Conference to focus on collaborative contracts in a cautious market

The Alliancing Association of Australasia (AAA) has themed its upcoming convention ‘Finding the Cheese in a Changing Market’ around how collaborative contracting methods are being used to tackle the challenges of a cautious construction market.

The AAA Annual Convention, to be held in Melbourne over 25–26 October 2012, will focus on productivity in a constrained infrastructure market to address an uncertain future for the sector.

Economic trouble in Europe, slowing growth in China and the high Australian dollar have created a risk averse market very different to that when collaborative delivery was in full swing in Australasia six years ago, said acting CEO of AAA Ron Quill.

“Governments now are more focused on balancing the books and generating surpluses rather than borrowing to overcome problems with road, rail and power. Despite this change, we are seeing more collaboration taking place to deliver public and private infrastructure. Clients and contractors have learnt that superior results have been achieved by working together and even hard dollar contracts have elements of collaboration built it.”

Keynote speaker Tim Bamford, executive director for Major Projects Victoria, will share opportunities and challenges for the people of Victoria and the infrastructure sector in discussing delivery of functional and affordable infrastructure, major new infrastructure project opportunities in Victoria, investment challenges and the role of collaboration to plan, invest and deliver in this sector.

Other presenters will examine how technology can enhance infrastructure delivery productivity. Highlights include:

• Janet Matton, vice president, Operations of IBM Australia and New Zealand, will focus on workplace transformation and technology trends based on her key roles with IBM worldwide.
• Sarah Kay, principal of Woods Bagot Architects, will consider agile collaborative work environments and how they enhance productivity, flexibility and efficiency based on mobile technology.
• Mark Pope, CEO of Chase Performance, will present on current trends and how they are influencing human behaviour.

The convention will also feature the AAA 2012 Alliance Excellence Awards, to be contested by four finalists: Origin Alliance, Ballina Bypass Alliance, Auckland Motorway Alliance and the Barwon Water Alliance.

“This year’s finalists have achieved outstanding outcomes through their superior teamwork and ability to cope with project uncertainties, especially in a market where high quality outcomes are expected within tight budget constraints,” said Quill.

For more information about the 2012 AAA Annual Convention or Alliance Excellence Awards see the event website at www.AAAconvention.org.