Paralympian Kahi Puru Shares ‘Work Safe. Home Safe’ Message with Team Taylor

On 3 February 1993 at age 29, Kahi Puru was crushed in a forklift accident at work after completing a 13-hour shift. Due to the extent of his injuries, his left leg was amputated at the hip and he was hospitalised for 8 months. Drawing on the strength of his family and loved ones, Kahi defied the odds and went on to become a world-class athlete and safety culture champion.

One of Australia’s best bench press powerlifters, Kahi represented the nation at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney when he was ranked No. 1 in Australia and 7th in the world. At the same time, he was slowly reintegrating into the workforce. Determined to shift the industry’s lacklustre approach to safety, Kahi spoke out about the shared responsibility of management, teams and individuals to create a safe work environment.

Joining the Taylor team onsite at Proximity@Botany, Kahi shared his powerful story of resilience, perseverance and determination. Exploring the power of connection, he encouraged the team to look after their fellow peers by adopting a collective approach to risk management and safety reporting.

Kahi said, “Safety reporting always has to be the top priority – the first and last 10-minutes of your shift can save your life, or the life of your colleague. Think safe, work safe, go home safe.”

Taylor would like to thank Kahi for sharing his story, as well as those who helped bring this event to life. You can learn more about Taylor’s commitment to safety here.

Celebrating Wayne Bass’ 10 Years with Taylor 

Since joining in 2012, Wayne has built a formidable reputation as a mentor, leader and role model across the organisation.  

With a deep understanding of the complexities of construction, Wayne’s fresh and innovative project management solutions are highly valued by his peers.  

Known for putting relationships first, Wayne effectively manages client needs to ensure strong bonds are formed between key stakeholders. His dedication to managing stakeholders and forging positive business relationships does not go unnoticed, with Hayden Kegg, Project Director at Mostyn Copper, saying: 

“The whole team of stakeholders involved in the The Winx Stand build for ATC appreciated Wayne’s expertise, inclusive management style, and his personal accountability. It takes a very high standard of project management to deliver to the quality achieved, in the environment we were operating in.” 

Above all, Wayne’s unfaltering commitment to quality and compliance plays a pivotal role in the successful delivery of Taylor projects.  

Thank you, Wayne, for truly living the Taylor values.  

You are a deeply trusted and respected member of Team Taylor, and we are proud to celebrate this exceptional milestone with you.  

Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Awarded Best of the Best 2022

Congratulations to our client, Taronga Conservation Society, for being one of Tripadvisor‘s highest rated accommodation destinations in Australia. This accolade is awarded to outstanding Australian and international accommodation based on visitors’ feedback and reviews.

The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga wraps around its own private native wildlife sanctuary nestled within the zoo. All guests are treated to the ultimate, immersive overnight conservation experience with multiple exclusive guided tours, close-up wildlife encounters, delicious dining opportunities and first-class views of Sydney Harbour.

Learn more about this impressive project here.

TWIC Tea & Tour 2022

Taylor understands that women play a critical role in construction, and we’re actively working to drive gender balance across our business, and the industry. Through our sector-leading TWIC program, we work to strengthen the internal and industry connections for all female team members across all facets of the business.  

The TWIC Tea & Tour events are a great opportunity for the team to catch-up, meet new faces and learn more about active Taylor construction projects. 

Adam Wheat Celebrates Milestone Anniversary

Over the past decade, Adam has been responsible for the delivery of key development projects across the business. With a keen interest in – and passion for – process efficiency, Adam works closely with consultants and delivery teams to continually refine workflow procedures. He has a unique ability to bring people together and make everyone feel acknowledged and appreciated. 

A well-known and respected leader, Adam has developed a reputation as a strategic thinker who can be relied on to deliver solutions aligned to clients’ needs. His hands-on approach doesn’t end with project delivery. Adam takes pride in his role in Taylor’s Mentorship Program, where he shares his knowledge and experience with newer team members to advance their careers and develop their skills. Adam is also a pivotal committee member of Taylor’s groundbreaking women’s engagement program – known as TWIC. 

Thank you, Adam, for your continued integrity, dedication and teamwork. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you. 

Let’s Get Together

More than 100 team members enjoyed a memorable afternoon, with Taylor transforming its North Sydney office into a bustling hub where employees from all facets of the business could mingle and connect.

George Bardas, CEO, and Clive Wickham, CFO, addressed the audience to celebrate the success of recent wins across the organisation. To acknowledge these significant achievements, the work-winning teams enjoyed a ceremonial ‘Ringing of the Bell’.

From Classroom to Construction Site

Wenzi, Rievangeline and Alessandro experienced a unique opportunity to shadow Steve Ziaziaris, Senior Project Manager, during an interactive onsite tour. Valued at $29.3 million, the state-of-the-art Powerhouse Museums facility encompasses site preparation and associated demolition, construction of the new Building J, subdivision and related works. 

Over the course of the day, students gained exposure to a variety of construction streams such as contracts administration, design management and site engineering. They were also fortunate to be see a concrete pour in progress and the preparation of two separate and different types of suspended slabs. Steve focused on Taylor’s unwavering commitment to safety, exploring our Bringing Safety Home and Zero Harm initiatives, the importance of relationship building and the practicalities of day-to-day operations. 

Meeting with Simon Chow, Design Manager, students got first-hand experience into the pre-construction process, exploring 3D models that demonstrated the importance of comprehensive coordination between structure and services to deliver the Architects’ vision. 

Speaking with Jason Gikler, Site Engineer, Wenzi, Rievangeline and Alessandro gained valuable insights and information about quality control, programming and procurement. 

Reflecting on UTS BEA Buddy Day, Alessandro said, “This event was one of the best experiences. It was a true showcase of what life is like onsite…the Taylor team are absolutely incredible.” 

Wenzi added to this, stating, “Venturing onto a large construction site and seeing the details helped me put my theory work into practice. Steve was an amazing and enthusiastic Project Manager who engaged with us at every step of the site tour. This experience with Taylor has left a positive impact on me.” 

UTS BEA Students Enjoy 1:1 Mentoring Sessions

As part of our ongoing relationship with UTS Built Environment Association (BEA), Taylor employees met with two high performing students for an immersive 1:1 mentoring session.   

UTS BEA supports the professional and personal development of students in the Design, Architecture and Building faculty and provides students with valuable networking and development opportunities with the University’s industry partners. Through regular engagements with Taylor, students gain access to support, encouragement and advice from industry leaders via virtual and face to face mentoring. 

Students Cameron and Jacinta met with Diarmuid O’Flaherty, Project Manager, and Robert Smith, Contract Manager, who facilitated educational site tours while sharing industry insights. 

Hosted annually, these sessions offer an invaluable opportunity to support the development of future leaders by providing professional development experiences that complement external tertiary study.  

A big thanks to Diarmuid and Robert for offering guidance as mentors, Jacinta and Cameron for their enthusiastic participation, and UTS BEA for helping bring these sessions to life.  

Powerhouse Castle Hill expansion well underway

The development will provide an important and significant cultural institution within The Hills Shire and surrounding community areas. The expansion will see the Castle Hill site become the home of the Powerhouse Collection in its entirety with the addition of public-facing exhibition and programming space.

The world-class facility will enhance the museum’s ability to protect valuable state, heritage and cultural assets in a secure, environmentally controlled and sustainable space.

The expansion will allow for increased opportunities for skill-sharing, education and community programs, as well as temporary exhibitions, tours and events.