From the CEO

October and November has been a busy period for IWA as we saw many of our work programs gaining momentum.

This includes our investigation into market capacity constraints and skills shortages that the construction sector is facing. Following our initial workshop with industry and government stakeholders in September, we have followed on with a series of targeted working group sessions to develop viable solutions for consideration by the WA Government.

As part of IWA’s annual work program, we have also recently completed a round of engagement with state agencies’ and government trading enterprises’ on their Strategic Asset Plans, which our team reviewed earlier in the year. This work will greatly assist to progressively build a pipeline of longer-term infrastructure priorities and improve the co-ordination and integration of state government strategic asset planning, with a view to strengthening strategic asset management practices and supporting more informed decision making by government.

The past 2 months have also featured important engagements that we have participated in both locally and overseas, with many of our discussions framed around a growing awareness of the urgency for the infrastructure sector to decarbonise and adapt to the effects of climate change. We look forward to continuing these important discussions and working with stakeholders toward a more sustainable future for our state.

IWA continues to also support the WA Government through its work programs, including the assessment of major infrastructure proposals, planning for WA’s first 10-year state infrastructure program, and developing our own monitoring and reporting framework that will support the WA Government’s implementation of the State Infrastructure Strategy.

As 2022 draws to a close, I look forward to the new year with genuine anticipation and excitement as we build on our work to date and set clear goals for 2023

Phil Helberg
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure WA

IWA continues work on its pathway towards reconciliation

Following the establishment of IWA’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group, the team have made good progress developing its Reflect RAP and setting its vision for our journey ahead.

In developing the vision for the RAP, the working group has been reflecting on Aboriginal culture, history and aspirations for the future, and how IWA can support reconciliation through its infrastructure role and functions.

To ensure IWA is working with Aboriginal people to shape the RAP, we are also proud to announce Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Custodian Noel Morich has joined as co-chair of the working group. 

We would also like to welcome Yamatji woman Cat Holland who has joined the IWA team as its Aboriginal Engagement Lead who will also be involved in the development of the RAP.   

The team will also continue developing the RAP’s actions that IWA will be responsible for delivering once it is released in 2023.

World infrastructure leaders meet in Tokyo with sustainability front of mind 

IWA’s Chairperson Nicole Lockwood recently visited Toyko to attend the Global Infrastructure Initiative Summit alongside some of the world’s most senior leaders in infrastructure and capital projects. Nicole also was given a tour on an exciting project which is breaking new ground in renewable and sustainable development.

Read the full story here.

Government collaboration on digital futures 

IWA’s Deputy CEO Owen Thomas recently presented to the Public Sector Network on how state and local governments can better use digital technology and share data to provide better insight and improve decision making.

Owen pointed to key themes in our State Infrastructure Strategy which call for improving the way the public sector captures, uses and shares data.

The Strategy identifies that the public sector is increasingly collating large and powerful data sets and opportunities exist to share this information more widely across the infrastructure sector and with other key stakeholders.

Improving practices across the sector will help solve complex business and societal challenges, and enhance the quality and consistency of infrastructure planning, policy making and investment decisions. It can also have a significant impact on how we plan and manage our infrastructure assets throughout the entire lifecycle.

Resilience the feature at industry event 

IWA’s CEO Phil Helberg was recently invited by the Australian British Chamber of Commerce to present at their recent event on planning for resilient cities. 

Phil detailed how infrastructure resilience is a critical component of community resilience, and should be given due consideration when we plan for the future. Infrastructure needs to be able to withstand disruption and adapt to shocks and stresses such as natural disasters, cyber threats and climate change. 

He covered some of the critical infrastructure challenges our state is currently facing such as supporting our water sector to move towards climate-independent sources, and how our energy sector will need to support this transition, while undergoing a transformation of its own to renewable and low-emission alternatives.  

He also highlighted the need to move to a more community-based health system to reduce demand on our hospitals and how more social and affordable housing initiatives can support the vulnerable and reduce pressures on other community and government services.