Our EGM People & Group Strategy Steve Collett recently spoke with Australian publication, Inside Construction, about how we are harnessing our ‘Employee Promise’ to attract new people to our industry and provide meaningful, challenging and impactful careers.
Click the picture to read the article...
McConnell Dowell and Built Environs are proud to commit to our next Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) ‘Innovate’ which has been fully endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.
After completing our first Reflect RAP in 2022, MCD and Built Environs have worked together to realign our approach taking the RAP pillars of Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance to the next level for the Innovate Phase.
Some of the key commitments include further cross-cultural awareness training, exploring local story telling opportunities through our projects, review of key policies and procedures to ensure they remain free of bias, creating more meaningful employment and supply chain opportunities for First Nations businesses.
Jim Frith, Managing Director of Australia said that McConnell Dowell had a proud history of working respectfully with First Nations all over Australia.
“We as a company have worked respectfully and closely with First Nations people on our projects long before commencing our RAP,” Jim said.
“What the RAP gives us though, is a consistent structure to build on and to challenge ourselves with our learning, listening, understanding and just doing more.
“Reconciliation is a journey and together we are stepping towards something more meaningful.
“This company delivers projects all over Australia and our work with communities and our investments in supply chain and local economies, gives us some unique opportunities to make a real difference.”
Michael Clemenger, Built Environs Managing Director said we have implemented a RAP to demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation with First Nations.
“Innovate is the next stage from Reflect and is a step up for us,” Michael said.
“Our business straddles two different but very rich indigenous cultures across Australia and New Zealand, and we are very excited to learn more about their deep spiritual cultures, history and connections to their lands.”
Click on the picture below to read our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
If you've ever wondered how a multi-national construction company approaches a goal of net-zero emissions, read this article by our Chief "Eco-nomics" Officer (aka Environment and Sustainability Operations Manager) Tim Walker in the latest edition of Inside Construction.
Click the picture below.
In partnership with some of our forward-thinking customers our teams are embracing the circular economy, using innovative recycled materials and products, including some industry firsts...
On Wednesday 6 September the Wharf 7 Upgrade team proudly accepted the Innovation Award at the 2023 Construction Sector Accord Beacon Awards in Wellington.
The judges commented that “McConnell Dowell and Eastland Port challenged the norms by redesigning the project to save significant cost and embodied carbon while reducing environmental impacts and impact on locals. This is a great example of thoughtful design using an established contract approach with a great outcome for those involved. Really excellent project. A leader in innovation in our opinion.”
McConnell Dowell Project Manager, Mike Bonnette and Eastland Port GM of Infrastructure & Development, Marty Bayley were at the event to accept the award on behalf of the team.
“We are proud to be here accepting this award on behalf of our talented team of designers, engineers, and everyone who contributed to the project,” said Mr Bonnette.
“It was the team’s collective commitment to sustainability that enabled us to make the significant carbon savings we achieved and that brought us here tonight.”
Mr Bayley agreed that early engagement between the designer, constructor, and the Port was key to its success. “The wharf design was significantly refined” and “taking the time to collaborate at the start meant the project had minimal issues and achieved all the outcomes that were important to Eastland Port and community.”
The project was a very visible public asset upgrade in Tairāwhiit/Gisborne so it was important to the team that broader social and long-term environmental outcomes were prioritised.
Minimising the carbon footprint by 13,692 tonnes of CO2e was one of the ways the team made those goals a reality. To find out more about the innovations that led to these massive carbon emission savings click here.