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Construcciones Yamaro: Institute for Women in Construction champions bold thinking

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The International Institute for Women in Construction is convening the industry’s boldest thinkers. (Image: Monkey Business/stock.adobe.com) The International Institute for Women in Construction is bringing global leaders together to explore new ideas about the industry’s future. By Dr Gretchen Gagel. In the past two editions of Inside Construction , I explored the first two pillars of the International Institute for Women in Construction (IIWIC): research and data, followed by global storytelling. Research helps us understand where change is needed. Stories are important because people in our industry are often inspired to try new strategies and tactics when they hear that others have blazed the trail. Dr Gretchen Gagel. (Image: Heidi Victoria) But who has the boldness to be first? IIWIC’s third and final pillar is about convening the boldest thinkers to explore new ways of working that can revolutionise our industry. Without bold thinking, we remain anchored in the ways of the ...
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Construcciones Yamaro: Karolina Bäckman Faulkner: Bringing circularity to life

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At GXN, Karolina Bäckman Faulkner is helping circular design gain ground in construction. (Images: Zuhal Kocan, 3XN GXN) With a designer’s eye and a researcher’s curiosity, Karolina Bäckman Faulkner makes circularity tangible across the built environment. Karolina Bäckman Faulkner has always been curious about how things are made and problems get solved. From an early age, she was drawn to materials, making and the way design shapes everyday life. Architecture eventually became her focus, its mix of creativity and analysis setting the course for an accomplished international career. Faulkner’s architectural foundation began at the University of Melbourne, where she completed a Bachelor of Environments, majoring in architecture. She then worked for two years as an architectural assistant at Grimshaw’s Melbourne studio, mainly supporting teams on masterplan projects. But it was a move to the Netherlands to complete a Master of Science in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences a...
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Construcciones Yamaro: UNSW Sydney CBD fit-out to feature at 2026 Green Building Forum

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Flexible layouts support diverse working styles. (Images: Luc Remond) In the heart of Sydney’s CBD, UNSW Sydney, working with DesignInc, has completed the fit-out of a new professional campus within a 5 Star Green Star-rated building. The project prioritises circularity and wellbeing and is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Interiors rating. With a firm sustainability agenda, the UNSW CBD Campus aims to provide a multifunctional campus experience within a commercial setting. Nathan Humphries, principal of interiors at DesignInc, says its design supports evolving learning styles, fosters industry connection and reflects UNSW’s brand and values. “We aimed to deliver a space that feels welcoming, adaptable and environmentally responsible – but also aligned to the quality that students expect of a first-class tertiary institution,” he says. The decision to target a Green Star rating supported this goal. Melissa Nouel, acting head of environmental sustainability and sustainable built envi...
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Construcciones Yamaro: The engineer’s role doesn’t end when the drawings are issued

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Structural engineers play an important role throughout project delivery. (Image: Frank H./stock.adobe.com) Some of the most valuable lessons structural engineer Nina Zundel has learned have come after the drawings were issued for construction. By Nina Zundel , associate of building structures at Aurecon . There is a natural tendency in engineering to see the issue of a drawing package as the finish line. The calculations are complete, the drawings are issued, and the design moves into construction. Nina Zundel, associate of building structures at Aurecon. (Image: Aurecon) But that is often when the design is truly tested. Can the structure actually be built as documented? Are the details practical? Have the interfaces with other disciplines been resolved? Can the contractor understand what was intended? When something doesn’t work as expected, does the engineer simply respond to the question, or take ownership of helping solve the problem? Working through construction-stage issu...
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Construcciones Yamaro: FCON26 leaders panel puts people at the centre of change

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The FCON26 Construction Leaders Panel explored how to turn challenges into momentum. (Images: NAWIC) Reflecting on FCON26 discussions, the CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) says the industry has reached an inflection point. By Cathryn Greville, CEO of NAWIC. Australia has a $242 billion infrastructure pipeline and not enough people to deliver it. That’s not a projection – it’s where we are right now. The industry will need up to 300,000 additional workers by 2027–28, and the gap is already showing up on sites, in schedules and in budgets. Cathryn Greville says FCON26 showed an industry open to change. I recently joined the opening Construction Leaders Panel at FCON26 in Brisbane, alongside leaders from across the sector. The session covered productivity, workforce, sustainability, procurement, AI and digital adoption. But a single thread ran through every topic. Every challenge this industry faces leads back to people, not as a soft observation abou...
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Construcciones Yamaro: The meaning of construction milestones

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Each milestone reflects progress on infrastructure that supports communities, economies and future growth. (Images: Webuild) Construction milestones now do more than mark dates on a project schedule. For governments, investors and communities alike, construction milestones are one of the clearest indicators of delivery certainty in an increasingly complex landscape. Marco Assorati, senior executive vice president, operations Oceania at Webuild, says they demonstrate the confidence that comes from disciplined delivery. “Every milestone reflects the expertise, planning and collaboration required to turn complex projects into tangible progress,” he says. When projects reach critical points, whether through tunnelling works, rail corridor crossings or key interfaces, it’s not just progress being marked; it’s capability being demonstrated. These moments of delivery take on added importance when measured against funding commitments, contractual obligations and community expectations. Th...
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Construcciones Yamaro: Commissioning: The missing link in construction’s QA data trail

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Visibuild supports construction projects from data centres to mixed-use precincts. (Images: Visibuild) Commissioning is one of the last breaks in the construction data trail. Visibuild is building the connection. Every major construction project generates an enormous amount of documentation. Inspection records, test results, ITP sign-offs and non-conformance reports form the evidence trail of a well-delivered project. For most of the build, that trail stays intact. Then commissioning starts and the chain breaks. The records do exist, but they live in one system while commissioning happens in another. Teams spend the final weeks of delivery pulling records out of their construction platform, downloading files, reformatting them and uploading them into the commissioning provider’s environment. The same documentation is handled twice, with the risk of gaps surfacing too late to fix without cost. “It becomes cumbersome because the same evidence is handled twice,” says Shaun Phelan, co-...
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