Next steps: how do we improve the productivity of infrastructure delivery in Australia?

Ed McCann

Ed is an experienced project director and is the Immediate Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was fundamental in growing Expedition from a startup to Building Magazine’s Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2012. As a senior director at Expedition, Ed provides invaluable leadership and experience to our organisation.

He is technical, an excellent communicator, enthusiastic, and has a deep understanding of the construction process. He is particularly skilled in strategic consultancy, feasibility studies, and design.

Ed’s career has taken him to lead projects all over the world. He was the project director for the multi award-winning Infinity Bridge and the Olympic 2012 Velodrome. Environmental factors and efficiency are drivers for Ed’s current projects that see him work with infrastructure clients to improve processes and implement new technologies. Projects include creating and delivering a productivity workstream for HS2, designing the Rolls-Royce SMR Program Site Factory for BAM Nuttall, and helping develop the Berkeley Homes modular housing system.

Ed is a founder trustee and trustee board member, former chair of the USL Board.

He is passionate about developing talent in the industry with quality training and education, a passion that led him to become the co-creator of the Constructionarium. This non profit organisation delivers education and training to students and professionals across the built environment sector. He is also co-founder of the Get It Right Initiative which aims to reduce errors in the industry.

As a respected thought leader, Ed is often invited to speak at various events, write articles, and deliver lectures, and has also made television programmes on civil engineering.

Alex Katsanos

Alex is a management consultant and advisor on policy, with 24 years of international experience, in the infrastructure space. His expertise focuses on public sector policy, operational improvement, capital planning, Smart City and data strategy, sustainability and procurement excellence.

Over the course of his career, Alex has worked across most infrastructure sub-sectors, both for government and private clients in East Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. For the past decade, his focus has largely centred on Hong Kong and Greater China, where his intimate understanding of these markets will be instrumental in driving Aurecon’s growth.

Louise Santos

Louise specialises in the infrastructure sector and has experience advising developers and contractors on complex projects, including PPPs, in Australia and the UK. She advises clients on complex tenders for the design, construction and maintenance of projects procured through a wide variety of methodologies.

Jon Davies

Jon has been passionate about construction since he was given his first Lego set.

After 30 years working in contract and commercial roles with contractors on three continents, Jon is keen to use his experience to drive positive change in the industry he loves.

Kate West

Kate West is the co-chair of Arup in Australasia.

Kate began her career as an engineering graduate with Arup in Perth in 2000, experiencing many disciplines within the firm under the graduate development program. She decided to pursue structural engineering as her core skill and has continued to build a successful career spanning more than 20 years.

She is a member of the Australasia Region Board. Kate’s highlight projects include the Perth Airport T1 International Departures Expansion, Perth Airport Terminal 1 Domestic, and the new METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook rail line in Perth.

Julie Wood

Julie is vice president of the Institution of Civil Engineers.  

She is a director of Mott MacDonald, joining in 2024, where she leads complex programmes and projects. She is currently the technical services and delivery director for the Interim Delivery Partner on the National Hospital Programme.  

Prior to this she was a director at Arup and major projects specialist leading large multi-disciplinary teams across organisations for over 20 years - with 10 years in an executive position with profit and loss responsibility for a c£40m business in Arup. Major projects include TransPennine Upgrade, HS2 Euston Station and The Francis Crick Institute.

She is Chartered Fellow of the ICE, an Honorary Fellow of the Association of Project Management. In 2020 she was made a Freeman of the City of London and in 2021 she was recognised as one of the top 50 Women in Industry (WES). Additionally with over 18 years of non-executive board experience across a number of sectors. 

Peter Colacino

Peter is the project strategy and transformation lead for Mott MacDonald in NSW, and brings close to 20 years of experience in public policy, including as the Chief of Policy and Research at Infrastructure Australia. He oversaw the delivery of the key documents for the future of the Australian infrastructure sector, including the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit and the Infrastructure Market Capacity Program.

Most recently he has been involved with supporting the implementation of transformational sector policy supporting agencies including Northern River Reconstruction Corporation, Infrastructure WA, Inland Rail and Unity Water.

Peter is also the NEC Contract Australia New Zealand Ambassador, an ICE Enabling Better Infrastructure working group member and works closey with the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership.