Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

The Ranger Super Duty offers 4,500kg gross vehicle mass, 4,500kg maximum braked towing, and 8,000kg gross combined mass. (Images: Ford Motor Company) Ford has introduced the Ranger Super Duty, a new mid-size pickup designed for demanding commercial applications such as construction, infrastructure and resource projects. Built to carry, tow and work harder, it combines rugged components with familiar Ranger technology, including driver assist and safety features. It is expected to compete with other workhorse favourites across Australia’s mid-size and light commercial segment, particularly on job sites and remote projects. “We listened to what the hardest working fleet operators told us they needed to be more productive, and we’ve developed a Ranger with heavy-duty hardware and enhanced capability to stay on the job longer and help get it done sooner,” says Jim Baumbick, vice president, advanced product development, cycle planning and programs at Ford Motor Company. “We are taking...

NAWIC Allyship in Action project manager Mark Morris (left), Holmesglen Institute dean of building, construction, design and electrotechnology Elizabeth Jansz, Australian Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles, and NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville at the Community of Practice event. (Images: NAWIC) The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is bringing men into the conversation on gender equality with its $5 million Allyship in Action project. By Cathryn Greville, CEO of NAWIC. As the recipient of one of 10 Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program Stream One grants announced in February, NAWIC is pleased to confirm that we are well on our way to getting our Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women project up and running. NAWIC was awarded a $5 million grant from the Federal Government’s flagship BWC Program for its innovative project designed to engage specifically with men in the construction sector. The funding supports the rollout of...

From workshops to real-world scenarios, Komatsu apprentices put safety into practice during Safety Week. (Images: Komatsu) At Komatsu, building a strong safety culture starts on day one. That is why each year the company runs a dedicated Safety Week for first- and third-year apprentices across all trades, delivering practical, engaging training that goes beyond the basics. The aim is to equip apprentices with the tools, knowledge and mindset to make safety second nature – not just during their apprenticeship, but throughout their careers. Kate Pemberton, national apprentice development manager at Komatsu, says Safety Week is a key investment in people. “Safety Week allows us to deliver essential safety concepts in a way that’s interactive, relatable and most importantly, memorable,” says Pemberton. “We want safety to be something our apprentices live and breathe – not just something they tick off a checklist.” First-year apprentices take part in a comprehensive program that co...

Women in Trades program participants built timber planter boxes from scratch. (Images: NexGen) It’s easy to say that trades are for everyone. But for many young women, that message still isn’t landing. The Women in Trades program run by NexGen is working to change that. By Lauren Fahey, executive director at NexGen. In the April school holidays, NexGen and CathWest Innovation College hosted 22 young women, who took part in a fully funded Women in Trades program. It wasn’t a classroom lecture or a careers’ talk. It was tools, engines and real-world skills. It was delivered in a way that made construction feel not only possible, but powerful. By Lauren Fahey, executive director at NexGen. The first day was a deep dive into carpentry, and from the first swing of the hammer, something shifted. The girls built timber planter boxes from scratch, mastering tools many had never touched before. More than that, they got a taste of what it feels like to make something with their hands a...

Visibuild isn’t just built by the industry, for the industry – it’s built with it. (Image: Visibuild) Already bridging the gap between quality and construction, Visibuild is now closing the loop on post-completion defect management. “It is not just built for the industry – but with it.” This principle has shaped every stage of Visibuild’s evolution, and its latest offering – the post-completion defects module – is no exception. Construction teams have long relied on Visibuild to track quality from planning through to completion. But once a project reaches handover, defects liability period (DLP) teams are often left navigating a disjointed process, managing hundreds, if not thousands, of issues without access to historical quality data from construction. Renee Phelan, co-founder and chief design officer at Visibuild, saw the challenge firsthand. “Teams were coming to us, asking for a better way to manage the influx of defects after construction,” says Phelan. “They were piecing...

ReGen 2025 will spotlight circular solutions at the ICC Sydney. (Image: Diversified Australia) Expanding on the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo, ReGen 2025 arrives in Sydney to shape the future of circular construction and sustainable innovation. For the construction sector, the need to minimise waste and adopt sustainable practices is no longer a future aspiration, but a present-day operational reality. To effectively navigate this transition, industry professionals will come together at ReGen 2025. Taking place at the ICC Sydney on 23-24 July, ReGen is an initiative from Diversified Australia. The event marks an evolution, building on the foundation of the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo and incorporating the Circularity conference, a program from Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub. ReGen 2025 connects attendees with the innovators, solutions and knowledge shaping sustainable building practices in Australia. Ali Lawes, event director, says it will tur...

Ian Fraser, chair of the GHD board. (Image: GHD) Global professional services firm GHD has appointed a new chair, marking a leadership transition as it looks ahead to its centenary in 2028. Ian Fraser steps into the role following the retirement of Rob Knott, who has chaired the board since 2017. Fraser brings more than 30 years’ experience in environmental and engineering consulting. Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, he was most recently GHD’s CEO for the Asia-Pacific region, overseeing operations across Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. His project experience spans the Pacific, Southeast Asia, the United States, South America and Mexico. “It’s an immense honour to take over as chair as GHD approaches its centenary in 2028,” said Fraser. “I am focused on the continued evolution of our business, driven by our commitment to our clients and our investment in developing the outstanding technical capabilities of our people.” Related st...