In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Ashley Stewart, Project Director at Turner & Townsend, whose global experience across major events, construction, and program delivery gives her an extraordinary 360-degree perspective on Queensland’s future. From starting on construction sites in Scotland at 18 to shaping the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and delivering Canada’s Pan Am Games, Ashley brings a rare blend of lived experience and strategic insight.

Together, Lauren and Ashley explore the state’s biggest challenges, from housing shortages to capability gaps to the cultural shifts reshaping the workforce. As the 2032 Olympics fast approaches, what will it truly take for Queensland to build a workforce ready for the world stage?

Grounded, honest, and deeply human, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone navigating growth, leadership, or the emotional weight of relocating a family across continents.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Realities of Migration and Major Events:

• Why relocating a family is far more complex and emotionally taxing than people assume
• The hidden financial layers of international migration (shipping, customs, housing, credit history, vehicles, schools)
• How Ashley’s experience across Glasgow 2014 and Toronto Pan Am Games informs her predictions for Brisbane 2032
• Why Brisbane is a different test case compared to London or LA due to city size, growth rate, and resource constraints

Queensland’s Housing and Infrastructure Challenge:

• Why housing shortages could become one of the biggest barriers to workforce growth
• How policy, zoning, approvals, and red tape shape development timelines
• Why large-scale master planned communities may be essential
• The ripple effects: schools, healthcare, roads, and the infrastructure needed to support incoming workers and families
• How the cost of living and interstate migration are reshaping South East Queensland

Workforce Capability, Skills, and Diversity:

• Why Queensland faces unique skill shortages heading into the Olympic decade
• How long procurement cycles awarding work years ahead affect workforce planning
• The alarming 12% decline in women in construction over the past year
• The role flexibility, culture, and workplace systems play in retaining women
• “You can’t be what you can’t see”: why visible role models matter
• How technology, hybrid work, and outcome-based management can close capability gaps

Leadership, Flexibility, and the Future of Work:

• Why flexibility is not one size fits all, and why organisations must redefine it
• The dangers of “flexibility but” policies
• How trust, autonomy, and outcome-focused leadership strengthen culture
• The double-edged sword of remote work: freedom vs. the pressure of being “always on”
• Why leaders must build sustainable systems, not rely on individuals to “push through” burnout

The Mental Load, Comparison Trap, and Redefining Success

• Why so many professionals, especially women, feel overwhelmed post-COVID
• How social media distorts expectations around careers, parenting, homes, and success
• Why intentionally protecting your inner circle changes everything
• The importance of letting go of comparison and building connections aligned with your values
• How community groups like NAWIC and industry bodies build confidence, belonging, and support

Community, Networking, and Belonging

• Why meaningful networking is about depth, not quantity
• How newcomers to Queensland can build a professional community from scratch
• The power of reaching out to new arrivals, women returning from maternity leave, and early-career professionals
• Why smaller events often spark richer, more authentic connections
• The role of committees, advocacy groups, and industry organisations in shaping the future of construction

Key Quotes from Ashley Stewart:

• “I want to be able to push open doors that people thought were closed and hold them open for others to walk through behind me.”
• “If I had known how hard relocating with a family would be, I’m not sure I would’ve done it.”
• “Queensland is such an attractive place to live, but that makes housing one of our biggest challenges.”
• “Flexibility can’t be ‘flexibility but’, it has to be tailored to the individual.”
• “You can’t be what you can’t see. Visible role models matter.”
• “Sometimes you walk into your home and your kids run to you, and that’s the moment that makes everything feel worth it.”

About Our Guest:

Ashley Stewart is a Project Director at Turner & Townsend, with a career spanning major global events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Toronto’s Pan Am Games, alongside significant roles in construction, program delivery, and infrastructure. With deep experience across Scotland, Canada, and now Queensland, Ashley brings a unique lens to workforce capability, housing challenges, and the human realities behind major development cycles. Passionate about women in construction, flexibility, and leadership, Ashley is committed to opening doors and building pathways for future generations.

About Your Host:

Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.

How You Can Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.
• Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and follow Turner & Townsend’s work

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• Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.
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Let’s Connect:

• Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at [email protected].

Thank you for listening! It’s time to stop waiting and start building.