Connecting government with the construction industry to communicate the NSW government’s plans for environmental sustainability in construction.

Client

Infrastructure NSW

Challenge

The LKB Agency was approached by Infrastructure NSW in 2022 to deliver the Sustainability in Construction Forum.

The forum needed to bring together government, industry and subject matter experts to discuss the NSW Government’s approach to embodied carbon in construction, and the government’s plans for environmental sustainability in construction.

One of the main goals of the event was to facilitate dialogue and encourage discussion between government and industry. LKB provided advice on the structure of the event so that participants could have effective and productive conversations through a Q&A session with the Hon Rob Stokes, the then Minister for Infrastructure of New South Wales and key industry representatives, as well as networking opportunities.

Strategy

LKB designed and delivered an in-person full day forum at NSW Parliament House that brought together leaders in the construction industry. The event was delivered in a hybrid format and was livestreamed and remote participants were able to ask questions via the platform, Slido.

Guests heard insights from the Hon Rob Stokes, the then Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport and presentations from industry experts Hugh Durrant-Whyte (NSW Chief Scientist) in conversation, Dr Heinz Schandl (CSIRO) and Davina Rooney (Green Building Council of Australia).

The forum also included a panel discussion with the following industry experts.

• • Dr Kerry Schott AO, Chair, NSW Net Zero Emissions and Clean Energy Board
  • Pamela Henderson, Executive Director Technical Services, Transport for NSW
  • Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO FTSE, UNSW
  • Peter Morley, Project Director at Atlassian Central, Dexus

The panel discussion explored themes relating to embodied carbon in construction including calculators and rating schemes, driving change, supply chain and growing capability to tackle embodied emissions.

Guests then had the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session with the panellists, followed by a networking session, both  facilitating collaboration and discussion. LKB managed Slido to ensure that guests joining via live stream had the option to participate in the discussion.

The forum successfully opened conversations on how NSW can achieve a carbon neutral construction industry.