Beyond The Plan

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let's start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/

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In Part 1, governance specialist Isabelle Gray-Garraway broke down what governance actually is, why it fails, and the real cost when it goes wrong at scale. In this part, we go deeper.

Isabelle explains what "minimum viable governance" really means, why it's not about doing less, it's about doing the right amount for the risk in front of you, and how New South Wales Infrastructure's Investor Assurance Framework has become a benchmark for fit-for-purpose, risk-based governance across Australia.

From there, she maps the exact timeline of how governance failure quietly precedes delivery failure, from the pre-project red flags nobody wants to name, through the "false start," and into what she calls "early drift", the slow cultural decline that turns a shaky start into a broken delivery. She closes with why governance reform can only ever come from the executive level, and an extraordinary real-world case study most people have only seen in the headlines: the governance collapse at WiseTech Global.

If you're responsible for sponsoring, delivering, or sitting across major projects, this episode gives you the exact checklist to spot failure before it costs you.

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Watch the video version of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ali.farhoodi

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook 

01:12 Recap: why governance structures become ineffective 

02:01 What "minimum viable governance" really means 

04:07 Matching governance to risk across industries 

08:34 Case study: NSW Infrastructure's Investor Assurance Framework 

15:48 Why governance failure always precedes delivery failure 

16:43 Pre-project red flags: sponsorship, scope, budget, change readiness 

21:18 The vanity project ("stars in eyes") 

21:33 The false start: incomplete documents, absentee sponsors 

28:24 Early drift: the slow cultural decline 

36:37 The questions every project should answer before it starts 

40:51 Why governance reform has to come from the top 

47:39 Case study: WiseTech Global's governance collapse 

55:10 Final thoughts and recommendations

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let's start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/

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What if the biggest threat to your infrastructure project isn't the budget, the timeline, or the scope, but the relationships?

In this episode, Brett Ackroyd, a commercial lawyer with 25+ years inside some of Australia's most complex defence and government projects, joins us to unpack why most project failures start after the contract is signed. Brett breaks down collaborative working as a business discipline, the ISO 44001 standard most people in the industry have never heard of, and what elite delivery teams are doing differently to manage complexity at scale.

We dive into why a collaborative culture means people acting beyond their own contractual boundaries to solve problems, how to build that culture so it's systemic, intentional, and enduring (not dependent on personal relationships that disappear when people change roles), and why traditional contract-first thinking can actually work against the outcome it was designed to protect.

If you manage projects, manage risk, or are tired of silos and blame-shifting in delivery, this episode will change how you think about business relationships for good.

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Watch the video version of the podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@ali.farhoodi

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:38 Introduction of Brett Ackroyd — background and experience

04:39 What is collaborative working, by definition?

08:05 The three pillars: systemic, intentional, scalable

10:08 The ISO 44001 standard explained

11:09 Why personal relationships alone make culture fragile

17:11 Win-win vs acting to your own detriment

20:00 Real example: resolving a shipbuilding project error without the contract

23:51 The cost of a claims-first culture in Australian construction

25:00 Why collaborative teams are the best problem-solving machine

30:38 Predictability, productivity, and the Scottish Water case study

41:58 Step one: defining your team's values and behaviours

44:00 Leadership as the champion of collaborative culture

46:14 Building competent, empowered, engaged teams

47:46 Incentives, consequences, and having the right people on board

50:28 When organisations can't fully collaborate — lessons from Defence

55:10 Collaborative working advocates

58:00 Why process alone isn't enough

1:06:36 What's next for collaborative working in Australia

1:17:01 Book recommendations

1:17:48 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let's start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/

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In this episode, we're joined by Isabelle Gray-Garraway, a governance specialist with 25 years in project delivery across defence, the NSW public sector, and major government programmes including a $200 million rolling programme at Transport for New South Wales. Isabelle has worked in the audit trenches, operated at executive level, and actively advocated for governance change from the inside, achieving it with real results.

She breaks down what governance actually is, what it absolutely is not (hint: it's not committees, it's not minutes, and it's definitely not theatre), and takes us through two of Australia's most significant public sector failures, Robodebt and the Queensland Health Payroll Programme, to show exactly what governance failure looks like in practice and what it costs. If you lead projects, sit on steering committees, or are responsible for delivering major outcomes, this episode will change how you think about where accountability really lives.

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Watch the video version of the podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:58 Introduction of Isabelle Gray-Garraway

07:03 What is governance, and what it's not

11:07 Robodebt: A case study in governance failure

21:18 Why governance has a bad name

32:52 Queensland Health Payroll: Another governance disaster

41:16 Why governance frameworks become ineffective

46:34 The bravery it takes to challenge governance from within

49:23 Human nature, executive inertia, and governance stagnation

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let's start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/

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In this episode, we're joined by Nick Jago, Chief Culture Officer at Elemental Projects, who has spent nearly two decades delivering major infrastructure projects across Australia and New Zealand. Nick makes the case that technical knowledge alone will never make you a great project manager — the shift from knowing the work to leading the people is where the real capability gap lies.

From emotional intelligence and managing ego under pressure, to healthy conflict and building genuine team culture, Nick shares the people skills that he believes make or break project outcomes. He draws on experience across the Sydney Metro, Auckland International Airport, and NSW social infrastructure to bring these ideas to life with candour, humour, and hard-won perspective.

If you manage projects, lead delivery teams, or want to grow as a people leader in complex environments, this episode is for you.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard:

https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:44 Introduction of Nick Jago  

08:30 The shift from technical to human: the evolution of project management

18:00 Capability vs. experience. What actually predicts success?

26:00 Leading under pressure vs. managing under pressure

37:00 Emotional intelligence, ego, and self-awareness in project delivery

48:00 Conflict, culture, and what "genuine" team culture looks like

58:00 Value over box-ticking. How great PMs show up differently

01:05:00 Book recommendations

01:07:00 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let’s start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we're joined by Douglas Marr, Chief Planner at Downer Group, who brings over three decades of real-world construction and project delivery experience to unpack why planning is the most underrated discipline in project success. Drawing on his journey from apprentice electrician to leading standardised planning practices across one of Australia's largest infrastructure businesses, Douglas challenges the outdated idea that planners are background support roles, arguing that projects don't fail because of poor construction, but because planners are brought in too late, treated as schedulers rather than strategic leaders, and excluded from the decisions that matter most.

Douglas breaks down the critical difference between a planner and a scheduler, how to connect commercial strategy to execution, build dashboards that actually tell a story, and lead proactive decision-making when delays hit. If you manage projects, lead delivery teams, or are responsible for major infrastructure outcomes, this episode's for you.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:41 Douglas' Background and Experience

08:57 The Power of Planning - Turning Strategy into Execution

09:55 Planning as Leadership - How Planning Shapes the Entire Project

29:54 Planner Scheduler

32:00 Connecting Strategy to Scheduler

43:11 The Role of Visibility Using Data and Dashboards

56:00 Decision Making through Planning: When to hold the line and when to adapt?

01:05:14 Lessons from Major Projects

01:18:16 AI and the Future of Planning

01:22:10 Book Recommendations

01:24:21 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation. 

From concept to delivery, we bring proven expertise to advance your project. Let’s start the conversation: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Bradley Hasting, Director of Executive Education at the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, who explains why 80 per cent of expert leaders fail in complex projects. Drawing on research and real-world experience across major infrastructure and government transformations, Bradley challenges the idea that technical skill and competencies drive success. He argues that projects derail not because of poor plans, but because of flawed decision-making, political misalignment, and breakdowns in stakeholder relationships.

Dr. Bradley introduces the shift from an expert mindset to a transforming mindset, unpacking what it takes to lead without authority, navigate power and politics, and create environments where teams can thrive under uncertainty. If you manage projects, lead large teams, or operate in high-stakes stakeholder environments, this episode offers a practical and research-backed reframing of what modern leadership truly demands.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:44 Introduction of guest background and experience

07:22 The mind of a modern project leader - Why mindset matters?

12:19 Why projects fail?

25:13 The unique challenge of a modern-day project

36:05 Zombie Leadership

47:18 New framing of leadership

01:00:31 What's needed for leadership development to work?

01:05:25 Book Recommendation

01:07:08 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation. 

Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team:

https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Mark McLean, a veteran consultant with decades of experience across engineering, quality systems, and ISO standard development, who unpacks why so many teams struggle to solve problems that keep coming back. Mark explains why projects derail not because of capability or effort, but because problems are rarely defined properly before solutions are applied.

Drawing on real-world examples from manufacturing, infrastructure, aviation, biomedical labs, and large organisations like Qantas and BHP, Mark breaks down a structured, process-first approach to problem solving. He walks through where teams should actually start, how to define problems with clear scope and boundaries, and why evidence matters more than opinions when identifying root cause. He also explains why common tools like the Five Whys are often misused, and how focusing on processes rather than people leads to more sustainable improvements.

If you’re a project manager, engineer, consultant, or leader dealing with recurring issues, firefighting, or change initiatives that fail to stick, this episode offers a clear, practical framework for solving the right problems in the first place. Ideal for anyone responsible for delivery, performance, or continuous improvement in complex organisations.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro/Hook

01:39 Introduction of Guest/Mike's Background

03:33 How to systematically approach the Problem/DAXIS

06:34 Where to start?

18:17 How to clearly define a problem?

27:15 Do you/team know enough about the problem

36:17 Cause Analysis

56:45 Franken Furte was Right (Janet)

01:02:52 Book recommendation

01:05:52 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation. 

Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team:

https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Ian Hudson, Executive Director of the Industry Capability Network, who shares how small and medium businesses can win major contracts without trying to compete like Tier One operators. Ian explains what buyers are really looking for, why many tenders fail before they’re even read, and how capability gaps are often created by positioning rather than skill.

Drawing on real examples from infrastructure, energy, and preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, Ian breaks down how SMEs can choose the right tenders, present their capability clearly, and align systems, experience, and certifications with project requirements. He also explains why relationships before a tender matter, how procurement policies can work in your favour, and what separates serious contenders from time-wasters.

If you’re an SME looking to improve your tender success rate, break into large projects, or prepare your business for upcoming nation-building opportunities, this episode offers clear, practical guidance from someone with a full market view. Ideal for business owners, contractors, and advisors navigating government and major project procurement.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Hook

01:02 Introduction to Ian Hudson and ICN

03:09 Understanding the Capability Gap Between SMEs and Major Projects

06:18 Picking the Right Tenders and Thinking Like the Buyer

10:46 Building a Strong Capability Profile on ICN Gateway

14:32 Certifications, Systems and Readiness Before You Tender

19:05 Competing on a Global Stage as an Australian SME

22:48 Efficiency, Waste Reduction and Focusing on Your Strengths

25:22 Building Local Advantage Through Relationships and Market Sounding

30:11 Collaboration Between SMEs to Win Larger Work Packages

36:58 Government Procurement Rules Explained (AIP, SME Plans, Diversity)

44:12 Using Procurement Policies to Your Advantage

54:58 Lessons Learned From ICN Projects

59:40 Cash Flow, Contract Risk and Scaling Safely

1:07:47 Preparing Your Business for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics

1:13:02 Leveraging Olympic Experience for Future Growth

1:15:17 Book Recommendations for Business and Procurement Success

1:18:40 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFEwnQxQuM9HvHExheqOn 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-plan/id1814284070 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Colin Hickling, Senior Partner at AITW | AI That Works, who brings more than 30 years of experience helping government agencies and large organisations navigate digital transformation. Colin reveals a confronting reality: 95 percent of AI projects fail, not because of the technology, but because organisations lack the governance, accountability, and alignment required to make AI deliver real outcomes.

He breaks down the biggest misconceptions leaders have about AI, including why treating it like an IT experiment leads to inaccurate results, security risks, and wasted investment. Colin shares what the top 5% of organisations do differently, what “living governance” looks like in practice, and how one Australian hospital replaced 30 administrative roles with a single AI system, while improving accuracy, speed, and quality.

If you want to understand how to avoid AI chaos and build a foundation of trust, resilience, and measurable value, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap. Perfect for executives, project leaders, and anyone responsible for making AI work inside their organisation.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Hook 

00:42 Introduction to Colin Hickling

03:05 What AI Really Is and Why Governance Matters

05:41 The Three Levels of AI Capability

12:45 Hospital Case Study: Replacing 30 Admin Staff with AI

14:42 Feedback Loops and AI Accuracy Improvements

16:16 Why AI Projects Fail (and What the Top 5 Percent Do Differently)

17:01 Living Governance Explained

19:58 AI-Enabled Attacks and Global Examples

27:26 From Strategy to Execution: Bridging Vision and Reality

32:34 Culture, Change Management and Mission-Centric Governance

37:04 Medical Decision Support and Digital Fluency

50:40 Cyber Risk as a Business Risk

60:59 The New Accountability Model

1:17:03 Embedding Resilience Across the Organisation

1:19:02 Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation. 

Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team:

https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/ 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Amireh Amirmazaheri, founder of PMO Solutions and Asia-Pacific Lead for the PMO Global Alliance, often called the Queen of PMO. With a background spanning engineering and large-scale infrastructure portfolios, Tamira brings a rare mix of technical depth and business strategy to the conversation.

She shares why negotiation doesn’t end when the contract is signed and how poor integration, weak transparency, and siloed communication cost organisations millions. Tamira reframes the PMO as a true business enabler, not an administrative function, connecting finance, commercial, and delivery teams to keep projects aligned with strategic goals.

If you’ve ever questioned why 64% of projects fail to meet their objectives, or what it takes for a PMO to prove real value, this episode offers practical lessons on turning governance into growth and creating alignment that lasts beyond delivery.

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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt 

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CONNECT WITH US

Website: https://edsico.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifarhoodimscpmp/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edsicomgt/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsicomgt 

Time Stamps:

00:00 Hook/Intro

02:16 Amireh's Background and Role

05:00 Importance of Negotiation to Delivery

09:59 Integration Gap

27:07 Trust and Transparency

38:37 Technology and Data Management

44:54 Enabler Function

46:49 The Role of PMOs in Business Integration

51:03 Different kinds of PMO

55:25 Establishing a PMO

01:01:34 Book Recommendations

01:04:01 Conclusion/Outro

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.