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We’ve moved! 

Team Taylor is working from our new Headquarters – L16 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney.

Taylor offices will be closed from Friday 22 December 2022, reopening Monday 9 January 2023.  

Now in its 7th year, Sydney Build is the best-attended construction event in Australia, offering 300+ accredited presentations, 500+ exhibitors and incredible networking opportunities for Australia’s architecture, engineering and infrastructure industries.  

Guest speakers Adam Vassallo, Senior Project Manager, Clare Bailey, Head of Marketing, and Cain Slater, Chief Operating Officer at KARI will join industry experts, exploring ‘The Renaissance of Public Spaces’ and ‘Reconciliation in Construction.’ Tickets are free, however spaces are limited – be sure to register and confirm your attendance before they run out. 

Adam Vassallo, Senior Project Manager – ‘The Renaissance of Public Spaces’ 

During his 13 years with Taylor, Adam has successfully led or worked on many completed projects around the Sydney metropolitan area. His keen eye for detail ensures his projects are completed to the highest possible standard. In 2020, Adam won the prestigious Professional Excellence Award in the AIB National Professional Excellence in Building & Construction Awards.  

Adam will be joining Tony Lavorato, Design Director, Structures – Aurecon and Nicole Robinson, Senior Manager, Planning & Design – Infrastructure NSW on the Sydney Build Main Stage from 4.00pm on 6 March 2023, for an invigorating panel discussion. 

Learn more about this session here. 

Clare Bailey, Head of Marketing, and Cain Slater, Chief Operating Officer at KARI – ‘Reconciliation in Construction’ 

A recognised industry leader in brand and design whose global experience spans multiple sectors, Clare is passionate driver of diversity and culture initiatives, as Reconciliation Action Plan Chair and steering group member for Taylor’s Women in Construction program and ESG strategy.  

Clare will be joined by Cain Slater, a proud Aboriginal man who has dedicated his career to driving positive change. As the Chief Operating Officer of the KARI Foundation, Australia’s largest Aboriginal charity, Cain is responsible for leading the organisation’s work in Aboriginal procurement, economic development and community empowerment.  

Leading the ‘Reconciliation in Construction’ panel discussion, Clare and Cain will discuss a variety of topics, exploring the key role partnerships play in delivering meaningful, outcomes-focussed corporate Reconciliation Action Plans.  

Learn more about this session here. 

Campbelltown Hospital delivers quality healthcare to residents in the Macarthur region, providing a range of services including cardiology, maternity, gynaecology, palliative care, respiratory and stroke medicine, surgery and emergency medicine, and aged-care services. We are delighted to share that our Refurbishment and Live Environments division has been appointed to deliver the Refurbishment Works Package 3, as part of the Campbelltown Hospital Stage 2 redevelopment.  

This will be the second refurbishment package undertaken by Taylor as part of the Campbelltown Hospital Stage 2 redevelopment. The package of works will expand and enhance the existing Renal Department, provide an additional northern entrance including landscaping works, and refurbish existing buildings, services and facilities. 

Once complete, patients will benefit from the latest technology and specialist care, with works due for completion in late 2023.  

A warm congratulations to Clare Bailey, Head of Marketing, for receiving the Champion of Change Award at KARI’s 2022 Thank You Celebration. 

A passionate driver of diversity and culture initiatives at Taylor, Clare’s unwavering commitment to reconciliation and inclusivity was acknowledged in front of industry peers at the event, held at the ICC. The Champion of Change Award recognises Clare’s personal contribution to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the significant role she plays making a difference in the lives of Aboriginal peoples. 

Joining Taylor in 2020, Clare reflected on the need to build cultural capacity – particularly by continuing to strengthen business relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders in the community. Through this journey, Taylor began the process of developing their own Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), as well as establishing an ongoing relationship with Official RAP partner KARI. 

Reflecting on the evening, Clare said, “One of the best things about doing a RAP is connecting with new partners, and none have been more pivotal than KARI Foundation.  

KARI is the largest Aboriginal Charity in Australia, existing to support Aboriginal people and community through education, employment and connection to celebrate culture.  

We connected through their work with the Property Industry Foundation – since then, Casey Ralph, CEO, and Cain Slater, COO, have generously advised Taylor on our RAP. I am delighted that KARI has also become involved with us in ceremony and engagement, procurement, tender advice and volunteering opportunities for our team and the UTS Built Environment Student Association that we sponsor.  

In 2022 Taylor announced an annual $15,000 KARI/Taylor #WomenBreakingGround Scholarship to support high achieving female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue tertiary studies in Construction.” 

Congratulations, Clare, on this well-deserved recognition. You strive to embrace the strength of our differences and cultivate a sense of belonging by initiating important conversations to nurture partnerships that celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

You can learn more about Taylor’s commitment to Diversity here, and our #WomenBreakingGround Scholarship here. 

Commit. Champion. Lead. These are the underlying principles of The Property Council of Australia’s 500 Women in Property program – an initiative spearheaded by the Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Committees across Australia.  

This program involves a personal commitment from Property Council Members to identify and champion women in their organisation, with the aim of accelerating more women into leadership positions in the property industry through sponsorship of high potential talent. 

As part of this initiative, Adam Towner, Head of New Business and Strategy, sponsored Emily Carlton, People Relations Coordinator – read on to learn about Emily’s experience in the 2022 program.  

Tell us about joining the 500 Women in Property program – what was involved? 

The launch event was held in March – this was a great opportunity to connect with both participants and sponsors across the NSW property sector. My sponsor, Adam Towner, helped set me up for success by sharing his networking ‘tips and tricks’ before introducing me to his fellow Diversity and Inclusion Committee members.  

Did you receive ongoing mentorship and support throughout?  

Adam and I held regular training sessions throughout 2022. These meetings were a wonderful opportunity to discuss my goals and career development, while exploring strategies for success. I am incredibly thankful for Adam’s support and encouragement. 

What events did you attend as part of the program? 

I was invited to an array of online masterclasses focused on elevating personal strengths and attributes, as well as identifying the power of actions, mindset and behaviour in leadership. 

The first masterclass was hosted by Jane Anderson. Jane was incredibly knowledgeable…her positivity was infectious! We learnt how to leverage our personal brand, as well as strategies to implement when putting yourself ‘out there.’ Participants received free access to two of Jane’s e-books, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading. 

The second masterclass was hosted by Sonia McDonald. A key takeaway was that leadership is not a role or a title, but an attitude. Sonia had the class thoughtfully reflect on their personalities to determine personal leadership styles based on values, mindset and behaviour. 

In October, I was invited to be part of a Property Council of Australia Committee meeting. Joining the Hunter Chapter Committee, I met a mix of passionate and intelligent individuals – it was so inspiring to be involved in a discussion with people who fiercely drive equality and promote a cohesive, collaborative community.  

Taking part in the 2022 program has been a wonderful experience. I’m in awe of the influential people I’ve met, who pave the way for an equitable industry. The 500 Women in Property program fosters connection and I have no doubt it will be a valuable experience for 2023 participants.  

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Awards for Excellence celebrates the contributions made by women at all career levels and in all sectors of the construction industry. Last year, a category was added to acknowledge a male champion for change for accelerating and advancing the interests of women in the industry. 

A warm congratulations to Cassandra Zughbi, Design Manager, and George Bardas, CEO, for being recognised as finalists.  

A champion for bettering the lives and careers of women in the construction industry, Cassandra is a proud committee member of TWIC — Taylor’s Women in Construction  engagement program.

Cassandra was also the recipient of the Connecting People & Spaces Award at Taylor’s annual conference. This award is peer-selected and recognises achievement for focusing on the end-user to deliver projects that effectively connect people and spaces. 

Projects like Ingleburn Logistics Park represent a special opportunity for Taylor to honour its vision for reconciliation. 

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council Representatives Leslie Mcleod, Owen Wards and Jesse Currie held the Smoking Ceremony to cleanse the site in preparation for Stage 3’s construction, which is due for completion around March 2023.  

Uncle Leslie led a moving Traditional Smoking Ceremony on the land of the Dharawal People where attendees including Taylor’s Jerry Fanos, General Manager Industrial, and Stockland’s Tony D’Addona Executive General Manager Logistics walked the site.   

A traditional smoking ceremony marked the commencement of Charter Hall’s Horsley Drive Business Park, Buildings 2 & 3 – an industry-leading precinct located at Wetherill Park.

Guests joined La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council Representatives, Owen Wards and Jesse Currie, proud Yuin, Dharawal and Ngarigo men, to lead on the site of the new development, which is due for completion in May 2023.

The cultural tradition of a smoking ceremony is undertaken to cleanse an area, protect a build site, and show respect to Elders past and present.

Brendan Kerin from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council performed a traditional smoking ceremony at Rosebery Engine Yards, with attendees and the site smoked and cleansed for protection. This reflective and rewarding morning was a chance for attendees to reflect on the heritage and history of Rosebery Engine Yards – a development that pays homage to the past but looks boldly towards the future.   

The 11,650 square metre development is defined by a large-scale, single storey floor plate, and sits on 1.9 hectares stretching an entire block in Rosebery. It is considered one of the largest heritage brownfield developments in the area. 

Architecturally striking and cleverly refurbished, Rosebery Engine Yards will feature soaring sawtooth ceilings, retained timber framework and exposed brickworks – a collection of bespoke workspaces rooted in authenticity and reimagined for a new era.