Building Tomorrow

Dr Carly Shrever is a lawyer, psychologist and empirical researcher. Sally Ryan is a psychologist and family therapist. Both are Directors at Human Ethos, which helps lawyers experience greater satisfaction and wellbeing in their work.  In this episode, Carly and Sally unpack stress and burnout in high-pressure industries like construction and law. Speaking with host Maona Matanda, the duo explores why stress isn’t always harmful, how burnout develops, and why “busyness” culture can mask early warning signs. The conversation also offers practical strategies – from managing self-talk and setting boundaries to recognising physical and emotional red flags – and highlights leaders’ roles in fostering psychologically safe workplaces.  If this episode raises issues for you, or if you need to speak to somebody, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636.  Resources and links: Sally Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-ryan-b320b995/   Carly Schrever on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-schrever-phd-b0034642/   Human Ethos: https://www.humanethos.com.au/   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.

In this special episode ahead of the 2026 SoCLA National Conference in Sydney, this episode features four speakers from our most recent conference in Brisbane. In the first interview Cara North and Eleanor Clifford unpack their Brooking Prize winning paper exploring multi-party and multi-contract arbitrations and how the High Court’s decision in Tesseract changes risk allocation. Next, keynote speaker Sean Brady, reflects on the Challenger space shuttle disaster and highlights the lessons it can teach modern organisations about risk, safety systems and speaking up. Finally, academic Wayne Jocic explores how a principal’s unilateral power to extend time may affect contractors’ delay claims, and reflects on the relationship between academia and practice in construction law. Eleanor Clifford is an Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Cara North is a Special Counsel at Ashurst. At the time of recording Cara was a Special Counsel at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. As the winners of the 2024 Brooking Prize, Cara and Eleanor were invited to present paper at the 2025 SoCLA National Conference. The Society offers the Brooking Prize annually for the best essay submitted in the field of construction law. It is named after The Hon Robert Brooking AO KC in recognition of his Honour’s pioneering contribution to the study and practice of construction law in Australia.   Sean Brady is a forensic engineer and the Managing Director of Brady Heywood. Sean is also a director of the Society of Construction Law Australia. Wayne Jocic is Associate Professor and Co-Director of Studies at Melbourne Law School. Resources and links: All conference papers are available free to SoCLA members at scl.org.au. Cara North on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-north-76601332/ Eleanor Clifford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-clifford-4b33b4145/ Sean Brady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-brady-11a95427/ Corrs Chambers Westgarth website: https://www.corrs.com.au/ Brady Heywood Pty Ltd website: https://www.bradyheywood.com.au/ Melbourne Law School website: https://law.unimelb.edu.au/ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

James Macdonald is a Senior Associate for Dispute Resolution at Ashurst. Ashurst is a global law firm built and run on the primary motivation of staying ahead and driving innovation. In this episode, James talks about his paper, From Blueprints to Bytes: The Legal Implications of AI in Construction. You’ll hear him discuss the current state of AI within the Australian construction industry, the struggle of shifting traditional legal clauses to keep pace with AI, and the risks that misuse of AI tools will pose to the industry.   Resources and links: Ashurst Website James Macdonald 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.

Kevin Porter is an Anthropologist and Culture Change Consultant who has extensively studied the Australian construction industry. Kevin has spent his career studying human behaviour and providing leaders with the information they need to make choices, grow their businesses, and improve workplace culture. In this episode, Kevin explains the concept of culture from an anthropological perspective and describes his observations from his time embedded in the construction industry. He outlines how companies often have contradictory stated principles and practices, which can lead to significant physical and psychological harm for the employees, as well as major issues for the business. Kevin also emphasises that any industry can change its culture, but it has to put in the work.   Mental health support: This episode contains discussions about suicide and mental health. In the event of an emergency, dial 000. For other mental health support, please visit your local hospital emergency department or contact the following support services: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/   Resources and links: Kevin Porter 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.

Earlier this year at the annual Society of Construction Law Australia conference in Brisbane, we caught up with panellists and moderators from around Australia to discuss the biggest issues in the industry today. Mia Timpano is a former journalist and final-year law student who describes herself as a “construction law enthusiast”.Harris Ashton is a Legal Research Officer at VCAT and the winner of the 2024 student Brooking Prize for his paper ‘Illegality and Quantum Meruit in Residential Construction Law.’ Michael Bleby is the Deputy Property Editor at The Australian Financial Review and has written extensively about property and construction for more than a decade. In this episode, Mia discusses how lawyers can incorporate AI into their workflows to work smarter without compromising the fundamental skills necessary for success. Harris explains how illegal contracts leave homeowners vulnerable in the event of problems and what needs to be done to prevent people from agreeing to dodgy deals. Finally, Michael shares his thoughts about how to deliver the necessary infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.   Resources and links: Michael Bleby on LinkedIn Harris Ashton on LinkedIn Mia Timpano website   Connect: Society of Construction Law Australia website 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.

The Stynes Address is the Society of Construction Law Australia’s annual high-profile lecture related to the practice of law and the construction industry. This is the inaugural address given in 2023 by SoCLA’s patron, Justice Katie Stynes, after whom the address has been named. In 2023 Justice Stynes talked to us about the procedural reforms she is leading from her role as judge in charge of the Technology, Engineering and Construction List of the Victorian Supreme Court. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stepping back from a process to see the complex interactions happening between all of the parties can lead to insights that could prevent potentially catastrophic consequences. The failure of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University led to 6 fatalities. In this talk, Sean explore the failures in the design, peer review and construction phases of the project, and the need for investigations to look into organisational causes of failure as well as the technical causes. Sean Brady, Managing Director, Brady Heywood Pty Ltd https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-brady-11a95427/ If you’d like to learn more about complexity then be sure and check out Sean’s Simplifying Complexity Podcast at: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/simplifying-complexity/id1651582236 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SfqApqNW3wNXcg2E7etij This podcast is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should always obtain legal advice about your specific circumstances. The views expressed in these podcasts are the speakers' own. They should not be taken as recommendations of the Society of Construction Law Australia. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past, present and future of collaborative contracting models. One of the audience-selected highlights of our national conference “Getting Risk Right”, held in Hobart, Tasmania in May 2022. Sean Kelly and Yazmin Judd focus on the results of an anonymous industry survey which was completed by public and private sector employees, lawyers, engineers, consultants, contractors and subcontractors. Sean Kelly, Special Counsel https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-kelly-450296a4/ Sean is a commercial lawyer specialising in the construction and infrastructure sectors. He acts for local and international clients regarding claims and dispute resolution on complex construction and infrastructure projects. Sean is also a guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne, and presents at seminars and conferences on developments in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Yazmin Judd, Lawyer https://www.linkedin.com/in/yazmin-judd-b3b049149/ Clayton Utz https://www.claytonutz.com/ Clayton Utz is a leading Australian law firm with a confident and engaging approach, and a genuine commitment to client service. This podcast is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should always obtain legal advice about your specific circumstances. The views expressed in these podcasts are the speakers' own. They should not be taken as recommendations of the Society of Construction Law Australia. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the opening I introduced that the Horizon software was the main deliverable of a billion pound PFI project let by the Post Office. The contract was awarded in May 1996 to Fujitsu who won the job because of their winning offer to bear the software development costs in exchange for 8 years guaranteed transaction fee every time a customer of the Department of Social Service used their new swipe card in a Post Office. It doesn’t take long for the deal and the software to go off the rails. How on earth did this come about and why is it such a hard lesson for us to learn that it can be the technology at fault, not user error. Source Material Nick Wallis, ‘The Great Post Office Scandal’, 2021, Bath Publishing. Paul Marshall, ‘Failed Justice - how commercial interest displaced the interests of justice in the Post Office case’, 30 March 2022, Queen’s University Belfast, Institute of Legal Studies Disclaimer This podcast is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should always obtain legal advice about your specific circumstances. The views expressed in these podcasts are the speakers' own. They should not be taken as recommendations of the Society of Construction Law Australia. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.