as the standard workday. The ‘right to disconnect’ is a concept which was formalised for employers in France. In 2017 the ‘El Khomri’ law was enacted that obliged companies with more than 50 staff to decide with staff about the times they can and cannot contact them outside office hours. If agreement cannot be reached, then the employer must create guidelines that specify expectations of employees and their rights outside work. There can be penalties for non-compliance by employers, and employees cannot be treated adversely if they do not respond to emails outside work hours. In Australia, while there is no legislated ‘right to disconnect’, there are protections in the Fair Work Act, and National Employment Standards, which sets a 38-hour full-time working week and provides for overtime and penalty rates for most industries. If an employee is treated adversely due to a refusal to work excessive hours or outside their contracted work hours, they would likely be covered by the general protections

provisions of the Fair Work Act. This prevents an employer from treating an employee adversely because they have exercised a workplace right. For many employers, implementing a ‘right to disconnect’ is not the solution. Employers can, however, establish strategies to utilise technology to the advantage of the workplace without intruding on the right of employees to have a life outside work. These can include: > communicating clear expectations about work hours and requirements, and promoting a culture where employees are expected to switch off outside work hours > negotiating specific arrangements for those employees who wish to perform some of their work hours at home rather than in the office, and/or outside standard business hours > monitoring workloads, particularly for those employees who request to work some or all their hours remotely. This issue is not going away anytime soon as technology continues to have an increasing role the way we work. It is important for all employers to proactively communicate with their staff to balance utilising technology and looking after staff wellbeing.

INTRODUCING GENE SCHIRRIPA Gene is an associate in our business team who works in many areas, including commercial litigation, employment law, consumer law, intellectual property, commercial transactions and debt recovery. Gene is passionate about working with builders and subcontractors, and has secured a number of wins for these clients recently, including a number of them under the security for payments legislation. He is passionate about litigation and working closely with his clients to ensure not only the best outcome, but that their experience is as positive as possible. Gene is also part of our Sports Law team, particularly working with our partners including Capital Football and the Canberra Raiders. Outside of work, Gene is an avid fan of soccer, rugby league and AFL. Gene studied in Milan as part of a university exchange program in 2016 and speaks conversational Italian. Gene has produced a number of articles on centred around the construction industry: > Building defects – who can be responsible > Getting my bills paid on time > Residential building standards – a national focus

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE KEY By Yolanda Wang Accredited Access Consultant (ACAA) at Amoeba Access Pty Ltd.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

HARTLEY LIFECARE’S ‘RENAISSANCE HOUSE’ BY RENAISSANCE HOMES

Housing that is universally accessible is not a matter of a targeted solution for the minority, it concerns us all. Let us face it together, we started getting older the day we arrived in the world, it is an unavertable human condition. But our life expectancy increases every year as our societies continue to advance in all aspects. Although the notion of “Universal Design” is not a new concept, the three commonly used terms are Universal Design, Inclusive Design, and Design for All. Regardless of its mainstream connotation, the concept itself has been with us since the last half of the twentieth century when first introduced by architect Ron Mace. Nevertheless, the essence has yet to become the driving force in the field of our built environment today.

A barrier free, functional and thoughtful housing design should be shared and experienced by all.

A fundamental cultural change is needed in order to overcome the stigma of perception, where accessible housing is not just a customised product only for people with a disability, it should concern us all as our population grows stagnant, and inevitably shifts towards an aging society. The need for a universal housing solution to be aesthetically pleasing and accessible to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or status in life, now becomes apparent. A barrier free, functional and thoughtful housing design should be shared and experienced by all. To create barrier free housing, first we need to overcome the barriers in our mindset: ”housing for special needs and its buildability” which are a challenge to our housing experts, designers and architects on all levels, and secondly, physical barriers in our built environment to enable the creation of Universal Housing that should be the essence of comfort in our day to day life. For a good 25 years, the concept of ‘adaptable housing’ that is aiming to allow a housing design to have built-in ability to be a convertible structure that adapts to singles, families, seniors and most importantly, people with a disability, sounds unreasonable, or at best an absurd experience. This is certainly the case for many people and professionals that have long been working in this realm nevertheless.

YOLANDA WANG ACCREDITED ACCESS CONSULTANT (ACAA) AT AMOEBA ACCESS PTY LTD.

We are also in the transition that old buildings in the high density, metropolitan areas are being refurbished and modernised to meet today’s code and standards, being adaptive instead of being demolished. Yet the code provisions are getting tougher and always evolving to catch up with the technological advancements of our society. Now is the moment in time that we should pause and reflect on how the shift that is slowly gaining momentum in our society may demand and support a new understanding of Universal Housing Design. In the stream of consciousness, do any of us realise that the fast pace of our modern society means that there seems to be no time left for us to pause for reflection. This includes taking the time for refinement and for a deeper dimension of practical details for things that are most relevant to us all, such as an accessible kitchen solution, that are designed to merge aesthetics, ergonomics and adaptabilities to create comfort, enjoyment and independence for us all. The design element would enable us to age in place, in comfort and with dignity. If we cannot remove the barrier in our mind, then a sobering reality is that: accessible housing will remain a challenge to us. When the eventuality finally arrives, isn’t that all we hope for, to remain independent for as long as possible and in close proximity to our loved ones? Just like Oliver Herwig once posted a hypothesis in his book ‘Universal Design’, suggesting that there will be a fundamental shift in perspective in the not too distant future, Housing will be accessible for us all that may finally fulfil the greatest promise of Modernism.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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WHAT IS CUPOLEX? Cupolex is a sacrificial void forming system which utilises 100% Recycled Plastic Interlocking Domes to create concrete foundations. The Cupolex technology is an environmentally friendly alternative to wafflepods and raft slab foundations. Why Use Cupolex? • Using CUPOLEX® for your concrete foundation can contribute to GREEN or LEED certification. • Made from 100% non-toxic recyclable material. • Reduces material (concrete and rebar) consumption. • Replaces aggregate and engineered fill under slabs. • Reduces construction time and labour. • Reduces heavy traffic to the site. • No waste. Plumbing penetrations are effected using a hole saw and the resulting disc can be recycled. • Tidy site. CUPOLEX® takes far less room than other void systems, and you don’t have to tie the product down so it doesn’t blow away.

• No Residue. No environmental impact of residue ending up in waterways like other products. • Reduces damp and creates a better air quality. The air cavity beneath the slab resists mould and mildew creating a healthier building environment. • Optimized reuse and recycling. • Minimum use of natural resources. CE Construction Solutions Managing Director, Damian Ross, has commented that “We are seeing an unprecedented demand to engage with smarter and more sustainable construction solutions. I am very proud of the role CE are able to play in being a part of the sustainability. It has been a key mission in our business to research, develop, innovate and deliver change in sustainable construction. We are now in a position to offer a suite of solutions that can have a considerable impact on environmentally sustainable building. The best part is, many of these technologies are also able to provide both cost and timeline savings as well. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

To learn more about Cupolex and other sustainable building solutions contact CE directly at info@teamCE.com.au

2021 Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Earth Awards Event Wrap-Up There were a number of outstanding projects completed over the last year, with teams combating the delays and limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw CCF members create boundless carparks which allowed for seamless accessibility to an all-abilities park. Bikeways were established in Belconnen that created more effective traffic channels, as part of the Belconnen Town Centre Active Travel Plan. Members also delivered the Northbourne Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation project which improved the functionality and aesthetic of a popular Canberra roadway. This year’s awards were held on 21 May at the Hotel Realm with featured Guest Entertainment by Comedian and Co-host of the project, Tommy Little. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was former Raiders Captain, Alan Tongue.

CCF ACT CEO, Michael Hopkins, thinks the night was an important moment following the pandemic saying, “After the COVID-19 lockdown period and exclusively digital Earth Awards campaign last year, it was great for winners to be celebrated face to face amongst their peers this year. Through my time as CEO, I have seen the significant contribution our CCF members have made to infrastructure around the Canberra Region, and I’m always pleased to see the advancement we make with every year that passes. These award nights are an important way to acknowledge the members who are changing our city for the better, and I’m honoured to be part of it.” Congratulations to all winners and we look forward to seeing more outstanding projects in 2022.

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MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 2 2021

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Civil Subcontractor of the Year

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WINNER: Cord Civil

WINNER: Anisha Sachdeva Marar

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Articles inside

Universal Design is the Key by Yolanda Wang

Introducing the Five New Female MBA Staff Members

Success BUILT on Incredible Projects, Investment in People and Determination

Where are They Now Excellence Awards Edition

A Message from the President

Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction Rebecca Vassarotti MLA

A Message from the CEO