Building Tomorrow

Society of Construction Law Australia
  • 4.7 (35)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Building Tomorrow is a show exploring the biggest issues in the Australian construction landscape by having real conversations with the people behind the scenes shaping the industry.

  1. How contracts shape culture in construction, with Kiri Parr

    38 MINS AGO

    How contracts shape culture in construction, with Kiri Parr

    Kiri Parr is a construction lawyer and industry commentator focused on how procurement, contracting and risk allocation shape behaviour in the construction sector. In this episode, Kiri unpacks why “culture” in construction can’t be fixed in isolation - because structures drive culture. She explains how risk-shifting D&C contracts reward time-and-cost decision-making over quality and safety, suppress technical innovation, and reduce owners’ technical capability. Kiri also challenges the role lawyers have normalised as “risk goons”, arguing we’re trained in failure rather than success. Finally, she shares practical lenses for better outcomes, from behavioural science to complex systems thinking, and why collaborative contracting offers a path to a better industry. Resources and links: Kiri Parr on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/kiriparr Kiri Parr Advisory website: https://kiriparr.com/ Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  2. Amending Less, Building More: Why Australia Needs Truly Standard Contracts, with Adam Perl

    9 MAR

    Amending Less, Building More: Why Australia Needs Truly Standard Contracts, with Adam Perl

    Adam Perl is a construction partner at Pinsent Masons and a leading voice in construction law reform. In this episode, Adam unpacks the structural drivers behind Australia’s high infrastructure and construction costs. The conversation explores the industry’s productivity challenges, the consequences of lowest-price tendering, and why Australia’s unit costs are among the highest globally. Adam also examines how extensive amendments to standard contracts contribute to complexity, inefficiency, and disputes. He discusses whether greater contract standardisation could improve productivity and enable better outcomes for public infrastructure investment, alongside the governance and institutional barriers that have slowed reform. Resources and links:Adam Perl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-p-8a922a14/Pinsent Masons website: https://www.pinsentmasons.com/ Connect:The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
  3. Why late payment still drives so many construction disputes

    23 FEB

    Why late payment still drives so many construction disputes

    Blake Frost is a Partner at HopgoodGanim, where he leads the firm’s Construction practice. In this episode, Blake explores why late payment remains at the heart of many construction disputes. He also unpacks the Queensland security of payment regime, explains how extended timeframes and jurisdictional error challenges have shifted adjudication away from its original purpose, and examines the growing intersection between construction law and insolvency. Blake also shares practical reform ideas - from faster adjudication to rethinking payment in arrears - and reflects on how smarter payment practices could improve project outcomes across the industry. Resources and links: Blake Frost on LinkedIn Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  4. Delivering safe offshore wind projects, with Kelly-Ann Ee

    9 FEB

    Delivering safe offshore wind projects, with Kelly-Ann Ee

    Kelly-Ann Ee is the Head of Health, Safety and Environment at Star of the South, bringing more than a decade of experience working across offshore wind projects in global markets. In this episode, Kelly-Ann unpacks why safety culture is such a critical part of delivering complex energy infrastructure. The conversation explores the challenges of applying consistent safety standards across different markets and the role of data and innovation in improving outcomes. Kelly-Ann also discusses workforce diversity, including the importance of gender representation, and how blending local culture with global best practice can strengthen safety in the offshore wind sector. Resources and links: Kelly-Ann Ee on LinkedIn Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min
  5. Limiting Liability for Faulty Tender Information: Is there a better way? With Lucas Shipway

    26 JAN

    Limiting Liability for Faulty Tender Information: Is there a better way? With Lucas Shipway

    Lucas Shipway is a Barrister at Greenway Chambers, with a practice focused on construction and infrastructure disputes. In this episode, Lucas breaks down his presentation "Limiting Liability for Faulty Tender Information: Is there a better way?". He covers the Sydney Light Rail's $500 million dispute over undisclosed utilities, how government disclaimers fail to protect against misleading conduct claims, and recommendations for more transparent and collaborative tender processes to reduce disputes.   Resources and links: Greenway Chambers on LinkedIn Lucas Shipway on LinkedIn   Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  6. Is Queensland ready to rethink liability, with Emily Ng

    12 JAN

    Is Queensland ready to rethink liability, with Emily Ng

    Emily Ng is Special Counsel in the Construction, Infrastructure, and Projects team at Holding Redlich, where she advises on the full project lifecycle for major energy, resources, and infrastructure developments. In this episode, Emily discusses the struggle of achieving work-life balance, particularly as a new mother in the industry. She unpacks Queensland’s proportionate liability regime and why she believes its current prohibition on contracting out is worth rethinking. Finally, Emily also breaks down the High Court’s Tesseract decision, exploring how it affects proportionate liability in arbitration and the strategies parties should consider moving forward.  Resources and links: Emily Ng on Linkedin   Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
  7. Reforming construction law for consistency, with Sean Kelly

    29/12/2025

    Reforming construction law for consistency, with Sean Kelly

    Sean Kelly is a Partner at Clayton Utz. Sean focuses on major projects and construction, and he has extensive experience in project delivery and dispute resolution. In this episode, Sean takes us through significant changes in construction law. He discusses the rationale for the changes, the nationwide discrepancies in adjudication, and how the excluded amounts regime seeks to address them. Sean also leaves us with important clarifications on how the laws will be applied, who they will apply to, and to what extent.   Resources and links: Clayton Utz on LinkedIn Sean Kelly on LinkedIn   Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    56 min
  8. How lawyers and engineers can work together better, with Dr. Paul Tracey

    15/12/2025

    How lawyers and engineers can work together better, with Dr. Paul Tracey

    Dr Paul Tracey is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School. Paul teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in construction law, as well as leading the Construction Law and Practice programme at the University of Salford. In this episode, Dr Tracey explores Cross-cultural collaboration. He breaks down how a power station project in Gaza became the catalyst for his research, compares Australian culture with other cultures, and gives advice on how to better prepare students for collaborating with people from different cultures.   Resources and links: University of Melbourne website    Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
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4.7
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Building Tomorrow is a show exploring the biggest issues in the Australian construction landscape by having real conversations with the people behind the scenes shaping the industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Society of Construction Law Australia
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Society of Construction Law Australia
  • Show Website
    Building Tomorrow

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