Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Foundations and Frontiers 2026 is about momentum. (Image: Digital Art Studio/stock.adobe.com) Foundations and Frontiers 2026 centres on progress, not problems. By Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association. What if we stopped obsessing over what’s broken in construction and focused on what’s already working? That’s the idea behind Foundations and Frontiers 2026 (FF26). On Thursday, 20 August in Sydney, the industry will come together to share examples of projects and practices that are delivering better results now. Not theory. Proof. And to close the day, the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) will host a black-tie presentation of the Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA), celebrating the best project in the country. From problems to progress For the past two years, the Foundations and Frontiers forum has focused on the industry’s biggest structural challenges . That work matters, but this year, we’re shifting gears. FF26 is about momentum. I...

Aaron Smith, engineering manager – installations at Coates Engineering Solutions. (Image: Coates) Temporary works often operate behind the scenes, but they play a critical role in keeping construction and infrastructure projects moving safely and efficiently. In this Expert Profile, Aaron Smith, engineering manager – installations at Coates Engineering Solutions, shares insights on the challenges facing the industry and how specialist installation teams help deliver complex temporary works solutions under tight timelines. Aaron Smith has spent nearly a decade with Coates and more than 25 years in the construction industry. With a background that spans both trade and engineering roles, he brings a practical perspective to delivering temporary works solutions on complex construction sites. Here, Aaron shares insights from the front line of the industry. Describe your role and what an average workday or week looks like. My role involves managing the installations team to deliver b...

As Far East Consortium Queensland established operations for projects like the Queen’s Wharf Tower, it implemented Payapps from the outset to lay a foundation for rapid scaling. (Image: Far East Consortium) Payapps explains why a project-first strategy allows contractors to build confidence before scaling construction technology across the business. By Ian Moss, marketing leader for Australia and New Zealand at Payapps – An Autodesk Company. Ian Moss, marketing leader for Australia and New Zealand at Payapps – An Autodesk Company. (Image: Payapps) As the Australian construction sector faces a continued productivity imperative, the industry is entering a critical transition. While the project pipeline is beginning to stabilise, the sector remains under pressure from tight margins, skills shortages and heightened scrutiny of value for money. Recent analysis, including commentary following the Queensland Productivity Commission’s Final Report: Opportunities to Improve Productivi...

Cupix, an AI-powered spatial intelligence platform, helps teams maintain complete site records. (Image: mikitiger/stock.adobe.com) Spatial capture is being integrated into John Holland’s site workflows to verify works, coordinate trades and document site conditions during delivery. John Holland’s portfolio, built over more than seven decades, stands out for its concentration of large, technically challenging projects. In recent years, the contractor has ramped up its digital engineering strategy in line with the rising complexity of the works it takes on, supported by a suite of technologies including spatial intelligence. Mitchell Erickson, group manager of digital engineering at John Holland. (Image: Mitchell Erickson) One such platform is Cupix, an AI-powered spatial intelligence platform that captures and visualises construction sites in a virtual environment. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and 360-degree cameras, it enables remote site monitoring, progress tracking an...

The PC220LCi-12 has automation embedded in its core machine functions. (Image: Smoke Photography & Video) Construction equipment is being engineered for a more demanding job site, and Komatsu signals where performance expectations are heading next with its latest machines. Mark Boyes, national business manager for construction at Komatsu. (Image: IndustriArc) The company’s latest equipment enters a market where performance is being judged less on sheer output and more on control, integration and usable machine data. Project directors and asset managers are weighing how accurately a machine can execute to digital models, how safely it can function in tight work areas, and how effectively its systems inform site-level decision making. Mechanical capability remains fundamental, but intelligence, configurability and systems integration are now influencing how equipment is selected and deployed. Komatsu’s PC220LCi-12 hydraulic excavator and intelligent Machine Control (iMC) 3....

The Delivering Under Pressure report will inform discussions at the Future of Construction Summit 2026. (Image: FuturePlace) Delivery certainty is emerging as a key priority for leaders across Australia’s construction and infrastructure sector, according to a new report by FuturePlace, the organisers of the annual Future of Construction Summit. Record project pipelines are colliding with persistent labour shortages, rising input costs, tighter capital discipline, increasing sustainability requirements and long‑standing productivity challenges. While none of these pressures are new in isolation, their combined impact is reshaping how projects are delivered. The reality facing the industry today is not simply higher costs; it is increasing difficulty in delivering projects at all. Margins for error have narrowed. Tolerance for delays, cost overruns and fragmented delivery models is disappearing across government, investors and boards. In this environment, traditional approaches ...

Unbound 2026: World Tour will feature global perspectives from Bluebeam leaders. (Image: Bluebeam) Bluebeam , a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals, has announced Unbound 2026: World Tour, a new global event series designed to bring AI-powered construction innovation to industry professionals in their own cities. Unbound 2026: World Tour reimagines the traditional conference experience, giving AEC teams practical insights, opportunities for peer connection and live demonstrations of the latest advancements in Bluebeam, including the newest AI-powered features in Bluebeam Max . How AI is shaping the next era of construction As AI reshapes how the built environment plans, designs and delivers projects, AEC firms are under pressure to move faster, collaborate and reduce risk. Attendees will see firsthand how advancements, including Bluebeam Max’s expanding toolset, are being applied in real-world workflows. Each sto...

The module is designed to keep compliance on track through a clear, repeatable checklist for each asset or work area. (Image: Elecosoft) Elecosoft has introduced a Field Evidence module within Asta Siteprogress, designed to help site teams capture, approve and report field evidence directly from mobile devices into the program. The module connects to Asta Powerproject schedules and automatically creates checkpoints where photo evidence is required. When tasks are exported, site teams receive prompts to capture geo-tagged, date and time-stamped photos, submit them for internal review and generate audit-ready PDF reports once approved. Capture points are built directly from Asta Powerproject or Vision schedules, helping ensure key items are not overlooked. Site teams are provided with a mobile task list to record photos and notes in one place. Each image is tagged with geo-location, date and time, creating a reliable audit trail. Administrators can review and approve or reject su...

The Hollow Block Effect is a counterintuitive lesson from construction history that introduces the concept of depth by subtraction. (Image: Elena/stock.adobe.com) Construction has no shortage of software options, yet performance in practice often diverges from how systems are presented during procurement, a gap explored in a new eBook by Simpel. Construction Software Unfiltered: Understanding the Difference Between Coverage and Capability examines why some systems that appear capable on the surface fall short in day-to-day use and what that costs organisations once projects are underway. At the centre of the discussion is a distinction that often goes overlooked: breadth refers to what a platform covers on the surface, while depth reflects whether it holds up reliably in complex conditions without workarounds. “Most software looks capable when you’re seeing it in a controlled demo environment,” says Simpel CEO Kurt Robinson. “The real test is how it performs when it’s rolled ou...

The acquisition expands Kennards Hire’s capacity to support large-scale projects requiring specialist compaction and earthmoving equipment. (Images: Kennards Hire) Kennards Hire has acquired Solution Plant Hire, a provider of earthmoving and compaction equipment, expanding fleet capability and strengthening its position in the civil construction and infrastructure sector. David Schurman, general manager of fleet at Kennards Hire. David Schurman, general manager of fleet at Kennards Hire, said it is a step forward for the business, increasing its capacity to service a rapidly growing market. “We’ve seen a huge rise in requests from the civil contractors sector to be supported by one company across multiple project touchpoints, and that’s where Kennards Hire comes in,” said Schurman. “The acquisition supports this demand – it’s a clear sign of our continued growth.” The acquired fleet includes 2.5 tonne double drum smooth rollers (including CAT CB2.7 and Dynapac CC1200 series),...

More than 35 industry leaders will share insights. (Image: Quest Events) The Women in Construction Summit will bring a stronger focus on practical skills, leadership capability and industry connection in 2026. Taking place in Sydney on 6 to 7 May and Melbourne on 13 to 14 May, this year’s program introduces a more interactive format, with roundtables, group problem-solving sessions, masterclasses and facilitated networking. More than 35 industry leaders will share insights, including Cathryn Greville (NAWIC) , Sandra Nilsen (BESIX Watpac), Margot Brassil (Infrastructure NSW), Kate Wingad (John Holland), Gladys Woods (Haslin Constructions), Amy Lezala (Department of Transport VIC), Sally Law (Clough), Ashley Barnes (Icon), Sinèad Redmond (GeelongPort), Christina Hung (Nacap) and Roxy Shirvani (Major Road Projects Victoria). The event will focus on: Supporting career and organisational progression across the construction sector; creating opportunities for learning, networkin...

A Payapps survey found 77 per cent of subcontractors consider a builder’s payment reputation when deciding whether to bid or price future work. (Image: Summer Paradive/stock.adobe.com) Slow and unreliable payments are influencing more than subcontractor cash flow. They are increasingly affecting how subcontractors price work, who they choose to work with, and how much risk they build into future jobs. By Ian Moss, marketing leader for Australia and New Zealand at Payapps. Recent Payapps survey data from 754 subcontractors across Australia and New Zealand highlights this issue. In the survey, 77 per cent of subcontractors said a builder’s payment reputation influences their decision to bid or price future work, while 57 per cent said they have increased rates or added a risk margin because of slow or unreliable payments. Scott Lockwood, head of customer success at Payapps. (Image: Payapps) That makes payment behaviour more than an accounts issue. It is now a commercial issue...

Gabrielle Burns, business development coordinator for New South Wales at Georgiou Group. (Images: Georgiou Group) Gabrielle Burns is forging a career at the front end of construction. As business development coordinator for New South Wales at Georgiou Group, she focuses on understanding markets, building relationships and identifying emerging opportunities. It is a role that demands a wide lens and a strong sense of timing. That broader view of construction was not always obvious, but it is now central to how Burns approaches her career. Earlier impressions of the industry were far narrower. Construction itself was never unfamiliar to her, with both her father and grandfather working as engineers. However, as it was presented at school and university, the industry felt limited in scope and removed from the skills she enjoyed using most. Raised in Gerringong, south of Sydney, Burns gravitated toward language, writing and communication rather than maths or science. With no fixed d...

Problematic leadership behaviour must be addressed early, as warning signs are often ignored. (Image: Dusan Petkovic/stock.adobe.com) Simon Wood of Seedling Leadership is calling on the construction industry to address behaviour that is too often normalised. By Simon Wood, managing director of Seedling Leadership . “That’s just the way it is in construction.” This is a phrase I have heard repeatedly over years of leadership consultancy, workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions with leaders across major infrastructure projects and construction business units. It surfaces in conversations about managerial behaviour and its links to culture, engagement and retention – the human factors. It is often delivered with a defeated sigh and a shrug, as if to suggest that nothing can be done and that construction is somehow different to every other industry. In practice, this sentiment becomes shorthand for a pattern of behaviours: senior leaders yelling at direct reports or peers when f...