Consult Australia convened a meeting of our largest member firms this month – and one idea shared has been ticking over in my mind since.
Aurecon’s outgoing CEO Bill Cox – fresh from a double win at the Consult Australia Awards – gave us the lowdown from the FIDIC Global Leadership Forum Summit. Bill joined 100-plus engineering CEOs at the invitation-only event in Madrid. Of the many hot topics on the table, two dominated: decarbonisation and artificial intelligence.
These two transformative forces are reshaping how we design, construct and manage our built environment. Both demand a fundamental shift in mindsets, skillsets and toolsets.
Businesses in our industry navigate complex stakeholder ecosystems, labyrinthine regulation and challenging contractual structures. Hierarchy and tradition run deep, and change is rarely straightforward.
The future will demand more dynamic approaches. AI is moving at an unprecedented pace. One proof point? Arup’s recent global survey found 32% of Australian engineers, architects and city planners now rely on AI daily (on par with the global average of 33%).
Mindsets must be matched with the right skillsets. We must invest in people, build practical expertise in digital tools and embrace digital by default on every project. Skilled professionals aren’t just technically proficient. Soft skills like critical thinking, ethical decision-making and collaborative workstyles are also essential.
Then there’s the right toolsets – the digital and policy instruments that enable smarter, faster and more sustainable outcomes. Policy tools are as critical as software, as they set the rules, rewards and protections that make innovation possible.
And that brings me to the 48th Parliament, which has been sworn in with a stable ministerial line-up. In a three-year election cycle, continuity is a rare advantage – and we must capitalise on that advantage to create an enabling environment for business.
Creating an “enabling environment” is at the heart of our submission to the National Construction Strategy consultation. Our recommendations focus on practical reforms: improving project practices, enhancing workforce clarity, restoring balance across procurement supply chains and, of course, championing digital by default.
Major policy initiatives are in the pipeline for this term of government that will influence the future of the firms Consult Australia represents. The Productivity Commission’s Five Pillars Inquiry, the National Construction Industry Forum blueprint and the sectoral pathways for net zero are just three.
We will continue to engage constructively with all political parties and listen to all views. By advocating for progressive economic reforms, we can build the mindsets, skillsets and toolsets essential for the future.
