The Lighthouse Q3 2023

Events | Benevolence | Industry News Q3 2023

GUIDED WALKING TOUR

@ AIRSIDE

Lighthouse Club International Australia | Cambodia | China | Hong Kong | Macau | Malaysia | Myanmar New Zealand | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | UK / Ireland | Vietnam

Aliis Cum Humanitate

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YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. YOUR COMMERCIAL OBJECTIVES. YOUR RISK MANAGED. We assist clients on all commercial aspects of construction and engineering projects as well as dispute resolution and arbitration.

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For more information, please contact: GLENN HALEY glenn.haley@bclplaw.com T: +852 3143 8450 JAMES CLARKE james.clarke@bclplaw.com T: +65 9023 8762 WANJING GOH wanjing.goh@bclplaw.com T: +65 6571 6651 GEOFFREY SHAW geoffrey.shaw@bclplaw.com T: +852 3143 8457

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ILAN FREIMAN ilan.freiman@bclplaw.com T: +65 6571 6610 T: +852 5328 8030

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The Lighthouse

Chairman’s Message A warm welcome to all Lighthouse Club members, and all others in our construction industry reading this magazine, wherever you may be. From the UK to the Middle East, from Asia to New Zealand, and beyond, our wonderful Lighthouse Clubs around the world exist, because of you. If you are not yet a member, it’s simple to join via our website, www.lighthouseclubintl.com, or via your local Lighthouse Club.

Lighthouse Club International (LHCI), the umbrella organization that acts as a coordinating body for Lighthouse Club branches will hold its next meeting, hosted by the Lighthouse Club Manila Branch, on 18th November, which also coincides with their annual ball. Please liaise with your local Lighthouse Club branch committee members to find out more about the role of Lighthouse Club International and what it means to you for your local and international activities and do pass on any feedback and queries – it’s your club!

In this issue of the magazine, we are delighted to celebrate the opening of the Lighthouse Club in Auckland, New Zealand and include an interview with its founding President, Caspar Coetzee and Treasurer, Pamela Acio.

We also focus on two special reports. The first, a series of articles on diversity, discusses issues commonly found in our construction industry such as a lack of diversity, unconscious bias and accessibility issues. Also discussed are the advantages for businesses that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, and some ways to achieve it.

The second special report focuses on health and safety, and two contractor’s insights into how Health and Safety is led, implemented and their vision for the future.

The Lighthouse Club continues to support multiple causes for construction industry employees and their families. This includes financial aid to victims of construction industry accidents and their families, educational assistance, and assistance with medical and hospitalisation costs for those without adequate medical insurance. Further assistance is also provided in the form of sponsored days out for the affected families. The work of the charities and the additional support in the form of events and sponsorships is only achievable through the generosity of our members and income generated from the addition of new members. Please contact Lighthouse Club International or your local Lighthouse Club branch to find out more about how you can help.

Construction industry fellowship and networking remains the focus of our Lighthouse Clubs, with charitable activities undertaken where permitted by local jurisdictions. Please enjoy reading this magazine, share it with your industry colleagues, and check out the events advertised on your local branch website, social media, and/or our official international website.A big thank you to all our supporters and contributors and remember – stay safe.

Robert Gordon Chairman, Lighthouse Club International

About The Lighthouse Club “The Lighthouse” is the magazine of Lighthouse Club International, originally established in 1998 as Lighthouse Club Asia Pacific Region and superseded in November 2017 by Lighthouse Club International. With its roots in England in 1956, the Hong Kong Branch was formed in 1986.

The aims of the Lighthouse Club are to promote good fellowship amongst its members who work in or are associated with the construction industry and to provide charitable assistance to those in need within the construction industry and to their dependents in qualifying cases.

In addition to the charitable works of the individual branches of the Lighthouse Club, Lighthouse Club International supports two related Hong Kong based charities which provide charitable assistance internationally.

The James Battersby Lighthouse Club Educational Trust which provides assistance for education and training to qualifying young persons in the Asia Pacific Region; The Lighthouse Club International Benevolent Trust which provides assistance to relieving poverty and financial support to persons currently or previously employed in the building and civil engineering and allied trades.

The Lighthouse Q3 2023 Lighthouse Club International Suite 1901-2, Hopewell Centre 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong info@lighthouseclubintl.com Administrator: Elaine Man E: info@lighthouseclubhk.com, T: +852 2736 9885 Editorial Committee: Elaine Man / Elizabeth Dooley (Consulting Editor) Janey Rogers / Keith Buckley / Mike Staley Steve Tennant Publisher: Mike Staley E: publisher@rofmedia.com , T: +852 3150 8988 Advertising: Bryan Chan E: bryan@rofmedia.com, T: +852 3150 8912 Howard Tsang E: howard@rofmedia.com, T: +852 3150 8988 Graphic Designer: Michelle Morkel Designed & Published by ROF Media

Official website : www.lighthouseclubintl.com The Lighthouse is online at www.issuu.com/rofmedia

Lighthouse Club International

Contents

Executive Committee: Chairman Robert Gordon, robert.gordon@burohappold.com Immediate Past Chairman Glenn Haley, glenn.haley@bclplaw.com

In This Issue

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Cover Cover Story Story

Chairman Elect Jim Chessell, jchessell@bkasiapacific.com Deputy Chairman Keith Buckley, keith.buckley@lighthouseclubmacau.com Secretary Gina Leung, gleung@secretariat-intl.com

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Treasurer Neil Roberts, neilr.lighthouseclub@gmail.com Membership Secretary Bert de Munck, bdmunck@gmail.com

Elected Branch Representative:

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Australia

David Gibson david.gibson@dga-group.com Yazeed Abdelhadi yazeed_abdelhadi@yahoo.com

Cambodia

Kerr Thomson kerr.thomson@covathinking.com

Hong Kong

Neil Roberts neilr.lighthouseclub@gmail.com Steve Tennant stevetennanthongkong@gmail.com Gina Leung gleung@secretariat-intl.com

Macau

Keith Buckley keith.buckley@lighthouseclubmacau.com Carlos Tang carlos.tang@topbuildersgroup.com

Malaysia

Pui Mun Teoh teoh@speedbrick.com

22 LHC members join a walking tour at the iconic new Airside

Myanmar

John Anderson johna@meinhardt.net

Philippines

Bert de Munck bdmunck@gmail.com

Singapore

Jim Chessell jchessell@bkasiapacific.com

Thailand

Gareth Hughes Gareth.hughes@rsmthailand.com John Pollard johnp@meinhardt.net

Vietnam

Colin Johnston cjohnston@bkasiapacific.com

United Kingdom

Bill Hill bill.hill@lighthouseclub.com Edward Naylor edward.naylor@naylor.co.uk Lyndsey Gallagher lyndsey.gallagher@gallagher-group.co.uk

Honorary President and Honorary Life Chairman John Battersby Honorary Life Members Keith Buckley - Macau Phil Clarke - Macau Willie Kay - Singapore Les Leslie - Hong Kong & UK Nick Longley - Hong Kong & Australia Bert de Munck - Malaysia & Philippines Steve Tennant - Hong Kong Phil Thoburn - Philippines

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Benevolence

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Manila Branch investing in the next generation + Macau report

International

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LHCI welcomes New Zealand to the international fellowship

Features

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Cover Story

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Special Report Diversity

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Special Report - Health & Safety

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12 Hong Kong Branch celebrates the return of the Annual Ball

26 Introduction - Unleashing the Diversity Advantage 28 Universal Accessibility Update by Ar Dr Joseph Kwan 32 MTR Corporation and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 36 Gammon Building a diverse and inclusive workplace 38 Interview with Lee Fellowes - Malolos-Clark Railway Project 41 Interview with Raul Enrique Morante Rosales - ACCIONA

Branch Reports

44 New Zealand 45 Philippines 49 Hong Kong 50 Thailand 52 Macau 54 Australia Members

56 Lighthouse Club International Corporate Members

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Benevolence

Empowering the Next Generation in Manila Lighthouse Club Manila takes pride in supporting twenty-seven scholars, with three graduates this year whose photographs are attached. In our ongoing commitment to education, LHCM is preparing to launch a campaign to provide scholarships for six new deserving students.

Be part of this transformative initiative and help shape a brighter future. We are now finalizing the review of the applications and we expect to inform you next time with more details about our scholarship programme.

Macau's Helping Hands Following the two accidents which were reported in June, a further three accidents occurred in August and September, bringing the total for 2023 to four fatalities and one serious life-threatening injury.

Once again, the Macau Lighthouse Club Benevolent Fund has stepped in to assist the families of the persons below involved in construction accidents.

On 18 August a worker died as a result of falling from height whilst working on a ceiling in the Four Seasons Hotel, Cotai.

On 30 August another worker died as a result of falling from height whilst doing fitout work on a ceiling in the Grand Lisboa Palace Hotel, Cotai.

On 18 September a worker was electrocuted and fell from a 4 meter height whilst working on a government housing project in Gu Ya, Coloane.

So far this year the Benevolent Fund has made donations totalling MOP435,000 to the Next of Kin of the deceased or seriously injured workers and also to the wife of a worker injured in 2019 and who remains in a vegetative state in the PRC. The continued support of Lighthouse Club Macau members is one of the few ways of helping the families of workers who have suffered as a result of construction related accidents. We appreciate and look forward to the continuation and growth of the Club.

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8 International Introducing… Lighthouse Club

AUCKLAND!

"The Lighthouse" is happy to celebrate the opening of yet another branch in another part of the world.

The Editorial Team contacted Caspar Coetzee to find out more about their inaugural get-together, who the Steering Committee are and what their plans are for the future in the “Land of the Long White Cloud”.

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What are some of your main objectives for LHC Auckland during the tenure of your presidency/chairship?

CASPAR COETZEE: The primary objective is to expand the presence and reputation of the Auckland branch, aiming to establish it as a well-recognized and esteemed charity within the Auckland construction community.

PRESIDENT: CASPAR COETZEE Associate Director, Capital Consulting International Caspar is a quantum and delay expert with over 20 years’ industry experience in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa having worked for contractors, developers, and consultants across a wide range of projects and contract delivery forms.

A registered QS and Expert Witness with the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors. Caspar specialises in the provision of expert commercial management services advising clients in the delivery of projects, ensuring commercial and contract success.

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What unique experience do you bring to the LHC Auckland Steering Committee?

PAMELA ACIO: Through my decades-long experience and working in different geographical locations, I have seen how highly motivated women, and their positive contributions, have changed the industry.

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What are some of the greatest challenges facing the construction industry in New Zealand?

CASPAR COETZEE: Some of the major challenges involve sourcing qualified personnel, coping with rising inflation rates, and effectively managing supply chain disruptions. The impact of inflation has been particularly pronounced on contractors operating under fixed-price lump sum contracts.

This challenge is exacerbated when clients are unwilling to consider fluctuation price arrangements, leading to increased financial strain within the industry.

PAMELA ACIO: Some of the greatest challenges/ issues in the industry in New Zealand include the shortage of skilled personnel, rising costs of materials, unreasonable allocation of risks, environmental concerns, and the cost of sustainability among others.

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What is the most critical support that LHC Auckland can offer the local construction industry?

CASPAR COETZEE: We have a substantial number of workers from abroad who often encounter challenges when trying to integrate and establish themselves in New Zealand, especially during their initial transition from overseas. The Lighthouse Club can play a pivotal role in offering a sense of fellowship and providing

International

Anna is a Business Support Executive on a casual parttime basis with a diverse skillset, having worked as both a civil engineer and quantity surveyor. She has 12 years of experience in the construction field and has worked in various capacities with subcontractors, main contractors, and consultancies. Anna has recently relocated to NZ and is currently pursuing her graduate diploma in project management and is supporting CCI’s Business Support team in New Zealand and the wider business within the Asia Pacific region.

EVENTS OFFICER: ANNA ARELLANO Business Support Executive - CCI

ADVISOR: ROBERT JONES Robert has been involved in international construction projects and businesses over the last 45 years at both executive management and project delivery level.

Originally from Yorkshire working with leading UK contractors, he is now living permanently in New Zealand with his wife Marion. His career has provided opportunities to live or work in diverse locations including Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Mongolia, Fiji, and Western Australia.

He is now semi-retired and has recently commenced providing advisory consultancy services to the NZ construction industry.

He was previously a member of the Lighthouse Club in Bangkok and is very familiar with the aims and objects of the organisation and is very much looking forward to helping establish the Lighthouse Club in New Zealand.

networking opportunities for these new immigrants. Additionally, the LHC can serve as a valuable resource for companies seeking to grow their business and make new contacts within the industry.

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What events do you have planned for the future?

CASPAR COETZEE: Currently, our primary objective is to boost our membership numbers, with a focus on both ordinary and corporate memberships. We anticipate that corporate memberships will be instrumental in facilitating growth and sponsorship of future events. As part of our upcoming plans, we intend to host another event in approximately two months.

PAMELA ACIO: Noting how busy people can often be, it would be good to offer events which provide quick and concise updates with (a) amendments to the retention scheme, (b) important revisions to NZS 3910, (c) other information, etc. which everyone in the industry should know.

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What kind of topics/articles would you like to see in future issues of “The Lighthouse”?

CASPAR COETZEE: Mental Health has a huge impact on the New Zealand construction industry. Construction has the highest proportion of suicides across all industries. It will be useful to have articles on managing mental health and stress effectively, to help reduce depression and anxiety.

PAMELA ACIO: Sustainability efforts employed in the major infrastructure projects. The impact of climate change in redesigning cities.

TREASURER: PAMELA ACIO Snr Associate Director - CCI Pamela is a legally trained and experienced quantity surveyor and contract adviser with over 25 years of combined experience in contract & commercial management, management of complex claims and expert witness work.

Pamela has assisted appointed Quantum Experts and lawyers during the dispute resolution process for high value and complex projects in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and South Africa.

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We o er a broad range of contract advisory services to assist owners, contractors and construction law firms in the prevention, mitigation or resolution of construction disputes.

The APAC Construction Solutions practice within FTI Consulting includes 40+ quantity surveyors, engineers, planning professionals, project managers and claims specialists, many with dual qualifications in law and arbitration. With backgrounds in both commercial contracting and professional practice, our consultants are experienced in technical, commercial and legal matters, enabling them to identify key issues quickly and to find the optimum solutions for our clients.

For more information about our Construction Solutions practice or other FTI Consulting advisory services, please contact: Nick Adams

Lee Baker

Senior Managing Director

Head of APAC

+852 3768 4673

+65 6506 7667

Meet Our Experts

Clive Holloway Hong Kong

Alex Ho Hong Kong

David Cham Hong Kong

Andrew Oddie Singapore

Vincent Ng Singapore

Mark Curties Singapore

Ivy Chng Singapore

Youn Kyun Ra Singapore

Garth Mccomb Malaysia

Y J Pyeon Korea

Amit Pekam India

Stephen Rae Australia

Tommy WakefieldSmith Australia

Jon Dyson Australia

Neil Birchall Australia

Stuart Downes Australia

Adrian McNulty Australia

Du Preez Kirstein Australia

Victor Ageev Australia

Steven Tan Chun Yong Australia

© 2023 FTI Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.

12 Feature

Silver Ladies (and Gentlemen!) put the shine back in Hong Kong!

It was June 2018, we had an absolute (Lighthouse Club Annual) ball, then, sadly, for the next 5 years, the Hong Kong social scene was immobilized.

It is now the 24 June 2023 and we’re about to have a party to kick start all parties! It’s the Lighthouse Club Annual Ball 2023– A Silver Soiree!

We’re in the ball room at Park View, a slightly quirky but fun filled venue, not so well known, but an exciting space for 160 party goers. There has been a great deal of work and effort going on in the background over the past 3 months by just a few special volunteers to make this event a reality - and for this we salute you dearly!

Encouraging people to join us has also been a herculean effort and we are thankful for our most generous of sponsors of the event, again, without whom, the event would be a non-starter. A huge thank you to Gammon, Leighton, TCG, ROF Media, Delaneys, Citi Construction Engineering and Maxim Recruitment.

It was my first time to join the Lighthouse Club Annual Ball, I had a great time at the event and the catering was fantastic! Looking forward to the annual events in 2024!

Ramy Tsang, Assistant Commercial Manager Milwaukee Tool Hong Kong

It’s 7.01pm and the most important people of the evening, our guests, dressed most elegantly, with those brave enough to don eye catching “silver” attire, start to funnel into the intimate reception space. After having their welcome photo against a rich silver, glitterball and balloon festooned backdrop, they pass fabulously decorated tables in waiting and head to the cool LED lit bar for an ice breaker G&T, bumping into old friends and acquaintances and colleagues along the way. A trio of mightily talented classical musicians treat the assembled to a medley of melodies.

Feature

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Diving into the glittery silver night with great pleasure, elated by beautiful dancing elves and raucous youths under the hawkish scepter of the ever flamboyant DJ..... unforgettable!

Andreas Brechbuhl Managing Director, AUB

Feature

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16 Feature

Feature

Paul Johnson Managing Director Blue Stone Management

All in all, well organised and good venue. Richard and Elaine did a great job in ensuring the evening was delivered and hosted well. Shame it had to end so abruptly.

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Feature

After coming out off lockdown and life returning back to normal, it was the right time for a great night out and the Lighthouse Club certainly delivered.

Fantastic night , great people and loads of money raised for great causes. Looking forward to the next one.

Thank you Lighthouse Club!

David Ross Production Manager Gammon Construction

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20 Feature

Vitus Yiu , Chief Executive Officer Orientop Limited

I was delighted to reunite with big-hearted Lighthouse Club members at the successful annual ball.

Seeing familiar, caring faces of philanthropic friends, who selflessly give their time and support to the construction industry, filled me with inspiration. The event's tremendous accomplishment reflects the community's immense generosity and compassion.

Feature

Mingling continues until the “call to order” and guests who are having fun, begrudgingly find their seats. Following a rousing welcome by the MC, Richard Poulter, table captains are identified and thank yous given, a game of heads and tails ensues, testing the audience on Hong Kong local knowledge. As the winner uncorks his bubbly first prize, a sumptuous 3 course dinner is served.

Bryce Templeton, our resident DJ for the evening, is in the house, treating our ears to cool tunes from today and yesteryear. A fantastic duo of magicians are roaming the tables, delighting and confounding their audience with amazing card tricks. Our lovely volunteer hostesses are working their own magic, selling raffle tickets to all throughout the evening for some fantastic iPhone prizes.

An amazingly talented rapid sketch artist plies his trade in a discreet corner of the room, guests queuing to have their portraits in pairs, sketched into immortality!

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

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Three hours later and three courses deliciously devoured, the raffle is drawn with some very lucky winners and many “nearly” winners.

The music is cranked up and the dancing is inevitable!The evening has flown by and it’s almost time for carriages to ferry people from this wonderland back down the hill into the city. A special carriage has been arranged for those with enough energy and 50 revelers are whisked to a late-night tiki bar to continue the party.

A really fabulous evening was had and thank you again to all those guests who joined us. The Lighthouse Club social scene is alive and well and we also managed to raise a whopping HK$ 44,000 for the Lighthouse Club HK Benevolent Fund.

See you all in 2024!

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22 Cover Story

AIRSIDE Hong Kong Members treated to

Text by Nicole Yim

GUIDED TOUR

On Friday, 11 August 2023, Lighthouse Club members had the privilege to participate in a guided walking tour of AIRSIDE. Led by Steven Au, the Deputy General Manager of Nan Fung Development, the tour provided us with an insightful experience of this remarkable building, located in Kai Tak, the heart of Hong Kong's former international airport.

Image courtesy of Nan Fung Group

Cover Story

AIRSIDE, a newly opened 1.9 million square foot mixed-use commercial development, impressed us from the moment we stepped inside. Its 200-meter-tall tower, a 47-storey mixed-use development which includes a 32-storey Grade A office building, stands as a testament to innovative approaches and sustainability in the CBD 2. We were excited to learn that AIRSIDE is the first building in Hong Kong to be targeted for five green building certifications, including US LEED (Platinum Pre-certified) and WELL Building Standard (Platinum Pre-certified).

Our journey began with a presentation by the Nan Fung project management team about the architectural and sustainable design of the project. Steven then invited us to appreciate the panoramic views from the office floor, which has views of the magnificent Victoria Harbour, the Kai Tak River, and the cityscape against the impressive backdrop of Lion Rock. Steven narrated the stories of how this development integrates with its surroundings, including the CBD 2 developments and the fabric of the city.

As the tour continued, we ascended to the open-air rooftop, where we were greeted by a green urban farm. This green oasis not only adds beauty to the building but also serves as a sustainable source of fresh produce.

Furthermore, the building incorporates solar flooring into its roof paving design, seamlessly integrating into the hard landscape and harnessing the power of the sun to generate clean and renewable energy.

Steven guided us back to the Office Lobby on the ground floor, where we were impressed by the meticulous and artful ceiling details. It allowed us to appreciate the beauty of the intricate design.

Additionally, he introduced us to a smart bicycle parking system, catering to the needs of eco-conscious commuters.

As we explored the Shopping Mall, which featured a skylighted atrium and covering 700,000 square feet retail area, our anticipation grew for its soft opening on 28 September.

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24 Cover Story

This mixed-use commercial landmark seamlessly integrates into the extensive transportation networks of the neighbourhood. The mall comprises a multi-story retail complex and an interconnected underground shopping street.

However, what truly sets it apart, as Steven enthusiastically pointed out, is the innovative use of upcycled plastic bottle fabric as the interior finishes material for the mall. This special fabric beautifully and artfully expresses the Nan Fung Cotton Mills, showcasing the mall's unwavering commitment to sustainability.

Moving forward, Steven directed our attention to the captivating Sky Garden. An area of approximately 18,000 square feet, is dedicated to green spaces. These tranquil open areas, including a rooftop garden, an amphitheater, and urban farms, provide a serene retreat for both the public and tenants.

Continuing the tour, we learned about the building's thoughtful design elements that enhance both ventilation and wind circulation. The ventilation corridor serves as a deliberate feature which improves air circulation of the building and urban fabric, ensuring a comfortable environment for visitors. This design approach significantly enhances wind ventilation at pedestrian level throughout the neighbourhood, contributing to a pleasant and refreshing atmosphere.

We were also delighted to learn that an indoor surfing facility will be available within the mall, which will add an exhilarating and distinctive element to the shopping experience. The architecture boasts a distinctive curved glass modular façade, creating a visually pleasing and contemporary aesthetic.

Cover Story

Additionally, the integration of plants, planters, and an efficient irrigation system serves a dual purpose. Soft landscaping covers 30% of the site area, using materials that dissipate heat to combat the urban heat island effect. Furthermore, the architecture reduces irrigation demands by over 70% through the adoption of adaptive plant species and a rainwater recycling system, showcasing its commitment to water conservation.

Near the end of the tour, Steven guided us through the vibrant ground floor retail street, which offers a bustling and dynamic shopping atmosphere with a diverse range of retail options. All the participants were very pleased that we had the opportunity to witness firsthand AIRSIDE’s impressive spatial connections, seamless integration in the neighbourhood, and dedication to sustainability.

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26 Special Report - Diversity

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

Unleashing the Diversity Advantage in the Infrastructure Industry Text: Vip Vyas CONTEXT: The infrastructure industry forms the bedrock of our communities, facilitating the movement of people, products, and services. It drives the global economy, powers our businesses, and shapes our daily experiences. Yet its workforce fails to reflect the diverse populace it serves. Data from a comprehensive UK study reveals that women constitute a mere 21% of the sector, while ethnic minorities account for only 6%.

Similar patterns are observed worldwide.

In this feature, Vip Vyas, a renowned international megaprojects specialist, the lead author of Gorilla in the Cockpit – Breaking the Hidden Patterns of Project Failure and the System for Success, and a regular contributor to INSEAD Business School’s Thought Leadership, dissects the Black Box challenges the industry faces. He explores the urgent transformations the industry must undertake to make itself a magnet for the next generation of talent.

The Energy, Extractives, and Infrastructure sectors thrive on the design and execution of major and mega-projects, often requiring an intricate global supply chain.

Consider a scenario where a Middle Eastern client engages a US EPC firm with engineering hubs in Houston, India, and Singapore. The fabrication yards are in Greece and Thailand, with a workforce mainly comprised of Nepalese, Indians and Filipinos.

Special Report - Diversity

Such cultural amalgamation is common in these massive undertakings. Unfortunately, hidden prejudices and limiting biases are equally widespread, often leading to unexplored brilliance.

These factors can either drive excellence or perpetuate mediocrity.

The book delves into an essential concept of the White and Black Boxes within organisations. The White Box encompasses all known aspects of our organisations and projects, while the Black Box contains the hidden dimension—what we don't know that we don't know. This hidden layer comprises biases, limiting beliefs and untapped potential that quietly hinders business and project performance.

WHAT LACK OF DIVERSITY LOOKS LIKE Many may have experienced or witnessed the following scenarios within their organisations:

• Stereotyping Bias: An African structural engineer, skilled in

earthquake-resistant designs, is unfairly labelled "inexperienced" due to assumptions about his country of origin.

• Accent Bias: A foreman with a strong Eastern European accent proposes a novel construction method, but his idea is dismissed not because of the content, but due to difficulties understanding his accent.

• Hierarchy Bias: An apprentice suggests a more efficient cablerouting technique but is ignored because "he hasn't been around long enough."

• Religious or Cultural Insensitivity: A team schedules a crucial site review during Ramadan, forcing Muslim workers to work long hours without food, increasing safety risks.

• Local Cultural Norms Ignorance: Overseas, a project disregards local spiritual beliefs about ground-breaking ceremonies, leading to unrest among local workers and project delays.

Research shows that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones.

A BCG study found a 10% increase in diversity led to 0.8% higher sales revenue, while McKinsey revealed ethnically diverse executive teams were 36% more likely to achieve above-average profitability.

SHELL PEARL GTL: WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE The Shell Pearl GTL project exemplifies the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Located in Qatar's desert, 80 km north of Doha, Shell’s Pearl GTL is the world's largest plant converting natural gas into cleaner-burning fuels and lubricants. With a development cost of $18-19 billion, the project employed 52,000

workers from 59 countries, speaking numerous languages and dialects. The project's scale necessitated an entire town, "Pearl Village," for worker accommodations.

Despite summer temperatures over 40oC, the project coordinated hundreds of simultaneous activities in gruelling conditions. Yet, Pearl GTL achieved over 50 million personhours of work without a single LTI, breaking safety records.

How? Andy Brown, then Executive VP of Pearl GTL and his leadership team followed the principle: “If you take care of the people, they will take care of the project.” This idea marked a cultural shift. Brown's leadership focused on the Black Box, fostering a culture of performance and safety.

MAKING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION REAL Pearl GTL set new engagement benchmarks for management, supervisors, and workers. For example, they provided a comfortable living environment as a "home away from home", high-quality, culturally appropriate food for workers and managers, recreational facilities for physical and mental needs, including sports pitches and well-being centres and free Skype for workers to communicate with their families, a confidential "Aunts and Uncles" program for workers to discuss personal issues, regular group celebrations and innovative engagement techniques, such as inviting famous Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev, to connect with the workforce, over half of whom were Indian.

These efforts resulted in the most successful project safety performance in Shell's history.

The construction sector's male dominance presents a substantial risk for unconscious bias in decision-making, often leading to the acceptance of inappropriate behaviour and language. To encourage more people to join the construction industry, we must address these issues. It's time to change the industry's image from dark, dangerous and dirty, to one characterised by teamwork, camaraderie and the tangible reward of creating new realities for the community’s benefit.

Email: connect@vipvyas.com

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28 Special Report - Diversity

Universal Accessibility UPDATE Text: Ar Dr Joseph Kwan MH DUniv

RI Centennial Celebration Beijing, May 2023 Rehabilitation International (RI) held its Centennial Celebration in Beijing during May 2023 after the postponement from 2022.

RI President Madam Zhang Haidi, also the Chairperson of China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) welcomed international delegates during the Opening Ceremony and received A congratulatory message from H.E. Xi Jinping, President of People’s Republic of China, was delivered by H.E. State Councillor Shen Yiqin. China remains steadfast in its commitment and support to efforts of RI in their work for persons with disabilities globally as well as for the 83 million people with disabilities in China, with a million in Beijing alone. Approximately 29% of people with disabilities have physical disabilities where the built environment in China plays a large part in their independent daily living activities.

Congratulatory message was also received from the UN SecretaryGeneral H.E Antonio Guterres. Dr Timothy Perry Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics International also gave a very inspirational speech.

One of the highlights, was the release of the Beijing Declaration in Commemoration of the Centenary of RI, with specific efforts dedicated to promoting humanitarianism and advocate for a society that is friendly, inclusive and free of all forms of discrimination; and to provide barrier-free physical and digital environments, including accessible facilities, accessible assistive technologies and devices.

RI also launched in Beijing its publication: Universal Design in Kindergarten and Schools – Guidelines and Universal Tools In order to meet essential accessibility requirements, the Guangdong Disabled Persons' Federation (GDPF) and Guangdong Architectural Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd. (GADRI)

jointly compiled a new set of Guidelines (in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of national barrier-free environment construction) for barrier-free construction and renovation of the Guangdong Division of the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for the Disabled and the 9th Special Olympics Games to be jointly held in 2025 with Hong Kong and Macau.

The Guidelines are the normative basis for barrier-free facilities construction and barrier-free services in the preparations for the 15th National Games and Special Paralympic Games, with specific scope of application and requirements.

In June 2023, during the 14th National People's Congress, adopted at the Third Meeting of the Standing Committee, was the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Construction of Barrier-free Environment. This new National Code for Accessibility Design was enacted on 1 September 2023

International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress Copenhagen, July 2023 UIA held its triennial World Congress in Copenhagen in July attended by over 6,000 architects from over 126 countries.

Special Report - Diversity

This 28th UIA World Congress was hosted by Copenhagen, the city declared as the World Capital of Architecture for this global event. The 4-day programme with over 70 side events was full of diversity, inclusivity and all with a focus on the six themes of the Congress, creating change in the built environment to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Indeed, the city has an abundance of innovative designs and creative architecture to be admired, however some less physically abled delegates and wheelchair users found the inner-city area

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to be inaccessible and inhospitable……. a grave concern the City Officials should address if Copenhagen is to live up to its reputation, and to the UIA goal of incorporating diversity, equity in architecture and design in its built environment……..and to be truly inclusive.

Meetings by various UIA Commissions and Work Programmes (WP) were concurrently held during the Congress, with the WP Architecture for All that focussed on universal accessibility sharing presentations and exhibitions at the Congress venue,

Cover Story Report - Diversity 30 Special

Bella Centre. Elections were held during the UIA General Assembly with Regina Gonthier from Switzerland and Rui Leao from Macau elected as the new President and Secretary General respectively for the next three-year term.

The next UIA World Congress 2026 will be hosted by Barcelona, with the interim UIA 2024 World Architecture Forum to be held in Kuala Lumpur from 15-19 November 2024. www.uia2024kl.org.

ARCASIA - ACA20 Boracay, September 2023 The regional event, Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Congress 20 was held in the island resort of Boracay in the Philippines, hosted by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) and attended by architects from the 22 member institutes in the Asian region including recent member the Architects Union of Korea (KAU) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The theme of the 20th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA) is Weaving A Future-Ready Environment.As part of the Congress, the Arcasia Student Jamboree was also held and participated by architectural students from the 22 countries.

Various papers were presented during the Congress by eminent international and regional speakers such as Ar. Jose Luis Cortes from Mexico and Dr Ken Yeang from Malaysia.

The Awards Night was centred around the 2023 ARCASIA Awards for Architecture (AAA) which attracted nearly 400 project entries with almost 65% of the submissions coming from members of the Architects Society of China (ASC), which invariably won most Awards from the 12 building categories.

The ARCASIA Barry Will Award in commemoration of Past ARCASIA Chair and Past HKIA President, the intent is to provide students, graduates and young architects, age 40 or below, from the 22 ARCASIA Member Institutes an additional opportunity to participate in a socially-related architectural or environmental projects, or programs to be proposed by student, graduate and young architect applicants.

The Award provides US$10,000.00 for the winner to implement their project within a 2-year time frame. The winning team for 2023 is led by Ar. Wajiha Siddiqui MEHDI (Pakistan) for their project Darul Qiyam – Flood Resilient Habitat Workshop: Empowering Communities. Honourable Mentions were awarded to teams from the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Under the ARCASIA Committee on Social Responsibility (ACSR), its members decided to form a new ARCASIA Universal Design Group (AUDG) to focus on design and policy issues relating to disability-inclusion and to implement the concept of “To Leave No One Behind” In 2024 ARCASIA Forum22 will be hosted by Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) and the Korea Institute of Architects (KIRA) won the bid to host ACA21 for 2025 in Incheon.

UIA-RI ISA International Symbol Design Competition 2022 A collaborative project was initiated by Rehabilitation International (RI) in 2019 to find a replacement for the current International Symbol for Accessibility (ISA) with an international design competition organized by International Union of Architects (UIA) UIA and RI jointly invited submissions for a 21st century symbol of accessibility to represent their core values of rights and inclusion, independence, physical and virtual accessibility for all, including

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people with disabilities. The Design Competition was to design a new graphic symbol of accessibility that reflects the diversity of people who use buildings and other built environments.

The Design Competition was launched in January 2022 and adjudicated in April 2022. There was a total of 355 entries submitted globally.

The design brief of the competition was to develop a new symbol of accessibility that better represent the diversity of people who use buildings and other types of built environments.

The ISA did not exist 50 years ago. It was created in a design competition organised by RI-ICTA (International Commission on Accessibility and Technology) and won by Danish design student Susanne Koefoed in 1968. The ISA, which is also known as the “wheelchair logo”, is widely used by architects and others to identify buildings, facilities and other elements of the built environment that are accessible to people with disabilities.

The 355 entries were adjudicated by a panel of eminent jury members from diverse professions and expertise. They selected the ISA winning symbol designed by Maksym Holovko of Ukraine which represents an open door and the letter ‘A’ for accessibility. The design is being considered by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for adoption as the new international symbol of accessibility.

Over the past few years, however, an alternate icon has rolled into sight. The “Accessible Icon,” a rival wheelchair symbol that confers motion on the figure. This symbol has recently mushroomed into a movement, even being codified in emoji. It has also created backlash: variously called ableist and empowering. It has been officially rejected by ISO and deemed federally illegal despite adoption by several states in the USA. Now the ISA has found its way into the middle of a growing debate over how people with disabilities should be represented.

The UIA Work Programme Architecture for All (AfA) under HKIA UIA Committee recently prepared an e-publication that includes all 355 submissions, and can be viewed at:

The ISA has contributed to a widely held perception that accessibility and inclusion are solely about mobility impairments . . . and wheelchair-users. “Many feel the symbol needs change.

The wheelchair figure does not represent disabilities like impaired vision and hearing loss or the broader spectrum of people who may be excluded by design. Many feel the wheelchair itself... doesn’t accurately represent how persons with a disability function at work, at school or in the community”.

Online Link Publication: https://issuu.com/hkia_bexa/ docs/uia_ri_brochure_full_20230626?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

The author, Joseph Kwan is an Architect and Accessibility Consultant for over 36 years. He is the inaugural Director of UIA WP Architecture for All since 1999, the inaugural Chair of ARCASIA Committee on Social Responsibility (2012), and the current Vice-President Asia Pacific, Rehabilitation International.

He is also a member of various advisory committees for the HKSAR Government.

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32 Special Report - Diversity

MTR Although I have lived in Asia since 1996, I still stumble at deciphering the never-ending list of acronyms that are used with such wild abandon in this part of the world. After 15 years in Singapore designing MRT stations, my colleagues here at MTR regularly chastise me for getting my Rs and Ts in the wrong order. Now after 10 years in Hong Kong, I annoy my Singaporean friends in equal measure by saying MTR all the time! But there is one acronym that has become more widely heard and understood in both cities: DEI.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is one of those subjects that feels a little woke – a term of a different era compared to when the Hong Kong and Singapore Metros were first conceived in the 1960s & ‘70s. Indeed, when both metros opened in the early 1980s, stations were not fitted with lifts for public use and public toilets were few and far between.

What was Roland Paoletti and friends thinking?

It is not as if old people, wheelchairs and the need to pee had not been invented! As a result, I have spent a large part of my professional career in Singapore & Hong Kong finding space to squeeze lifts into existing stations and fine tuning the art of designing toilets - that most intimate of all public spaces.

Simply put, DEI is at the core of everything mass public transit aspires to do: Serving the diverse transportation needs of the city, providing equal access at an affordable cost, inclusive to all regardless of ability. But clearly, we can and must do better than those early stations, which to be fair to those pioneers of metro

Text by: Andrew Mead, Head of Architecture MTR Corporation Limited

DEI

station design, reflected the modest budgets, aspirations and societal values of the times. Modern stations now have multiple lifts, tactile guidance paths, public toilets and baby care facilities.

But is this enough and can we do better?

Many of the challenges our customers face using the MTR are hidden. Poor eyesight, limited mobility and hearing impairments are just a few of the more common examples. But equally, many of the design features we provide in stations to help people navigate also work silently. If I asked what three stations in a row are green, blue and red, I suspect most Hong Kongers would correctly say Wan Chai, Admiralty & Central.

This is no accident. The choice of distinctive colours in the early stations was deliberate to help people determine where to alight.

With limited views of the stations from within the train and a relatively high degree of illiteracy at the time, the colours are an important feature in making our network legible. Along with the use of mosaic tiles and station names in bold calligraphy, these design features are part of the DNA of the Hong Kong MTR that are still a core part of our new station design requirements.

But there is more, since 1998 the Art in MTR programme has been commissioning site specific artworks in stations. With over 90 artworks in the collection to date, MTR is home to the largest collection of public artworks in Hong Kong. Not only is each artwork the unique creation of a distinguished artist, but they also function as ‘memory markers’ helping people navigate through the stations.

Sometimes this can be obvious. Users of Exit A at Shau Kei Wan station will be drawn to the amazing ‘Orange Flower World’ artwork by Emily Cheng strategically located at the base of the escalators with clear sight from the paid

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area. But in other stations, such as Wan Chai, the integration is more complex and immersive: Dancers from the Hong Kong Ballet adorn the walls of the subways leading from the two platforms, on the curved ones at the lower platform and on the short, straight walls at the upper platform. I sometimes wonder how many people notice this wayfinding element that is built into so many of the artworks.

In addition to being a significant part of the cultural capital of the city, the Art in MTR programme helps to make the MTR environment distinctive and legible.

When stations become highly complex such as the 4-line interchange at Admiralty, we have turned to technology to complement the wayfinding provided by the signage & artworks.

If you look carefully at the “MTR Mobile” App, the Admiralty In-station Finder uses Wi-Fi beacons to provide highly accurate wayfinding within the 7-level complex. First introduced in 2017, the system was expanded to serve the enlarged station May 2022.

Next time you are in Admiralty station, try it and see how accurate it is.

With the opening of Exhibition Station in May 2022, we introduced the next generation navigation solution on the “MTR Care” app using Wi-Fi fingerprinting technology. The app allows visually impaired customers to easily locate the station facilities, the platforms or even a particular train door on the platform. We are

planning to expand this solution to cover all stations in the network, promoting inclusive travel for all.

The "MTR Care" app is a precursor to a broader spectrum of wayfinding solutions envisioned for the near future. By melding augmented reality with our existing digital framework, we can provide real-time, personalized navigational assistance to our commuters.

Through augmented reality, the intricacies of our stations will become a navigable, interactive landscape, guiding each commuter individually with accuracy and simplicity. The fusion of physical signage, digital applications with emergent technologies like augmented reality and machine learning is part of our commitment to making MTR's extensive network more intuitive and accessible for all.

But while we continue to add layers of technological innovations into our stations, I firmly believe that the key to making stations accessible starts first and foremost with good planning.

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34 Special Report - Diversity The new MTR stations recently completed and those in the pipeline have all been designed with ease of use in mind with simple, clear planning that avoids unnecessary twists and turns.

At Admiralty station, a decade of planning and construction went into turning the original 1980s two-station interchange into a four-station mega interchange used by over 500,000 passenger per day.

At the heart of the design is a skylight that allows daylight deep underground, illuminating the 16 escalators that move people seamlessly through the atrium and to the new platforms. Hanging above the atrium is an artwork by the American artist Talley Fisher called ‘Mapping Our Way’ that comprises of four intertwining tracks, each one painted in the colour of the lines that interchange at the station. Viewable whilst traveling on the escalators and at eye-level from the Island & Tsuen Wan Line platforms, it adds a splash of colour to the white space.

Beyond the hardware of good design and facilities, MTR has been evolving too, reflecting our unique role in Hong Kong society. In collaboration with over 30 NGOs and social enterprises, MTR launched its first-ever Social Inclusion Week (SIW) in September 2022. The SIW aims to raise staff awareness of social inclusion, one of the Corporation’s Environmental and Social Objectives, enabling them to embrace diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities in their daily life, and to strengthen the bond with NGOs and social enterprises with the aim of building a more inclusive and caring community together.

A series of activities were held during the SIW including Inclusive Concerts by the True Colours Symphony; “Dialogue in the Dark” Experiential Learning to understand the challenges faced by the visually impaired community and a marketplace from

Social Enterprises that supports underserved groups like elderly, ethnically diverse and people with disabilities.

One of the outcomes of SIW is our collaboration with the Zubin Foundation that is committed to improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities by reducing suffering and providing opportunities.

The Zubin’s Family Centre at Austin Station opened on 17 January 2023 and is the first facility catering to special needs of ethnic minority children in Hong Kong. Located in the Yau Tsim Mong district, which houses 9% of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority community, the centre provides free counselling to ethnic minority children and therapies for children with ADHD and Autism in the community.

The Corporation has also launched a Gender Equity Network to further enhance workplace diversity and inclusion through providing an aspirational platform and supporting network. As co-chair of the Network, I collaborate with colleagues to raise awareness on gender equity and to support personal growth, wellbeing, equal opportunities and psychological safety of everyone at MTR. MTR has grown substantially over the past 40+ years and through our extensive rail, bus and property portfolios we have been the backbone of the phenomenal growth in the city over the past four decades. During that time, both the hardware and the software of MTR has evolved and matured. Not only are we older, we are also wiser too; with values that reflect today’s society helping to create a more Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Hong Kong.

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36 Special Report - Diversity

BUILDING

Belonging Research has shown that a diverse and inclusive workplace brings forth numerous advantages, including higher revenue growth, greater readiness to innovate, better decision making, higher employee retention and many others.

Considering the talent shortages and transformation challenges that construction companies face nowadays, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hold particular importance.

To embark on a DEI journey within a company, it’s crucial to establish it as a core business focus and drive it from the top.

Gammon is pioneering in the construction industry by showcasing how they have begun their own journey.

With the support of Gammon’s senior leadership, in May, 2020 the company established a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council to help steer Gammon on its journey towards having a truly inclusive culture. Led by the company’s Group General Counsel, the Council consists of 15 members, and they have developed a Building Belonging statement with corporate and individual goals and targets for the next few years, including a training programme for all employees.

The company has also identified D&I Champions who are responsible for providing research, advice, and recommendations to support the Council, as well as helping facilitate the roll out of initiatives, training, communications, and awareness raising.

The Champions also support employees in the establishment of employee-led interest groups or networks.

“Construction has long been a male-dominated industry with a traditional working environment that can be disadvantageous for women. In March 2021, to coincide with International Women’s

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Day, WinG (Women in Gammon and Allies) Network was launched to promote working together towards gender equality, through empowering women in the industry and raising awareness on the importance of gender equity initiatives,” said Alexandra Grierson, Chairperson of WinG. To encourage more young women to join the construction industry, WinG helped arranged site visits and talks for the Girls Go Tech School Programme. Organised by The Women's Foundation, the Girls Go Tech is a year-long school-based programme that aims to encourage female secondary school students from underprivileged backgrounds to pursue STEM-related subjects to maximise their future career options.

This year, WinG also collaborated with MTRC and Amazon Web Services to arrange experience sharing sessions for the International Women in Engineering Day. The Multicultural Affinity Group (MAG) is another employee-led network recently established in Gammon. “We act as ambassadors by generating ideas, initiatives, and participating in events that celebrate and support individual differences,” explained Edwin Gutierrez, Chairman of MAG. “By providing resources and supporting employees facing challenges related to inclusion, MAG helps create a culture of respect, understanding, and empathy, where everyone feels valued and supported.”

Promoting open dialogue and sharing experiences is an effective approach to fostering inclusion and raising awareness. In October 2022, Gammon held its inaugural Diversity & Inclusion hybrid event - ‘Building Belonging through Allyship’.

We believe that promoting a truly inclusive organisation is a business imperative and this agenda lays out the initial ways and means that Gammon intends to become a more inclusive organisation.

Kevin O’Brien Chief Executive Gammon

“We chose ‘allyship’ as the theme because it plays such an important role in achieving an inclusive culture, and we therefore wanted to raise awareness about what an ally is, why they are needed, and how to become one,” explained Kevin. “We were fortunate to have The Lighthouse Club Hong Kong as the supporting organisation for the event, as well as speakers who were willing to share personal stories of the role of allyship in their lives.”

Throughout the event Gammon invited feedback via an interactive polling app that allowed attendees to answer questions and provide opinions anonymously. Results showed that the need to listen and be inclusive were concepts that had the greatest impact upon them, and these were also two of the most notable areas in which they would work to change to become an ally, or a better ally.

This event was the first of many in raising awareness, starting conversations, and inspiring action so it can make construction an inclusive and welcoming industry where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.

“DEI has a long way to go in our industry and we are in a learning process. I am currently on a Male Allies programme developed by The Women’s Foundation and look forward to bringing what I have learnt back into Gammon,” said Kevin. “The importance of making change by embarking on the journey through steps including learning, training, data, collaboration and policy changes, and I encourage everyone in the industry to step up and take concrete action.”

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Raising the Bar in Raising the Bar in

HEALTH AND SAFETY

#1

The Lighthouse Club Manila (LHCM) promotes good safety practice and we are of the opinion that we should showcase contractors who are taking the lead in the Philippines and are raising the standards in Health and Safety practices.

For this first article we approached Lee Fellowes, Project Director for the MalolosClark Railway Project and asked him a number of questions to provide further insight into Megawide Construction Corporation’s (Megawide) Health, Safety and Environment practices and ambitions.

Special Report - Health & Safety

Can you provide a short introduction of your company?

What started as a construction company is now a diversified engineering and infrastructure innovator with a vision “To Be a First-World Philippines”.

Megawide aims to uplift the country by applying engineering excellence and innovation to all our businesses which include engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), which includes construction and engineering technologies (Precast and Construction Solutions); and transit-centric developments.

Megawide is a partner of the Philippine government in major infrastructure projects, namely: • Mactan-Cebu International Airport, a 25-year development contract; • Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, a 35-year development contract; • Design and construction of Clark International Airport’s new passenger terminal building • Design and construction of close to 10,000 classrooms for the Department of Education PP for School Infrastructure Project Phases 1 and 2.

What is your corporate Health and Safety Mission Statement?

We commit ourselves to customer satisfaction, environmental protection, and providing safe and healthy working conditions for the prevention of injury and ill health in the workplace. In line with our vision of Engineering a First World Philippines, we are committed to continually improve the company’s Quality, Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) Management Systems by:

• Implementing measurable objectives and targets that will guide us in meeting or exceeding organizational goals;

• Identifying environmental aspects and impacts as well as health and safety hazards in our operations, and initiate effective controls to eliminate hazards and reduce risks among our worker’s stakeholders; • Investing continuous training and development to support our initiatives and to continuously innovate in everything we do through training and development of our stakeholders to support our initiatives;

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• Implementing effective approaches both for solid and hazardous waste management through reduction, reuse, and recycling methods through our supply chain processes; • Promoting QESH-based programs using state of the art technologies and efficient techniques that will strengthen pollution prevention and optimize the consumption of resources using technologies; • Keeping respectful open communication through effective consultation and participation across all units and other interested parties for the common good and promoting and applying effective communication through consultation & participation; and • Complying with all legal requirements and other requirements applicable to our operations.

We will proactively engage in carrying out high-impact and socially responsible corporate initiatives to enable us to build a qualitycompliant work community and achieve our overall quality, environment, safety and health performance towards our business objective of becoming the leader in the industry.

How is the leadership and top management promoting Health and Safety?

We strictly adhere to the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) standards. We implement occupational safety and health training programs, ensuring employees are well-versed in policies, procedures and protocols; the Company then resources to support these initiatives.

We ensure the Company conducts regular risk assessments to effectively identify and mitigate potential workplace hazards. We also assign a budget to purchase safety equipment, ranging from standard medical bags to PPE's. These are then distributed to all employees.

Megawide promotes open communication between employees and superiors. Involving them in planning stages is very important as they can share valuable insights on potential improvements to its measures.

We are dedicated to improving safety and health policies, procedures and protocols through constant internal reviews and routine audits to align with emerging best practices and industry standards.

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What kind of technology (or innovation) do you use to make the workplace safer?

For confined space works, we use gas detection devices. On moving mechanical parts we have installed fixed guards to prevent pinched injuries or worse. There are devices for monitoring heat and humidity as well as wind movement. We also repurpose scrap items, such as old tyres, wooden pallets, empty drums, rebar cut outs etc to promote a more eco-friendly work environment Why is a Safe and Healthy workplace so important for a Contractor?

How do you ensure that your Health and Safety policies are implemented throughout all ranks in your company? Please provide examples, like rewards and recognition of work.

Megawide’s Policies are posted in all company locations, whether it be inside offices or at outdoor locations. Not only that, but they are discussed and relayed to all employees; through New Employee Orientations (NEO) and daily Toolbox Meetings (TMB), or at any given opportunity.

Our implementation of a reward system emphasizes to employees the value of compliance. Megawide, like every other organization in the Philippines, also provides for the following rights:

• the right to have the right information available at their

disposal, which may be in the form of Manuals, Plans and Procedures; • the right to proper instructions so they can perform their given task Effectively, Efficiently and Safely; • the right to proper training to ensure they acquire the right education needed to build their skill set; and • the right to supervision to ensure they are guided properly by a competent person.

Besides Health and Safety standards, do you also provide additional benefits which are focused on your worker’s well-being? If you do, can you provide some examples?

We have established a health facility, provide clean water and food, decent liveable housing accommodation, rest shelters, basketball courts, gyms and other leisure facilities and we encourage Team Building activities.

The company faithfully honours a moral and legal obligation to protect its workers. We believe strongly that a safe workplace yields more than surface-level benefits. Employees record greater productivity and are likely to stay longer at the company. We also reduce costs from medical expenses and other issues. Equally important, contractors with a strong safety record enrich their reputation in industry, attracting greater clients and ensuring profitability.

What is your company’s vision and ambition for the future, or, in other words, what is the next development you are looking for?

We aim to set the local benchmark for safety and health advocacy.

We have taken strict measures to achieve zero lost time incidents, as well as to reduce recordable incidents. The company has also urged project site heads and managers to take the lead in promoting a safer workplace.

The Lighthouse Club Manila wish to express their sincere appreciation to Megawide’s contribution and their continuous commitment and putting in place solutions and practices that will elevate the Health and Safety standards in the Philippines.

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Raising the Bar in

HEALTH AND SAFETY #2 In the second of LHCM’s health and safety interviews, we approached Raul Enrique Morante Rosales, Health and Safety Manager at ACCIONA.

Can you provide a short introduction of your company?

Acciona is a Spanish company for the promotion and management of infrastructure and renewable energies, present in 65 countries on five continents, committed to contributing to the economic and social development of communities in which it operates.

As it develops and manages sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy to lead the transition toward(s) a low-carbon economy, Acciona was the first infrastructure and energy company in 2016 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions globally.

What is your corporate Health and Safety Mission Statement?

Our advantage comes from people, so Acciona seeks a business proposal where people are at the centre so it is fully committed to the safety, health and well-being of all employees.

This commitment of the company is articulated around the Policy of Human Resources and Occupational Risk Prevention within our corporate Book of Group Policies. In addition, there is a specific Health and Safety policy that is integrated with our Quality and Environment Systems.

The purpose is to create a work environment that is safe and healthy for employees and contractors. During the process, Acciona evaluates the specific risks associated with each of its activities and puts in place the most effective controls to eliminate or reduce them as far as possible. This model implies the consolidation of a new safety culture that is visible in all initiatives and specific programs implemented by the company. In addition, Acciona has undergone a profound technological transformation that has generated a pioneering digital model in preventive management that includes the implementation of streaming remote assistance, the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality and the development of predictive tools.

How are the leadership and top management promoting Health and Safety?

Acciona’s Top Management promotes Health and Safety by directing all teams to establish higher standards than the requirements of the local legislation, transferring knowledge and the best practice in HS transversally around the world, through different programs that the Company has in HS matters.

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For instance, Acciona has developed and implemented the LEADER program, an international behaviour change program based on leadership.

practices. As an example, we work in different levels of recognition, a first level is directly with subcontractors where we make a yearly evaluation of their performance and give a recognition.

We are aware that good results in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) are achieved on a solid leadership base, so the main objective of this program is to positively influence, engage and transform the behaviours and attitudes of leaders. With this premise, LEADER is a long-term program to change the behavior and safety approach of the participants to increase commitment and thus transmit the values, vision and mission of the company to all employees.

This year, we organized our Health and Safety Regional event on 28 April 2023. A second level is on the site itself, where the subcontractors make monthly proposals for workers with good HS performance that are evaluated by our safety team for final nomination and awarding.

How do you ensure that your Health and Safety policies are implemented throughout all ranks in your company? Please provide examples, like rewards and recognition of work.

Besides Health and Safety standards, do you also provide additional benefits which are focused on your worker’s well-being? If you do, can you provide some examples?

From the first construction project that we started in Cebu with our partners, to the current one that we are executing in the Malolos-Clark Project, surging from the commitment of Steering Committees of the projects to all levels of management, there is a philosophy of encouraging their workers for the best practices in H&S with the assistance and orientation of the HS teams of these projects.

The ILO Convention on Occupational Safety and Health, 1981 (No. 155) defines health in relation to work as not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, it also includes the physical and mental elements affecting health that are directly related to safety and hygiene at work.Based on this, Acciona is developing the ONE HEALTH approach of the World Health Organization, the 2025 Sustainability Master Plan and the PEOPLE Acciona strategy. Acciona's 2023-2024 Health and Well-being Program is strategically framed in three dimensions: 1. Healthy Nutrition, 2. Emotional Balance 3. Promotion of Physical Activity.

These HS teams are permanently making campaigns in all our sites and implementing different programs to recognize the best team

Here in the Philippines, Acciona Construction started with different Physical Activity initiatives like the “Acciona Olympics”

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and currently is launching a Mental Health program by providing mental healthcare services through our partnership with a Healthcare provider in the country named “Empath”. “Empath” will be giving comprehensive and quality mental health services to Acciona employees in the country.

What kind of technology (or innovation) do you use to make the workplace safer?

Acciona is constantly looking for the highest standards in terms of Health and safety. With this commitment we go beyond legal compliance and are looking further for any opportunity of innovation to make the workplace safer. Currently, for example, we are in the final stage of implementing the “Digitalization of Health and Safety Management in Projects through a Data Analysis Center (Smart Control Centre)”. Through this centre, the company carries out a comprehensive analysis of data and alarm management in order to achieve a significant improvement in the health and safety management of its work centres.

It is an important communication and analysis centre where different sources of information are generating data that the centre can capture, structure, model and analyze with the help of artificial intelligence. With this analysis the data is transformed into useful information such as trends, alarms, alerts etc and always with a predictive component.

This kind of system has arrived also to the Philippines and is fully implemented in the construction project we are developing.

Another source worth a mention is Happy Force, a project in which we are collaborating with expert groups to develop a digital tool to measure emotional health of people in our work field, or Safety Engineering Intelligent Planning, a tool that is the first line of risk prevention since it is used for the safety planning of projects, so we can plan according to the reality of the projects and then know what specific control measures are planned and whether they are effective or not.

The Lighthouse Club Manila wish to express their sincere appreciation to Acciona’s contribution and their continuous commitment and putting in place solutions and practices that will elevate Health and Safety standards in the Philippines.

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Why is a Safe and Healthy workplace so important for a Contractor?

Allow me to give you a comparison for easy understanding. Let’s say that any construction project is like a live organism, a body. This organism is like a family and the construction site is like a family place where all those involved in it are family members. Similar to a family, if one member is suffering, the rest are suffering, the entire organism is affected and the body starts feeling sick.

When we talk about H&S, this is one of the fast sicknesses that can affect this organism because in case of an accident it is traumatic for all those involved in it (from the workers, to colleagues, the families, the company itself…) and the effects can be present for a long time.

That is why it is so important for a contractor to have a Safe and Healthy workplace because if not, this is a sickness that if extended, affects all parts, including the efficiency and success of the project.

What is your company’s vision and ambition for the future or in other words what are the next developments you are looking for?

The future of health and safety in Acciona inevitably involves the deepening and evolution of the Intelligent Preventive Model of the company. It resides in a set of programs, processes, tools, systems and practices that, forming an indivisible whole, have a global influence on the improvement of the health and safety of the company.

The line in which this Intelligent Preventive Model is evolving is based on three pillars, the digitalization of our processes to increase efficiency and generate data, the intensive use of artificial intelligence, and the talent of our people with resilient skills who are ready to navigate in these changing scenarios. This means not only a technological challenge but also a cultural one since it implies changes in people engagement and culture.

The best proof that we are going in the right direction are the awards and recognitions that this model is receiving, for example the last three awarded with a special mention to the Smart Control Centre: "Innovative Well-Being Project 2022" by Agora Bienestar, "Recognition of Merit in Business Management" from the ORP International Foundation and the last one granted this last June by the Spanish Society for Health and Safety at Work to the Smart Control Centre.

44 Branch report - New Zealand

Inaugural Meeting of Auckland

T

he inaugural meeting took place on 21 September 2023, at CCI’s headquarters in Newmarket, Auckland and was attended by a total of eleven individuals.

The meeting commenced with an introduction and a presentation on the LHCI, led by Caspar Coetzee. During the session, the team watched a video that shed light on a regrettable incident involving visa fraud, affecting construction workers in New Zealand. Additionally, Robert Jones shared valuable insights from his prior experiences with the LHC during his time in Asia, which greatly contributed to cultivating a sense of camaraderie within the expat community.

Sandro Aduso put forth a proposal advocating for increased efforts to engage more women in our initiatives. He also expressed his company's keen interest in offering sponsorship support.Yu Tian Lai, drawing from her involvement with the LHC in Malaysia, emphasized her gratitude for being a part of the LHC organization.

She also contributed innovative ideas for future events.

The gathering retained an informal and welcoming atmosphere, where attendees enjoyed light refreshments and beverages.

Branch report – Philippines

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Manila Autumn Update

W

ith a dedicated group of nineteen (19) corporate members and forty-nine (49) individual members, the Lighthouse Club Manila (LHCM) is making a positive impact in Manila. As the city witnesses a surge in large infrastructure projects and with the arrival of international contractors and consultancies, LHCM aims to attract both local and global interest in our activities and charitable objectives.

Social Gatherings On Saturday 20 May 2023, LHCM hosted a delightful Summer Soiree at the renowned Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. Our theme of the night was Hard Hats and High Heels. Our guests did not disappoint with their creativity in expressing the idea to mix the ruggedness of the construction industry with a touch of elegance.

The evening was filled with captivating conversations, joy and laughter, as our club members and their guests reunited with old acquaintances, made new friends, and enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere.

Save the Date for Upcoming Events To avoid scheduling conflicts with other events in Manila, LHCM has decided to hold their social evenings on the fourth Thursday of each month. Our enjoyable gatherings promise to be the perfect way to unwind and connect with professionals in the construction industry. Do reach out to us if you visit Manila.

Annual Golf Day On Friday 15 September 2023, LHCM organized our annual Golf Day. Over 100 players aexperienced a day of friendly competition against the backdrop of the beautiful Canlubang Golf Course and Country Club. This Golf Tournament is one of the key fundraising events for the LHCM this year and was a major success. A separate report will be in the next issue of “The Lighthouse”.

STAY ENGAGED and be part of LHC Manila's inspiring journey.

An Elegant Evening to Remember Mark your calendars for Saturday 18 November 2023, as LHCM brings back their much-anticipated Annual Ball after a four-year hiatus. Prepare to dazzle in your finest attire and join the LHCM community in celebrating their achievements and raising funds for their charitable initiatives. This year we will have our annual in recently reopened iconic Makati Shangri-La. Don’t miss out on this event and you can register now. Express your interest to attend, and LHCM will keep you informed of the event's details.

Stay Connected with LHCM. For the latest updates on LHCM's events and charitable efforts: Follow us on www.facebook.com/LighthouseClubManila Connect on www.linkedin.com/in/lighthouseclubmanila Explore our www.instagram.com/lighthouseclub_manila Visit our website www.lighthouseclubph.org

46 Branch report - Philippines

Manila Summer Soiree

Branch report – Philippines

A Night to Remember

O

n the enchanting evening on 20 May 2023, LHCM brought the glamour and joy of summer to life at the elegant Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. This year's theme, "Hard Hats and High Heels," was a delightful fusion of contrasting elements – the ruggedness of construction work, symbolized by hard hats, seamlessly blended with the sophistication of high heels. The result? A memorable night filled with laughter, dancing, and delectable cuisine.

Without the unwavering dedication and commitment of our members and sponsors, the LHCM Summer Soiree would not have been possible. Your presence added an extra layer of charm to the event, making it an unforgettable experience for all.

The evening was a harmonious convergence of fifty-five enthusiastic attendees. Long-standing friendships were rekindled, and new bonds were formed as it was a night where stories were exchanged, memories were created, and the LHCM community grew even stronger.

As we bask in the afterglow of the LHCM Summer Soiree, we are reminded of the strength and unity of our Lighthouse community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members and sponsors for their continued support. Your generosity and enthusiasm have made this evening a resounding success.

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Branch report – Hong Kong

HK Women in Construction find New Wine Venue

O

n a warm September midweek evening, a group of Women in Construction (WIC) members, plus a few male members, enjoyed a wine tasting event at the newlyopened mato.coffee.wine situated on Des Voeux Road in Central, Hong Kong.

An impressive selection of wines from around the world were sampled, with gusto, and an array of nibbles was available to soak up the reds, whites and roses. It was a relaxed, convivial affair: glasses clinked, the conversation flowed and all present were able to have the opportunity to exchange ideas, insights (and probably gossip!) on current and forthcoming projects.

The WIC express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, especially those who organised the evening. Support of these kind of events is important for the continued success of the Club and the money it raises for the various Lighthouse Club charities. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all at future events!

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49

50 Branch report - Thailand

Bangkok Branch - Meinhardt Cup 2023

T

he Bangkok Annual Meinhardt Cup was held in August at the Royal Lakeside Golf Club just outside Bangkok. As per previous years the competition was held between the Lighthouse Club and Bangkok Amateur Golf Society (BAGS) for the coveted trophy.

We had over 80 golfers attend the event raising over THB 30,000 for charity. Competition was fierce between the two teams with Phil Barbour leading the BAGS team and Charles Cain the captain for the Lighthouse Team. Drinks & prize giving was held late afternoon with all participants enjoying the camaraderie and swapping golf stories. Fines were paid for incursions – any excuse to make money for charity! Prizes were awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive, lowest score. We also had a hole in one scored by Moya-Jayne Harris.

We are very grateful to Meinhardt & John Pollard who generously continue to sponsor this event.

Branch report - Thailand

51

52 Branch report - Macau

Macau – Back to Full Strength

N

o event was held in July due to many people travelling away from Macau in the summer holidays, now that Covid is behind us.

The August monthly function event was held on 9 August at the Ritz Carlton Bar on 51, sponsored by our long time, loyal Lighthouse Club supporter, Top Builders Group. Around 80 guests attended the event. The company was introduced by Lighthouse Club Macau committee member/TBG Director, Carlos Tang. Top Builders also donated lucky draw prizes. As usual for our Macau events, a good time was had by all.

Branch report - Macau

The monthly event in September was held on Wednesday, 13 September at a new venue, the Coloane Yacht Club. The event was arranged by our Lighthouse Club Committee member, Gloria Liu. Around 90 guests joined the event, which was sponsored by another loyal Lighthouse Club supporter, San Fong Seng Group (SFS)/AB Builders Group. CEO, Athena Lau, introduced her company. SFS also provided the Lucky Draw prizes. Everyone enjoyed the event in a new environment.

Special thanks must go to the Top Builders Group team who man the reception desk, chase subscriptions and entry fees and sell the lucky draw tickets at all our events.

53

54 Branch report - Australia

News from Australia SYDNEY On 21 September, Our Sydney branch organised a fascinating conversation with The Hon James Allsop AC, spanning his broad practice and his move to arbitration, facilitated by Leighton O'Brien.

The Hon James Allsop AC was Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia from 1 March 2013 to 6 April 2023; President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal from 2 June 2008 to 28 February 2013; and a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 7 May 2001 to 1 June 2008. He is now available as an arbitrator, mediator, early neutral evaluator, chair of inquiries and legal expert.As a barrister from 1981, and as Senior Counsel (in New South Wales) from 1994 and as Queen’s Counsel (in Western Australia) from 1998, James practised in a wide variety of areas in commercial law.

James’ expertise, as an advocate and judge, includes company law and business and partnership disputes, taxation, restrictive trade practices (anti-trust), patents, intellectual property, contract and building and construction disputes, with specialties in insurance, intellectual property, maritime law, insolvency, public and constitutional law, equity, and common law, in particular professional negligence of auditors,

solicitors and insurance brokers.James was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2023 for eminent service to the judiciary and to the law, to organisational and technological reform, to legal education, and to insolvency law. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2013.

The event was extremely well received and everyone enjoyed the networking before and after the Fireside chat. Thanks to those that attended and to our generous sponsors Allens and CCi, A Rimkus Company.

PERTH The WA committee is busy planning its gala ball which will be held at Optus Stadium on Friday 24 November 2023.

Other upcoming events: 1. As part of arbitration week, a national seminar which will be held live in Perth “What’s Next? Hot tubbing witnesses of fact and costs of arbitration – drive for greater efficiency”. This live event in Perth is kindly sponsored by Corrs Chambers Westgarth, CCi, Anvelo, FTI and TBH. 2. Networking event on Thursday 26 November 2023 at The Island at Elizabeth Quay which kindly sponsored by TBH

Branch report – Australia

MELBOURNE On 12 September, our Melbourne branch continued their frequent networking event held at a popular venue “The Bank on Collins” in Melbourne CBD. The event was kindly sponsored by DGA Group and they had a great turn out!

55

56 Corporate Members

Lighthouse Club International Corporate Gold Membership:

Silver Membership:

Bronze Membership:

57

Membership

Members

Membership of Lighthouse Club International is available by contacting the Membership Secretary at info@lighthouseclubintl.com.

Corporate memberships are available at the following levels:

Platinum

Diamond

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Benefits include: • Corporate logo feature in “The Lighthouse” quarterly magazine • Logo displayed at all events organized by Lighthouse Club International and local branch events where nominees are based • Advertising discounts Individual membership is also available.

Room 505, 5/F., 299QRC, 287-299 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong

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Tim Edmonds

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James Taylor

Andrew Schwanethal

Megan Mousdale

Hamzah Risheq

Huang Yi Jie

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Senior Director Senior Director Senior Director andrew.schwanethal@kroll.com megan.mousdale@kroll.com hamzah.risheq@kroll.com

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