General Manager Victoria and Tasmania, Scott Knight joined IDD Tech Chief Technology Officer, Claudelle Taylor, BMD Group National General Manager of Strategy, Colin Mitchell, QBCC Commissioner, Angelo Lambrinos and NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville on a panel led by IFS Managing Director Paul Butterworth at FCON26 Future of Construction Summit last week.
Hosted in Brisbane, these industry leaders came together to discuss what must be done to realise the opportunities presented by the growing pipeline of work over the next decade.
Workforce
Recruiting, training and retaining talent is not a new challenge, but it is urgent. Angelo shared that just 6% of the 130,000-strong workforce in Queensland is under 30, and with 40% due to retire in the next 5-10 years, immediate action is required.
Scott added that in Victoria alone, approximately 2,000 apprentices are needed in the electrical sector to meet demand from active data centre and transmission projects.
“These are projects that data centre developers and hyperscalers are looking to roll out in the immediate future, at the same time as the pipeline of Victorian Transmission projects. We are working to ensure we have sufficient linespeople and specialist electricians available to deliver on the pipeline of work. That's why at CPB Contractors we're addressing entry pathways to bring more young people into the industry through our school apprenticeship programs and education partnerships with TAFE and universities."
The panel also identified opportunities to attract near-retirement workers into teaching roles at TAFE. It highlighted a UK pilot program that re-engages recent retirees to mentor and train younger workers, demonstrating a practical approach to harnessing their valuable experience to strengthen future workforce capability and development.
Rework
With rework estimated to account for 5–10% of project delivery costs, Claudelle outlined how IDD Tech is tackling this challenge head-on.
“We’ve developed software that enables teams to visualise and optimise design and construction sequences before building begins. This allows us to identify and eliminate waste in a virtual environment, then educate the project team on the most efficient delivery approach.
“By aligning contractors, subcontractors and clients early, teams can validate design decisions, improve safety outcomes, and reduce inefficiencies before work begins on site.”
Future state
With a growing pipeline and rapid technological change, the panel explored how the industry can lift productivity, with Scott reinforcing the importance of digital integration across the entire project lifecycle.
“We are working to increase adoption of technology across all areas of our businesses. At CPB Contractors, we are maximising the use of digital across design, construction, supply chain and our workforce, with integration across systems and stakeholders key. Training and education is paramount and it's important we bring our clients and the supply chain along the journey.”
Colin echoed the importance of continued investment in people in addressing workforce challenges: “We must keep investing in our workforce and developing leadership capability. The people we invest in today will be the ones delivering this pipeline in five to ten years.”