The NAWIC NSW Awards for Excellence were presented at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on Thursday 29 August 2019.
Among the winners were Madeleine Blanchfield for her disappearing Kangaroo Valley Outhouse design, and Brooke Emmett of Fulton Hogan for her impressive project leadership of the Newell Highway upgrade in far northern NSW.
Emmett, winner of the Probuild Award for Project Manager of the Year award, oversaw more than 150 staff and subcontractors from commencement to completion. She was praised for encouraging her team to “work hard, work smart and maintain safety”, her “engagement with local Indigenous communities” which saw her surpass minimum employment requirements, and for reducing overall construction time by 25 per cent.
For her mirrored outhouse nestled among the vegetation, architect Madeleine Blanchfield was awarded the Hassell Award for Innovation in Design prize. The judges described the project as “small but beautifully executed… [meeting] a functional brief in an unexpected way, creating a magical and ethereal experience”.
Diana Jones received the MPA Award for Achievement in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout
award for her role as project manager of the $80 million upgrade of the Bank of China’s Sydney office.
Jones was praised her innovative procurement strategies and for juggling 28 consultant disciplines in a live tenant environment.
The John Holland Award for Team Innovation went to Multiplex’s HR team led by Caitriona Comerford, Rachel Surgeon, Belinda Abbott and Naomi McGrath.
Under their guidance – and confirmed by six years’ worth of data – flexible work options across 21 NSW projects has increased by 39 per cent. Multiplex’s chief executive officer John Flecker described this improvement as “the single most impactful change we have implemented for all employees”.
Melanie Kurzydlo of Growthbuilt received the Lendlease Crystal Vision Award for her contribution to the advancement of the interest of women in the construction industry.
Kurzydlo was the first woman to join Growthbuilt’s executive leadership team and has since been recognised for her influence as a champion for diversity, particularly through her association with Sydney schools, universities and allied industry bodies.
NAWIC Awards for Excellence for the remaining states and territories will be presented over the coming months.
Full list of NSW NAWIC Awards for Excellence winners
Transport for NSW Tradesperson Scholarship
Winner: Aurora Hartshorn, AXIS Plumbing NSW
Merit: Fatima Bertolini, Planet Plumbing NSW Pty Ltd
Probuild Award for Project Manager of the Year
Winner: Brooke Emmett, Fulton Hogan
CBP Award for Contribution to Sustainability
Winner: Amanda Visser, The Star Entertainment Group
Roberts Pizzarotti Award for Contribution to a Project’s Development
Winner: Natalie Borozan, Multiplex
Merit: Natasha Devlin, Investa
Acoustic Logic Scholarship for Future Leaders
Winner: Camille Sevestre, Turner & Townsend
MPA Award for Achievement in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout
Winner: Diana Jones
Hassell Award for Innovation in Design
Winner: Madeleine Blanchfield, Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Merit: Rebecca Deegan, Hansen Yuncken
Laing O’Rourke Business Woman of the Year
Winner: Rowenna Walker, Aurecon
John Holland Award for Team Innovation
Winner: Caitriona Comerford, Rachel Surgeon, Belinda Abbott and Naomi McGrath, Multiplex
Merit: Timnit Tessema, Vanessa Lesicnik, Harshaa Raha and Aleksandra Rakic, Multiplex
Merit: Delivery Coordination Team, Stockland
CBRE University Scholarship
Winner: Vanessa Lesicnik, Multiplex
Merit: Kara McCormick, CPB Contractors
Lendlease Crystal Vision Award for Advancing the Interests of Women in the Construction Industry
Winner: Melanie Kurzydlo, Growthbuilt
Great to see Kara receive a Merit Award for the University Scholarship. Kara is a WSU student.