S4E7 – Sustainability by Design: Lessons from Cross River Rail w/ Graeme Newton
Description: 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
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S4E6 – The Power of Purpose w/ Richard Boele
Description: What keeps people motivated when progress is slow, outcomes are uncertain, and challenges keep evolving? In this episode, Richard Boele, Chief Purpose Officer at KPMG, explores the powerful role of purpose in sustaining energy, resilience, and long-term commitment to change. He explains the difference between purpose—your unique contribution and who you can’t help being—and
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S4E5 – Great Leaders Care w/ Graeme Cowan
Description: 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
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S4E4 – Beyond Cost: The Future of Sustainable Procurement w/ Richard Martin
Description: 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
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S4E3 – Sustainability isn’t a department anymore w/ Alexandra Monson
Description: 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
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S4E2 – From Grey to Green: Rethinking Infrastructure w/ David Carter
Description: 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
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S4E1 – How much does infrastructure cost and how much are we willing to spend? w/ Geoff Cooper
Description: 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%.
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S3E12 – Infrastructure Finance w/ Alex Ayscough
Description: Can investors make a return on sustainability? “We see really good value creation investing in sustainability,” said our guest in this episode of Infrastructure Connections. Alex Ayscough is an Investment Director at the infrastructure investment firm Morrison. “I think sustainability provided investment opportunities for us, and a lot of other infrastructure investors as well.”
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S3E11 – Road Ecology w/ Ben Goldfarb
Description: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶a? Ben Goldfarb found that roads are “the leading direct human cause of vertebrate mortality on land.” More than hunting, wildfires, dams, and urban habitat loss combined. The costs are enormous. According to the @Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) animal-vehicle collisions cost Australia $7 billion every
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S3E10 – Sustainable Procurement w/ Bec Timmings
Description: 𝗜𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆? Sustainability feels expensive and hard when it’s bolted on at the end. But when procurement is involved early, everything shifts: • Sustainability is embedded from planning, not post‑design • Procurement and sustainability teams work together • Suppliers help shape smarter, cost‑neutral solutions Public procurement is powerful
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S3E9 – Modes of Mobility w/ Melissa Bruntlett
Description: Do you take cars for granted? What if you learned they were responsible for An increased sense of isolation? A lack of trust in the community? A source of stress throughout your day? Even where you spend time in your home? Studies show all this and more, yet we often fail to see cars
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S3E8 – Global Sustainability w/ Joan Ko
Do you have someone to call when you don’t know the answer? On carbon? On Nature Based Solutions? On sustainable finance? On circularity? With so many sustainability regulations and requirements, it’s impossible for one person to know it all. But it takes hours to read up on these topics and, even then, do you qualify
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