At RLB, we always say it is our people who make our organisation unique. It is the winning combination of expertise and experience that our talented team brings to each project that inspires confidence in our clients and truly brings imagination to life.
The consistent high performance of our team is unquestionable. But sometimes a colleague makes a contribution that is truly dazzling. This new special thanks and recognition scheme, RLB Stars, recognises those people.
We are proud to honour the people who embody RLB values and reward those who have a significant impact on our business. In this inaugural year we received excellent entries in all categories, but some people stood out.
Please join me in congratulating and celebrating our colleagues. I hope you will be inspired by their stories – I certainly am.
Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to submit nominations.
Peter Tulla
RLB Oceania Chairman
Value Creation Award
The recipients of this award have proactively embarked on projects that have added new value to RLB and helped them achieve their own career and personal goals.
1. Mark Spencer – Associate Programmer in Brisbane
In his own time, Mark developed an integrated project dashboard using Power Bi, combining the RLB project schedule with the RLB cost plan to create a highly interactive project cashflow and cost management tool. This tool can be shared with our clients via Power Bi and allows them to view and interrogate on a ‘read only’ basis. Mark has also adapted this tool to improve the management of project portfolios or multiple projects.
2. Naomi Tahata – Senior Executive Assistant to the Managing Director / Administration Manager in Melbourne
Naomi proactively overhauled the Melbourne office’s administration process by writing and implementing new office support manuals and forms, and creating a full training and development program for administration staff. This ensures a higher and more consistent level of service across the company. The new processes and systems have driven efficiencies and dramatically lifted the level of service offering and professionalism. Naomi is now leading the administration and change management process for RLB’s Melbourne ERP project.
3. Leo Zhan – Quantity Surveyor in Perth
With a passion for drones, Leo identified the potential to utilise drones for site inspections for progress claim purposes. Leo investigated the legislative and regulatory requirements, and used his initiative to author a report ‘Adoption of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) on Construction Projects’.
Teamwork Collaboration Award
These dream teams leverage the unique contributions of their people to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions.
4-6. Syidah Arnold (Associate in Newcastle), Mark Brasher (Associate in Sydney), and Cameron Upton (Senior Surveyor in Sydney)
Syidah, Mark and Cameron have championed NSW’s Training and Development Committee since its inception, making recommendations on content, suggesting presenters, managing and facilitating training sessions and embracing an attitude of continual improvement. The team is self-motivated, proactive and works hard to deliver the training sessions for NSW.
7-15. Neil Taylor (Technical Director), Olin Reed (Associate Director), Sophia Wang, Sumitra Wong, Chris Baker, Richard Clarke, Vijitha Paranagama, Sylvia Hogg (Senior Quantity Surveyors), and Richard Anderson (Director) – team Auckland
Two of the key constants impacting healthcare today are change and the pace of that change. Working together for more than three years on the complex Auckland & Greenlane hospital projects has demanded wide collaboration with project directors, hospital facilities managers and an array of consulting firms to help create solutions with no limitations on ideas. The team applied a professional QS lens to a facilities management and infrastructure upgrade project, extending to core estimating services, robust procurement procedures, and cost management services through delivery phase driving new efficiencies and project milestones. The success of the principal cost manager role led to an opportunity with Auckland Airport and its $3 billion-plus redevelopment through to 2029.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
This award represents ‘integrity’ – inspiring confidence and empowering change to have a positive influence on the world.
16. Drita Corazzi – Submissions Manager in Melbourne
Drita has been fundamental in compiling RLB’s tender submissions for corporate social responsibility and investigating avenues for compliance. Drita coordinated the marketing component of RLB’s carbon neutral assessment in Melbourne. Drita’s ongoing commitment to improve our CSR position is admirable and a credit to her determination.
Customer Service Excellence Award
This award honours ‘self-starters’ who have gone above and beyond to nurture relationships with our clients to deliver flawlessly.
17. Val Needham – Associate in Adelaide
Val has been instrumental in RLB delivering our cost management, bid management and superintendent services on Adelaide Airport’s $200 million terminal expansion over a six year journey and at the height of construction Val needed to be 100% on the project at the clients request. Changes of leadership at Adelaide Airport at multiple times could have posed risks, but Val was invaluable in building relationship with new team members. Well-respected by everyone on the project – from the Airports managing director to trade contractors – Val has ensured a timely, trusted, independent and accurate service was delivered by RLB.
18. Tyson Leach – IT Manager in Melbourne
Tyson led the Microsoft 365 rollout, the largest body of work delivered by RLB IT and one which proved a future-proofing exercise against the COVID-19 work-from-home mandate. The mixed IT environments and platforms of our Australian offices presented significant complexity. Tyson worked in collaboration with other offices, including their external IT consultants, to effectively manage and implement the project. Tyson also ensured disruption was minimised and that migration risk was managed daily.
Young Achiever Award
This award honours ‘action’ and is reserved for passionate young achievers with bold minds and fresh perspectives.
19. Johnny Liu – Quantity Surveyor in Auckland
Johnny has progressed from an initial RLB scholarship in 2017 to Quantity Surveyor and has spent the last 12 months working on the $1.2 billion Auckland Central Interceptor project. He has smoothly transitioned into a civils environment and his knowledge and confidence have increased on a challenging project. Based in a project management office, Johnny is responsible for estimating, procurement and post contract delivery and financial management across multiple reporting streams. Most recently Johnny was involved in the measurement and successful settlement of significant variations on two key packages.
20. Jamie Smith – Quantity Surveyor in Queenstown
Jamie started in Queenstown with an undergraduate internship in 2018 and has progressed quickly to become a well-regarded quantity surveyor in a small local market. The nature of a small office requires younger staff to swim quickly, and Jamie has become a competent all-rounder. Jamie has received several prestigious awards and accolades and demonstrates his continuing commitment to RLB with his ability to deliver everything he does well.
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