Queenslanders must learn to 'walk and chew gum', finding new ways to fast-track the building of major infrastructure, and support trade skills development, as the world looks to invest in its newest Olympic city, the QUT Business Leaders' Forum has heard.
A leader in the Australian construction industry, Josephine Sukkar AM shared her leadership journey and discussed the future of the construction industry with more than 300 Queensland business professionals at The Star Brisbane.
"You've got to do due diligence, but the time government would typically take to make their decisions and for bureaucrats to do it … they're not going to have that time," the Buildcorp co-owner and Principal said.
She said 'quick and brave decisions' by government and bureaucrats would be needed to ensure project delivery ahead of the Games in 2032, including reassessing the need for a tender process.
"We're not doing a single job in Queensland where we have to tender for it," she said.
"We're still tendering in New South Wales, we're still tendering in Victoria, but not here.
"There are huge capital inflows coming into Australia for property and it always used to be mostly for Sydney and Melbourne, but now it is Sydney and Brisbane. So they are interested in investing, particularly with the Olympics and that's kind of fantastic."
Ms Sukkar has a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of New South Wales and worked as a science teacher before establishing Buildcorp in 1990 with her husband Tony.
The Australian construction company now employs 570 staff and has completed more than 3000 projects totalling $9 billion. It has also set up the Buildcorp Foundation to provide mental health support for an industry that employs 9.5 per cent of all Australian workers.
With so much construction work in the pipeline for Queensland, Ms Sukkar also challenged the state to reposition the value of trades to ensure a legacy workforce to continue building Queensland after the 2032 Games.
"What if the legacy of the Games was more than just big shiny new buildings," she said. "If we unleashed another 40,000 tradespeople into South East Queensland? There are other ways to think about legacy."
Ms Sukkar also spoke about political legacy in the wake of the recent federal election and the need to encourage a new generation of Australians into politics.
"It is incumbent on citizens and corporates to say who in our community is the person who can best represent us … people who we know are genuine leaders in our community, who we trust and believe, and think are noble and good to make honourable decisions," she said.
"Often the good ones are not going to put their hands up unless they are encouraged by someone else."
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO thanked Ms Sukkar for her insights into the construction industry and said QUT was working hard to encourage a new generation of leaders to help shape the future for Queensland and the nation.
"(The QUT) Pathways to Politics for Women is continuing to produce a range of alumni who'll be leaders in the future," Professor Sheil said. "And they really are trying to draw on the sort of individuals that Josephine referred to, those who haven't thought about politics as a career. They will be shaping the future."
The QUT Business Leaders' Forum welcomed three new sponsors to the program for 2025: QIC, The Star Brisbane and Green Beacon Brewing Co.
The organisations join a distinguished group of existing sponsors whose support brings world-class leaders to the Brisbane stage for insightful discussions on today's leadership challenges.
The next QUT Business Leaders' Forum will held on 24 June, featuring Dig Howitt, CEO and President of Cochlear Ltd, a $17 billion ASX-listed global powerhouse in hearing technology.
