Infrastructure Connections

How do great leaders show care, encourage teams struggling through tough times, and boost performance?
We invited Graeme Cowan to speak at our IS Connect 26 Brisbane Leadership Breakfast. Graeme is the Founding Director of R U OK? and host of The Caring CEO podcast. He is also the author of the book Great Leaders Care.
Graeme shared his knowledge gained from 20 years helping leaders build resilient teams where care and high performance thrive together.
He shared the Great Leaders Care mindset: "Self-care isn't selfish, it's the foundation. Fill your own tank first, and you become far better at spotting and supporting the people around you who are struggling. Crew care is about building psychologically safe and resilient teams. And red zone care is having the confidence to identify and support someone who is struggling."
"Construction carries some of the highest rates of psychological injury and suicide in Australia. Not soft care. Strong care."
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👉 Keep up to date with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council:
Website: ⁠https://www.iscouncil.org/⁠
LinkedIn: / infrastructure-sustainability-council ⁠
#podcast⁠ ⁠#infrastructure⁠ ⁠#sustainability⁠ ⁠#buildingtomorrow⁠ #sustainableprocurement #procurement #sustainableinfrastructure

How can procurement move beyond cost-cutting to become a catalyst for better infrastructure outcomes?
In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Martin, Executive Director at ConnellGriffin, to explore the growing role of sustainable procurement in shaping the future of infrastructure delivery.
The conversation examines why sustainability is often introduced too late in the procurement process, and how earlier integration during planning and decision-making can unlock stronger environmental, social and long-term economic outcomes. Richard also discusses the importance of aligning policy, procurement and project delivery, adopting a whole-of-life (TOTEX) approach to value, and using procurement as a system-level lever for decarbonisation and innovation.
From government ambition to industry implementation, this episode highlights the challenges, opportunities and practical shifts needed to rethink how infrastructure is planned, sourced and managed across its full lifecycle.
👉 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 #sustainableprocurement #procurement #sustainableinfrastructure

How do you move sustainability from a standalone function to something embedded across an entire business?
In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, we explore how sustainability is being integrated into infrastructure delivery at every level—from strategy and governance to operations, technology and culture.
The conversation examines the growing shift from compliance-driven sustainability to long-term value creation, and what that looks like in practice across large-scale infrastructure and asset management.
Joining the discussion is Alexandra Monson, Group Manager - Sustainability at Ventia as she shares how Ventia is embedding sustainability into decision-making through climate transition planning, integrated reporting and science-based emissions targets.
The episode also explores the role of innovation and emerging technologies—including AI-enabled asset management, fleet transition and data-driven planning—in improving resilience, reducing risk and delivering more proactive infrastructure outcomes.
This episode unpacks:
Embedding sustainability into business strategy and operations
Decarbonisation and climate transition planning in practice
How AI and data are reshaping asset management
Building capability and resilience across supply chains
Why sustainability is everyone’s responsibility—not just one team’s
As infrastructure owners and operators face increasing environmental and operational pressures, this conversation explores what it takes to create systems that are more resilient, efficient, and future-focused.
👉 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
#sustainability #infrastructure #infrastructureconnections

As climate pressures intensify, the way we define infrastructure is being challenged. Increasingly, attention is turning to the role of natural systems—from wetlands and forests to rivers and marine environments—as essential components of resilient infrastructure.
In this episode of Infrastructure Connections, David Carter, Executive Chair at Beca and Guardian of the Aotearoa Circle, shares insights from New Zealand’s Natural Infrastructure Plan and the growing movement to integrate nature into infrastructure planning from the outset.
Drawing on practical examples, the conversation explores how nature-based approaches can complement engineered systems, deliver long-term economic value, and support the regeneration of ecosystems. Rather than focusing solely on conservation, this episode examines a broader shift toward regeneration—and what it means for communities, economies, and the future of infrastructure.
👉 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 #natureininfrastructure #greeninfrastructure #naturebasedsolutions #sustainableinfrastructure

How much does infrastructure cost?
We spoke with Geoff Cooper from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga about their National Infrastructure Plan to find out.
We learned some interesting things.
New Zealand spends more on infrastructure than most OECD countries. The infrastructure spend averages 5.6%, swinging between 5% to 7%. Renewals run to 60 cents on the dollar.
Right now, with aging infrastructure, maintenance and renewals are the megaproject New Zealand can afford.
Rather than just look at what we want or need, the National Infrastructure Plan dug through the past 100 years to determine what we historically feel comfortable spending. We have far more projects we want than money we want to spend.
As governments change and infrastructure priorities shift with them, everyone is looking for certainty. There is more certainty than we'd like to admit. "Nothing is more certain than maintenance and renewals."
The aging population is equally certain. This changes our infrastructure needs dramatically, from shrinking cities to reduced emphasis on land transport as commuter numbers drop, lower school enrollment, and higher health care needs.
Then there are the major shift happening that we need to recognize Decarbonization means a renewed investment in grid infrastructure and generation.
Higher fuel prices mean higher prices for city centre development and falling values for developments outside the city centre.
Click this link to read the National Infrastructure Plan for fascinating insight on where we're headed: https://tewaihanga.govt.nz/national-infrastructure-plan
👉 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 #sustainability #investment #finance