Author: isca@admin

Relationship Manager Job Position at ISCA

Join the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) as our Relationship Manager. Be part of a team that enjoys driving change, creating value and making a genuine impact.

You will be responsible for implementing our market engagement strategy to drive member value as well as execute annual acquisition and retention activities across the infrastructure supply chain.

About ISCA

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) is a member-based not-for-profit and the peak industry body for advancing sustainability outcomes. ISCA’s purpose is to accelerate sustainability in infrastructure. ISCA is a valued membership organisation representing all key stakeholder groups associated with the infrastructure supply chain, and actively pursues engagement through our IS rating scheme, building market capability, working with partners to innovate and actively share successes to catalyse positive outcomes for communities, the workforce, environment and economy.

Role and Responsibilities

The Relationship Manager supports the delivery of the Engagement and Innovation strategic areas to drive member value as well as annual acquisition and retention activities. Reporting to the General Manager, Infrastructure Innovation, you will work closely with the ISCA team and industry stakeholders. You will implement our market engagement strategy creating value for members and raising awareness about all to ISCA offerings (such as ratings, training and workshops, policy mapping, etc.). In addition to managing the day-today requirements of our growing member base and ISupply program you will establish new member relationships across the supply chain.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• At least three years’ experience working in:
  • business development, relationship management or sales roles; and/or
  • the sustainability, infrastructure, construction, property or heavy industries sector/s
• Highly developed interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Proven ability to negotiate and manage stakeholder expectations
• A positive, proactive and energetic approach to business
• A client centric approach
• Professional and organised manner
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment

Desirable Knowledge & Experience

• Suitable qualification in a relevant discipline
• Experience working for a small business, not-for-profit or industry body
• Experience working with the infrastructure supply chain
• Experience working with all levels of Government

How to apply

Send along your resume (no more than 3 pages) and a 1-page cover letter outlining how you meet the position, and why you would like to join our team to info@isca.org.au before Sunday 23rd September 2018.

ISCA is an equal opportunity employer and celebrates diversity of all kinds. We encourage all people to apply.

Applications received will be removed of any identifying information such as gender, race, age, parental status, disability or sexual orientation to limit unconscious bias before being provided to the hiring manager.

For more information please call ISCA on 02 9252 9733 or email info@isca.org.au.

How Sustainability Is Improving The Operation Of Infrastructure

Environment, Social, Economic, Governance: the 4 pillars that make up the quadruple bottom line of sustainability. This can be translated to the management of impacts on and the enhancement of:

• Environment: flora, fauna, air, water, land
• Social: community, stakeholders, heritage, workforce, supply chain
• Economic: financial sustainability, budgets, materials lifecycles, maintenance cycles
• Governance: asset maturity, risk and opportunity management, climate change adaptation, resilience

Another way of defining sustainability in asset management is “good business practice”. In many ways several of the aspects that are listed above are incorporated under different guises within a well-managed asset. The pathway from a well-managed asset to a sustainably managed asset is to take a holistic approach over the forecast useful life.

Sustainability has been viewed as an add-on or additional requirement to existing asset management systems. However, where the 4 pillars of sustainability are integrated into management systems and elevated alongside key business drivers, it is no longer an “extra”, but an essential. A sharpened focus and key sustainability commitments can generate organisational change and build a sustainability culture across complex large scale network environments. A rating system that evaluates the sustainability of infrastructure operations can provide a useful framework to achieve this.

A sustainability framework provides useful guidance to an infrastructure operator on what “good business practice” looks like, and allows for the quick identification of gaps across the 4 pillars of sustainability. This broadens the scope of opportunities and initiatives to address longer term and interrelated risks, and demonstrates how local work efforts can contribute to a company’s sustainability goals. In addition to better risk and opportunities management, a quadruple bottom line integrated system will ensure that service provision can be maintained and efficiently improved. In some cases, this can be done through improved stakeholder and community engagement.

At a practical level, understanding your steel, asphalt, concrete and other material uses for periodic renewal programs would allow planning for more robust materials to lower maintenance requirements, improve wear and tear/vehicle fleet emissions and impacts on the nearby community. Monitoring and measuring of water, energy and waste forms the foundation of resource management, and provides a platform implementing practical reduction opportunities.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) is a member-based not-for-profit industry council. ISCA is the peak industry body for advancing sustainability outcomes in infrastructure.

ISCA advances sustainability outcomes in infrastructure is through the development and facilitation of the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating scheme. The IS rating scheme is an industry-compiled voluntary sustainability performance rating scheme evaluating planning, design, construction and operation of all infrastructure asset classes beyond regulatory standards.

The IS rating scheme for Operations is the first scheme in the world to measure the sustainability performance of infrastructure operations and maintenance. This framework facilitates the integration of sustainability into existing systems and assists in the development of a pathway to continuous development.

ISCA is currently working with a number of organisations, including Transurban, Metro Trains Melbourne and Downer to assess the sustainability performance of their assets and networks. This sustainability framework intends to assist asset and network operators to drive better outcomes across the quadruple bottom line and contribute to thriving communities.

Written by Kirsty Bauer (Technical Lead at ISCA) and Audra Liubinas (Sustainability Improvement Lead, Metro Trains Melbourne)

Sustainability Knowledge Sharing Session Kicks Off

Last Wednesday the very first rail sustainability Knowledge Sharing Session took place at Melbourne Metro’s 700 Collins Street head office. 

The meeting brought together sustainability experts from Metro, PTV, LXRA, RPV and their respective projects for a two hour discussion about sharing key learnings from across the sustainability sector.

The inaugural ISCA meeting was a vital opportunity to align on common goals and issues across all the parties involved, said Metro’s Sustainability Improvement Lead, Audra Liubinas.

“Sharing sustainability learnings between projects and the operator is important to ensure we maximise the benefits of our collective efforts to improve the sustainability of the city’s railway” she said.

The group recognised that they will need to work together to maximise the benefit to the community that can be achieved through sustainable design, construction and operation of rail assets.

Key focus areas identified during the meeting included reducing energy and water consumption of delivered assets, increasing sustainability of materials used in construction, improving project handover information and increasing the sustainability focus of Metro’s standards.

It also highlighted how the LXRA has already saved more than 84,000 tonnes of carbon across their projects, since implementing sustainability ratings.

Metro’s LXRP Environment and Sustainability Manager, Christian Beasley believes that although this session was a good start, it’s important that it happens on a regular basis. To this end the next meeting has already been scheduled and will take place in six months’ time.

“We have a government and clients pushing for a more sustainable network. Metro as the operator and project partner has a great opportunity and responsibility to assist with this” Christian said.

City Rail Link Wins Award for Setting Sustainability Benchmark

New Zealand’s largest transport construction project, Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has been judged the leader in delivering sustainable infrastructure.

Last night the project won the 2018 Deloitte Energy Excellence Award’s Large Energy User Initiative of the Year. This is for outstanding energy-related initiatives that have delivered significant benefits, carried out by large energy users.

The CRL is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below Auckland city centre transforming the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through-station that better connects the Auckland rail network.

The project has established a carbon foot printing programme on its first two contract packages to identify opportunities and actions for reducing energy emissions. CRLL has been working in collaboration with its construction partners Downer NZ and Soletanche Bachy JV and Connectus (McConnell Dowell and Downer JV) to deliver significant carbon savings.

From replacing diesel generators with grid-connected transformers to training haulage drivers in fuel-efficient techniques, CRL’s initiatives are expected to reduce energy emissions by over 2,000 tonnes – a 29% reduction project is on target to achieve its goals, while also reducing costs and saving time.

CRL’s CEO, Dr Sean Sweeney, says sustainability is a cornerstone of CRL thinking where the aim amongst everyone involved is to build the project without using unnecessary resources.

“The CRL will ultimately deliver a sustainable transport option and we want to make sure we are sustainable during its delivery. Our sustainability story also includes social outcome initiatives like providing employment and training opportunities for young people not already in jobs and addressing the construction skill shortage.”

Jointly funded by the Government and Auckland Council, the CRL is on track to be completed in 2024.

“Sustainability is a part of our DNA”, declares the website of Konica Minolta Australia. That is due in part to the leadership of its Australian Chair and Managing Director, Dr. David Cooke, who will be our speaker on August 23.

David is well-known for his leadership in sustainability in Australia, as is Konica Minolta worldwide. The Australian branch of this Japanese business systems and healthcare imaging products company was the first technology company to join the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia in 2016. Under David, Konica Minolta has focused on implementing ethical supply chains and raised the issue of modern slavery, becoming a champion of the Modern Slavery Act which was introduced into Parliament on 28th June 2018.

David will discuss the new model of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and its benefits for companies in any industry.

Event Details
Date & Time August 23 (Thursday) 6-8pm (venue opens 5:45 pm)
Networking drinks and snacks to follow presentation.

Venue
HWL Ebsworth Offices Level 14,
Australia Square,
264 George St,
Sydney

Cost
$40 AJS members, JCCI members
$50 non-members

To sign up please visit: www.ajsnsw.org.au

Sustainability Knowledge Now More Fundamental Than Ever To Business Success, Confirms New Research

New research published today by the Supply Chain Sustainability School of Australia has revealed a significant jump in the importance of sustainability knowledge for property, construction and infrastructure businesses, with 63 per cent of respondents reporting that it has become more important over the past twelve months; up 11 percentage points from last year.

These findings from Australia’s leading sustainable supply chain educator confirm that sustainability across property and infrastructure supply chains is becoming a higher priority, with businesses recognising the need to upskill their workforce and suppliers in order to meet their own goals and align with the requirements of customers.

“The increased value of informed and skilled employees to organisations is reflected in the survey results, with over a third of organisations now having base-level knowledge requirements for employees and more than one in four embedding it into job descriptions,” explains Robin Mellon, Chief Executive Officer of the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

“Almost two in every five members have noticed an improvement in their supply chains since they’ve been a member of the School (37 per cent), and 46 per cent of members have seen economic, environmental or social benefits from improved supply chains”, Mr Mellon adds.

The Survey finds that an understanding of key sustainability issues is fast becoming a requirement when assessing prospective employees. Similarly, expertise in sustainability is more of a consideration in project and tender assessments, with sustainable procurement now a key driver of innovation in materials, waste and energy.

“There is a growing call for enhancing sustainability skills across our built environment disciplines, across infrastructure projects, and across Australia’s extended infrastructure supply chains,” says Ainsley Simpson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia which is a founding partner of the School.

“Better educated businesses mean more sustainable infrastructure projects, with reduced environmental impacts, improved social and workforce outcomes and wholesale efficiency gains,” Simpson adds. “It’s particularly encouraging that 20 per cent of members have already seen improvements in the quality of Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating submissions.”

However, realising a higher level of sustainability knowledge across a workforce can prove challenging, with employees sometimes slow to engage with sustainability activities and learning and reluctant to change behaviour. According to the School’s members, one of the most effective ways to motivate employees in this space is good communication; ensuring clear links are made to project outcomes, organisational objectives, and career development. Furthermore, they suggest that sustainability needs to be embedded within ‘business as usual’, and that this approach has helped boost engagement with the School’s sustainability learning resources.

Respondents to the survey also highlighted that senior management needs to be driving sustainability to ensure that it isn’t simply seen as an added cost.

“Laing O’Rourke has backed the School from the very beginning because we understand how our supply chains can help us achieve our sustainability goals” says Hollie Hynes, Head of Sustainability for Laing O’Rourke and Co-Chair of the School’s Advisory Board.

“Now that so many survey respondents have sustainability plans in place – 83 per cent, in fact – the vast majority of the School’s members feel that the most important factor for the success of sustainability programs is real commitment from management,” she adds.

This year’s survey also revealed the areas of sustainability knowledge that are most sought-after, with social sustainability – and modern slavery in particular – being the most pressing need. This was highlighted as an issue across organisations and across the industry.

Energy was also identified as a key area (including renewables and battery storage, energy efficiency, literacy, efficient design, retrofitting) as well as waste (diverted from landfill, reduction, management, closed loop) and ‘the business case for sustainability’ needing strong educational support.

The annual survey reported a year-on-year increase in satisfaction with the School on every measure; the vast majority of members are satisfied with the School and most (84 per cent) would recommend it to colleagues.

“We encourage small, medium and large organisations across Australia to take advantage of the School’s free sustainability learning resources, and to work with their supply chains towards more sustainable outcomes and more efficient businesses,” Mr Mellon concludes

Addressing Sustainability From The Start

Taken from the 2018 ISCA Impacts Report

At Arup, “We shape a better world”, so sustainability is at the heart of all we do. We believe that delivering sustainable outcomes for both current stakeholders and future generations will make our business stronger in the long run. Like ISCA, we recognise that sustainable outcomes on projects are a result of collaboration between stakeholders, from planning through to construction and operation phases.

We played a key role in developing the initial Infrastructure Sustainability rating tool, providing us with in-depth knowledge, from its development to its context within the wide range of sustainability frameworks. Arup’s leading sustainability infrastructure professionals were involved in developing Version 2, and we are ISCA verifiers and trainers, having trained more than 200 Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professionals.

Case study: Port Drive Upgrade, Brisbane

Arup has significant experience in the ISCA rating tool projects including the Port Drive Upgrade, Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project, Parramatta Light Rail and Canberra Light Rail.

In 2017, the Port Drive Upgrade project was awarded a certified IS Design v1.2 – Excellent rating. This was the second road project in Queensland to receive the rating, and is currently the highest scoring of all projects registered in the state.

The Arup team was committed to meeting sustainability commitments for activities across the project lifecycle, not only those in our direct responsibility. Together with Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL), and Principal Contractor Seymour Whyte Constructions (SWC), achieving an ISCA rating was a core objective in delivering the project.

Integrating the sustainability requirements into the design and construction ensures commitments are met efficiently. A robust and integrated process was carefully considered for delivery of the sustainability objectives across design, procurement, construction, and operation. Implementation and milestones were aligned with the engineering and delivery programme to achieve success through collaborative and seamless decision making.

Key to achieving the Design rating was the Australian first use of the innovative Quickcell wide flange Super I girders. Developed by Quickcell Technology Products and Arup, the new type of beam can reach spans of up to 46m, longer than the standard 32m Super T girder. Using the longer girders on the Lucinda Drive bridge component of the project reduced materials, construction and maintenance costs, while also mitigating major safety and constructability issues.

Another significant feature of our design was the use of 50,000 tonnes of sustainably-sourced Enrobés à Module Élevé Class 2 (EME2) asphalt, a binder (bitumen) rich mix which produces a stiffer asphalt with remarkably good workability. This innovation resulted in a reduced asphalt thickness leading to the reduction of 99,000 tonnes of asphalt, which in turn delivered a 32% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions between the preliminary design and detailed design. We realised time savings of 80 days needed to lay the asphalt along with construction fuel savings due to less plant movement.

This rating has also positioned contractor Seymour Whyte Constructions to receive an IS As Built v1.2 – Excellent rating upon completion of construction, due mid 2018.

Arup offers a holistic environmental and sustainability consulting service, which is integrated globally with our engineering, design and planning/economics services. Our global team of specialists offer services in developing policy, assessing impact, creative design and implementation, gaining regulatory approvals, reporting publicly, stakeholder consultation, managing risk and controlling costs.

At Arup, we believe it takes commitment to bring long-term change. The future depends on it.

Immersion : the rewards of secondments

Immersion – it’s one of the most rapid approaches to learning, and the rewards are plentiful. The LendLease Foundation recently partnered with ISCA enabling a six month secondment of one of LendLease Engineering’s finest sustainability professionals, Jaclyn Fathers.

This experience has been a powerful and positive experience all round. The outcomes have been mutually beneficial in that Jaclyn benefited from wider skills development enabling career progression and the opportunity to build upon her greatest strengths; Jaclyn’s effervescence added more value than we could have imagined.

While embedded in our team as a Case Manager, we stretched our thinking with her fresh perspectives, we are even more efficient thanks to process improvements and new templates, and we are ready and raring to support the many new relationships Jaclyn fostered.

This secondment worked because the spirit of arrangement was one of growth and opportunity, there was genuine willingness to collaborate, we had a agreement making clear the governance and nature of the relationship and most importantly, Jaclyn was an excellent skill and cultural fit. Her personal ethos will serve her well throughout her career and life.

“My eight month secondment at ISCA was a unique opportunity that was highly rewarding and provided me with valuable insight into the operating of a not-for-profit. The team at ISCA welcomed me with open arms, and offered me the chance to work with the wider ISCA community, which has helped grow my knowledge and understanding of successful sustainability management in infrastructure projects and the value that can come from engaging with leadership” Jaclyn Fathers

This experience has broadened our approach to embracing the many challenges a growing NFP encounters. It also enables future opportunities where our members can work along side us for discreet periods to bolster our impact, delivery and capability, in exchange for a vibrant and purpose-driven learning experience which develops core skills like initiative, determination and contribution.

If one of your team members deserves an outstanding growth opportunity, express your organisations interest in partnering with ISCA. The skills sets we would benefit the most from in the next six months are:

• Impactful communication – Digital Media/PR (0.2 FTE, 3 months)
• Process re-engineering (0.2FTE, 4-6 weeks)

GO BACK