Kate Wood-Foye - Business Illuminate

Illuminate

tKATE WOOD-FOYE

THE GUTS, GRIT AND GROUNDWORK OF REMARKABLE REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATORS, LEADERS AND GAME CHANGERS.

From a small joinery shop in Kempsey in 1938 to the multi award winning construction enterprise it is today. Lahey Constructions is one of Australia’s most prominent, long standing, and successful construction firms with over 500 projects and 51 awards for exceptional construction and service. Most recently Project Manager Bill Maley stewarded the Lahey team towards further success with three awards at the prestigious Australian Institute of Building NSW Professional Excellence in Building gala for the construction of Stage 2 of the Charles Sturt University Campus.

Ahuge congrats Bill and to

the entire Lahey team! It is no small feat for a regionally based company to take on some of the biggest construction firms in the country and walk away with three awards; to include High Commendations in the new Sustainability category and Commercial Construction $25 – $60M category and winner of the coveted People’s Choice Award. Can you tell us what this means to the team?

Lahey is extremely honoured to win these awards, but it must be remembered that construction companies are only as good as the teams they collaborate with. We had

BILL

MALEY

LAHEY CONSTRUCTIONS

worked with a host of talented people and give special thanks to Charles Sturt University Project Manager Neal Molineaux, Savills Project Managers, BVN Architecture and their many consultants, and every single tradie we worked with – these awards are theirs too. Lahey cannot forget the role of our local community, which came out in droves to support the project by voting in the People’s Choice Awards. The real winner is the entire Mid North Coast, which now has access to this wonderful university facility at Port Macquarie – an asset that will remain a legacy for generations to come.

From humble beginnings in a joinery shop in Kempsey to now delivering high quality projects across the country – what is the ethos behind this company that has driven expansion and success?

Lahey was established in 1938 by Edward Lahey as a small joinery shop in Kempsey. In 1946, anticipating future opportunities, Edward’s son Eric made the decision to expand the joinery manufacturing into traditional construction projects – Lahey Constructions. We continue to attract a diverse portfolio of clients across a range of sectors from community infrastructure, hospitals, health and aged care, education, correctional facilities, residential and mixed-use developments. We have a long-standing belief in the importance of customer service and are committed to providing face-to-face contact, open and transparent collaboration, and regular interaction. This enables us to ensure that our clients are informed and happy at every stage

of a project. Since inception, Lahey has been continually committed to providing the highest quality design, construction and management. Our team has the capacity to successfully guide the entire project lifecycle, from earlystage in-house design through to construction, compliance, services consulting and post-contract management.

As Project Manager, you are responsible for a team that delivers construction solutions across the country. How does a regionally based company remain competitive against metro-based counterparts?

During the tender negotiations for the Charles Sturt Stage 2 Project, each person at the meeting was asked their town of birth, with each of the team members being from a regional location. As Charles Sturt is a regionally based university with a commitment to providing opportunities for regional employment this was viewed as an advantage. This was refreshing – that being a regionally based company was a positive for a client. As a locally based company we have a strong understanding of the local area and the unique needs of regional areas. Taking a personal stake in the Charles Sturt project from the very beginning helped during the early contractor involvement with the design and construct process of the project.

How did your own journey begin in the industry and how has that shaped you as a project manager and leader today?

Starting out as an apprentice carpenter gave me the practical basis for the construction industry. This was followed by several post trade courses and my first major project in a management role with the Perisher Skitube Project, Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Brisbane Rail Tunnels. Following a short-term project in Fiji, I returned to Australia building Project Homes, commencing my role with Lahey in 2009. Having a trade background helps with the practical side of the construction process and allows you to communicate with a down to earth approach. Understanding risks and making clear decisions by being adaptable and able to problem solve, helps the job move forward without delay. Understanding what interests and motivates each of your crew helps to drive the project, solve problems to often achieve more than is expected. Of course, having an incredibly understanding wife and family that are willing to move on a regular basis including 2 countries, 3 states and 14 different towns helps!

Team culture is vital to any company’s success – what is the key to building a cohesive and dynamic team?

Lahey had several long-term employees working on the Charles Sturt Stage 2 Project including Site Manager Dan Clarke (28 years) and Colin Howe (50 years). They were joined by an exciting mix of younger team members such as Ken Foran, Lochie Clarke, Reece Anderson, Shaun Quinn, Mitchell and Patrick Lahey. The guidance and mentoring provided by our more experienced team members has worked to provide the quality of workmanship obtained by our trades on the Stage 2 Project. We were also able to build a good working relationship with our locally based sub-contractors. Some of the sub-contractors who worked with us on the Charles Sturt project have worked on multiple projects for Lahey and continue on our current projects. When I started in the industry, I was lucky to be a part of a team that had a strong culture of mateship and support. The more senior project managers taught me the importance of

As Charles Sturt is a regionally communication and building a strong team that look out for one another. We are now working to based university with a embrace and mentor Lahey's next generation of commitment to local construction staff over the next few years, to providing opportunities ensure we can meet the demands of the future for regional construction market. employment, being What keeps you passionate about the regional was viewed as commercial construction industry and drives an advantage. you and Lahey Constructions to the next

level?

The construction industry is of course stressful with many deadlines and budgets to meet throughout every project. The balance of this is that construction is also very rewarding. There are not many roles that give as much satisfaction as being able to look back many years after a project is completed and admire the build and the lasting impact it had on the community.