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Month: November 2023

ISC Connect 2023 – Recap

Posted on by Reshma vallabhaneni

“Our decade of action for people, the planet and the economy…”

Reflections on “ISC Connect”, your Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s yearly conference, held on Naarm country (Melbourne), from 5-7 September, 2023. 

If the strength of our relationships and the ways our actions have impact are the litmus tests of success; and if history tells us we make greater impact, faster, when we collaborate… by those terms, we can confidently call the thousand -strong cohort of intentional individuals who participated in Connect 2023, “truly successful people”.

Together, in a jam-packed 72-hours, you gave the world a push, and helped propel this planet a little further along its trajectory into our more sustainable future. For that, we at the ISC offer our hearty thanks.  

Thanks, importantly, must in equal measure go to our major sponsors MRPV (MTIA), Ventia, CPB Contractors, Bluescope & Bluescope Steel, John Holland Group, Acciona, GHD, Holcim, InfraBuild, Mott McDonald, Laing O’Rourke, Gamuda, Perspektiv and WSP; as well as our many session sponsors, Gala and Awards Dinner and associated function sponsors, and to our venues, suppliers, members, partners, and friends who gave so much up front or behind-the-scenes, over the course of the event and the weeks and months prior.  

Thank you, everyone!

 

By working together with passion and purpose to advance sustainability in our sector, you gave everyone who took part the chance to make Connect 23 a true success, worthy of celebrating in style. 

This year’s Certification Dinner awarded twenty IS Certifications to project teams from far and wide, each one representing tremendous achievements and demonstrating significant positive socio-cultural impacts and sustainable outcomes.  

 

 

We took a closer look and further celebrated these achievements, impacts and outcomes as we concluded the conference and took a collective exhalation for our Gala Dinner and Awards event, which was a night with fantastic food and beverage, great company, camaraderie, and even a little comedy, courtesy of the night’s celebrity MC, Peter Helliar, who shared how inspired he was by his experience.  

For many, the bestowing of an ancient traditional welcoming ceremony and blessing given by Mandy and the Djirri Djirri dancers was as much a highlight as the awards themselves, which celebrate exemplary achievements in infrastructure sustainability over a range of criteria and project phases. The awards evening celebrates the outstanding work of the award recipients, and gratefully recognises the efforts of our members and collaborators who drive so many transformational, community- and nature- positive projects which will leave a long lasting legacy of decades to come.  

If you weren’t able to join us in Naarm in September, it’s our expectation that our thousand sustainable success stories from all corners of Australia and New Zealand went home, warrior-like, poised to share enthusiastically with intention and purpose in their workplaces and communities.  

To see our sustainably fashionable sector at its most glamourous, click here ! 

And if you’ve got a case of FOMO from all you’ve read and seen, and you’re keen for your moment in the spotlight… there’s always next year. Those carbon targets aren’t going anywhere! 

Now, to remind you of what you were part of, and as cues for those “What was great about Connect?” conversations we suggested before, here’s just a quick flyover of the Connect 23 program with a sprinkling of highlights from a reserve of hundreds. 

We kicked off Connect bright and early with our Leadership Breakfast with a deep-dive into renewable energy generation and transmission then launched into (everyone-loves!-) ISAP Day featuring presentations on topics like…  

  • cultural advocacy in infrastructure 
  • IS Essentials case studies from Australia and NZ 
  • inspiring kids to become sustainability warriors  
  • how infrastructure projects are transforming lives in remote communities, and  
  • how goats might be the next big thing in your sustainability toolkit… to name a few. 

There were panel Q&As with ISC assessors giving ISAPs the invaluable opportunity to ask the experts… anything, really. And all this before 3pm, when we set off on one of three fantastic field trips to: 

  1. the future site of Toyota’s Hydrogen Centre,  
  2. the National Transport Research Organisation and 
  3. the Spark North East Link Project. 

 

 

We launched Conference Days 1 and 2 with engaging keynotes from the Hon Cathering King MP, Duncan Elliott and Josh Bull MP who shared inisghts into the current infrastructure pipelines. Heard from, Marcia Langton and Michael Bissell who shared their insights on indigenous engagement and inclusivity, and from David Knoff, Australian Antarctic station leader and author, whose “537 Days of Winter”, when he was stranded, as the pandemic raged around the world, was a remarkable tale of resilience, inspiration and motivation. The myriad of opportunities to learn and connect on these two core days of presentations, breakout sessions and working groups.  

There were many more noteworthy sessions than we’ve touched on here, with sustainability-related topics running the gamut from AI to Zincalume and everything between, including circularity, decarbonization, nature positivity, Net Zero… and beyond. And the best part… you can find full recordings of all sessions from Connect 23, to inspire and celebrate our continued collaboration, here. 

And that… is a wrap!  

Click here to watch the session recordings 

We look forward to seeing you next year!      

#staytuned #iscconnect24 #savethedate 

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 11

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 11 recorded on 7 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 11: EMBEDDING SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE OUTSET  

Embedding sustainability in infrastructure from the outset ensures long term returns and enhances resilience for the people it serves. Hear more about the benefits of identifying risks and opportunities early and then managing these iteratively to optimise total life cycle costs, reduce emissions and deliver on community expectations.  

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 9A & 10A

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 9A & 10A recorded on 7 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 9A: FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE  

The number and size of facilities, instruments and funds available for sustainable business opportunities and climate resilient assets is rapidly increasing, and with it reporting and metric complexity. 

This panel will examine the array of existing and emerging ESG criteria (e.g. PRI, PRB, Net Zero Banking Alliance, Net Zero Investment Consultants Initiative) that help lenders and investors align with global sustainability goals such as net zero, resilience and inclusivity, and will touch on the increasing investment attraction of infrastructure. 

SESSION 10A: VALUING NATURAL CAPITAL   

With a third of Australia’s GDP relies on biodiversity and ecosystem services, improving nature-related outcomes can unlock market opportunities. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, requiring dependencies and impacts on nature to be reported, is set to launch in September. This panel explores how those in the infrastructure sector are factoring nature into financial and business decisions, with examples spanning resilience, regenerative design, and carbon sequestration on land for a thriving nature-positive economy.  

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 7A & 8A

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 7A & 8A recorded on 7 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 7A: OUR INCLUSIVE NATION  

Four of the UNSDGs promote equality, and reducing disadvantage within and between nations. Meeting these goals calls on the values of respect and fairness and requires cultural, social, attitudinal and behavioural change. Codesigning policies, programs and practices for inclusivity in infrastructure will enable our nations to thrive. For Australia, our rich differences can be a national advantage and it starts with connection then partnership.  

SESSION 8A: CIRCULAR ECONOMY  

Infrastructure is starting to progress circular economy beyond recycled content. This panel will reference examples of a more systemic shift to optmising the economic value of products and services already in the market beyond traditional practice. Business, social and community outcomes are on the rise so – how do we increase demand and stimulate sustainable supply?  

 

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 5A & 6A

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 5A & 6A recorded on 6 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 5A: INSIDE LOOKING OUT  

Exploring new ideas and ways of tackling challenges is crucial for any business committed to sustainability. Whether its enhancing culture or partnerships, increasing productivity or making process improvements for greater efficiency – all require positive change. Innovation and creativity will be catalysed by looking outside the infrastructure sector for major opportunities or more incremental changes we can adopt and adapt. 

SESSION 6: IMPACT AND INNOVATION 

An opportunity to be actively immersed in the latest innovations for impact. Practical examples are showcased in elevator-expose’s with the option to learn more about the new advances in products, process and practices from each innovator.  

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 3A & 4A

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 3A & 4A recorded on 6 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 3A: TOWARD NET ZERO 

With infrastructure enabling 70% of emissions, Australia needs a nationally coordinated, sector-wide approach to reducing emissions. The implementation of emissions budgets and targets can help accelerate our trajectory. As countries all have different specific local challenges, we can decrease our learning curve. These include progressive approaches to developing capability, new skills and professional development pathways as well as using procurement as a powerful catalyst for the energy transition. Policy development must accelerate along with increased transparency as a key opportunity to raise the overall pace of delivery. 

SESSION 4A: BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY AND CAPABILITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE  

The ISC is committed to developing a thriving industry and building a stronger infrastructure workforce by developing skills and capabilities and providing tools and resources. CONNECTing with the dynamic infrastructure sustainability community in a friendly environment is a sure-fire way to attract, inspire and engage enthusiastic new talent. CONNECT is a great place to ask questions and learn to more about sustainability as a rewarding career path in infrastructure.   

ISC Connect 2023 – Session 1 & 2

Posted on by Sarina Aguinaldo

Watch the ISC Connect 2023 session 1 & 2 recorded on 6 September 2023.

This recording discusses the following:

SESSION 1:  WHAT WILL DEFINE THIS DECADE 

There are 6 years to 2023; 76 months and 25 seasons. To set the scene and what kind of action will define this decade for infrastructure, Minister King will provide the national perspective of our priorities and Duncan Elliott, CEO of Major Road Projects Victoria will share the focus at the state level here in Victoria. While government is responsible for setting the direction, collectively as organisations and individuals we set the sails – its is a choice how we rise to the challenge; and respond to continued uncertainty. 

SESSION 2: SYSTEMIC RESILIENCE  

Infrastructure, our integrated system of systems enables nations to thrive. This session considers global infrastructure megatrends trends, as well as public and private investment; Australia’s ambitions and policy direction for infrastructure and how positioning as a renewable powerhouse presents opportunities domestically and across the Indo-Pacific.  

Impact Report – 2023

Posted on by loren.blundell@iscouncil.org

The winds of change are blowing, and our sector is raising its sails. Over the past three years, the interconnection and interdependence of our systems, value chains and communities has been bared through cumulative shocks and stressors. The global profile of risk severity over the ten-year horizon, reported by the World Economic Forum, is again spread across environmental and social considerations. As a result, sustainability is becoming a business imperative, with actions, outcomes and impact being operationalised beyond reporting. Purpose is underpinning strategy and policy; and implementation is defined by outcomes and integrity.

Next to pace and scale, the most valued practice is collaboration. It means different things to different people. For the Council and our members, collaboration is characterized by relationships founded on respect, and difference is expected, acknowledged and embraced. Collaboration occurs when many engage to overcome challenges and achieve outcomes that are bigger than those that can be achieved alone. The evidence base for this new order of sustainability leadership is apparent in each chapter of this Impact Report. The assured outcomes that are being credibly and transparently reported and validated are driving global best practice in infrastructure.

The requisites for collaboration are courage and the ability to lead from wherever you are, regardless of rank. Over the past financial year, we have seen a significant rise in the number of executives, senior leadership teams and project directors investing in sustainability and change management skills. More professionals have acquired sustainability as a core competency, and mentoring is on the RISE. Building our collective bench strength with deeper capability, new skills and more defined career paths will support our sector’s workforce to act with ambition and purpose. Sharing successes and lessons within and across teams and subsectors, will reduce the learning curve for our Thriving Industry.

The year was defined by continued advocacy for positive change that supports industry to rapidly transition to more inclusive, resilient and low emission infrastructure. In every instance, embedding sustainability early is the most efficient, effective and financially sustainable way to enable enduing impact. Our thought leadership partnerships provided more detailed guidance for achieving social value in the built environment; while Beyond Climate Positive provides a blueprint for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to create a sustainable ripple effect; with the Council as the infrastructure assurance partner.

Working alongside key industry partners and government stakeholders, it is remarkable how our sector has mobilised on decarbonization; and through our tools and the national Infrastructure Net Zero initiative; we are ready to play our part in Market Transformation.

Infrastructure is a system of systems. At the project level, change is increasingly obvious. When shifting beyond the delivery phase through asset management and earlier to strategic and detailed planning, the complexities of elevating impact beyond asset boundaries is going to become an evolving challenge if infrastructure is to fulfil its purpose – enabling people to thrive.

Infrastructure is delivered by people for people. The ISC is powered by purpose-led people that live our values of being collaborative, dynamic and responsible. It has equally been a year of investment for our Organisational Health. This included continued implementation of technology, new product development, optimisation of and improvements to value-creating services and the continuing evolution of the ratings business model.

Purpose is anchored in action. Across our sector there is an acceleration of action that is more integrated and intentional. There is greater focus on valuing those elements of sustainability that matter the most; nature, culture and Country; and human capability and influencing skills. Our action is also more iterative because better never stops. Performance benchmarks are shifting, and we continue to see continuous improvement in sustainability outcomes. Most importantly, we value the sectors commitment to act with integrity; build trust through transparency and measure what matters on purpose and with purpose.

Read the Report