Infrastructure Connections

What will it take to accelerate demand for low-carbon technologies and create infrastructure that works with nature, rather than against it?
In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, we speak with Monica Richter, Senior Manager of Low Carbon Futures at WWF-Australia and Project Director of the Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA).
Monica explores the intersection of decarbonisation, nature-positive development and the built environment, sharing insights into low-carbon materials, sustainable procurement, supply-chain collaboration and the need to understand the embodied nature impacts of the materials we use.
We also discuss WWF-Australia’s work on nature-positive investment and housing and infrastructure development, and what Australia can learn from global markets moving rapidly towards cleaner and more sustainable technologies.
From government policy to industry collaboration, Monica explains how infrastructure professionals can help create demand for better solutions - and why persistence, education and asking the right questions can be powerful drivers of change.
👉 We'd love to hear your feedback, share your questions or comments below.
👉 Like & Subscribe so you won't miss out on our upcoming episodes!
👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council
#InfrastructureConnections #Infrastructure #NetZero #Decarbonisation #NaturePositive #LowCarbonMaterials #BuiltEnvironment

How can sustainability become simply part of good engineering? In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, Evelyn Storey, Director of Eminence and Sustainability at Aurecon, reflects on more than 35 years in engineering and how sustainability has evolved from a specialist discipline into an essential part of project delivery.
Evelyn explores why sustainability needs to be embedded across engineering practice, the growing focus on resilience and climate adaptation, and how engineers can make better long-term decisions about materials, asset life and infrastructure performance. She also shares her perspective on extending existing assets, the rise of mass timber, and the role of continuous learning in a rapidly changing industry.
Her central message is simple: sustainability is good engineering.
👉 We'd love to hear your feedback, share your questions or comments below.
👉 Like & Subscribe so you won't miss out on our upcoming episodes!
👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council

In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, we speak with the Hon. Matt Kean, Chair of the Australian Climate Change Authority and former NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister, about Australia’s path to net zero and the critical role infrastructure will play in shaping our future.
Matt explores Australia’s progress in renewable energy, the impact of NSW’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, and how Renewable Energy Zones are driving investment, jobs and regional economic growth. He also discusses the growing importance of building climate resilience into infrastructure and why acting now can be far more cost-effective than responding to climate impacts later.
Moving beyond the politics of climate change, Matt makes the case for treating climate action as an economic and risk-management challenge—one that presents opportunities for productivity, competitiveness, investment and long-term value creation.
The conversation also explores what governments and industry need to do to turn climate ambition into practical action, and the role organisations like the Infrastructure Sustainability Council can play in accelerating this transition.
👉 We'd love to hear your feedback, share your questions or comments below.
👉 Like & Subscribe so you won't miss out on our upcoming episodes!
👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council

Modern slavery isn’t just a global issue—it’s happening in our own communities and supply chains.
In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, Cam Bower, Managing Director of AME Investigations and former police detective, about the hidden reality of modern slavery across Australia and New Zealand.
The conversation explores how exploitation can occur in industries including construction, infrastructure, hospitality and agriculture, why migrant workers are particularly vulnerable, and the warning signs organisations should never ignore. We also examine the role of ethical procurement, supply chain due diligence and stronger accountability in preventing exploitation.
Whether you’re a business leader, procurement professional or simply interested in creating more responsible supply chains, this episode offers practical insights into recognising risk, protecting vulnerable workers and building a more ethical future.
“You shouldn’t need legislation to decide whether you’re going to be a good citizen.” – Cam Bower 👉 We'd love to hear your feedback, share your questions or comments below.
👉 Like & Subscribe so you won't miss out on our upcoming episodes!
👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council ⁠
#podcast ⁠ ⁠#infrastructure⁠ ⁠#sustainability⁠ ⁠#buildingtomorrow⁠ #modernslavery #humanrights #ethicalsupplychains

In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, we speak with Graeme Newton, CEO of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.
Graeme shares how sustainability was embedded into the Cross River Rail project from the start — through procurement, leadership, innovation, and long-term design thinking.
The conversation explores how the project delivered sustainability outcomes through initiatives such as recycled materials, resource efficiency, community engagement, accessibility, and independent IS Rating validation.
Graeme also discusses the challenges of delivering a major infrastructure project through uncertainty and how sustainable thinking can create environmental, social, and economic benefits for the future.
👉 We'd love to hear your feedback, share your questions or comments below.
👉 Like & Subscribe so you won't miss out on our upcoming episodes!
👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council ⁠
#podcast ⁠ ⁠#infrastructure⁠ ⁠#sustainability⁠ ⁠#buildingtomorrow⁠ #leadership #innovation