Beyond The Plan

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 Simister, former British Army officer and global programme director, whose career spans drilling boreholes at Buckingham Palace to leading multi-billion-dollar infrastructure frameworks at Sydney Water.

Mark explains why mega projects so often fail under fragmented, risk-averse contracts, and how collaborative contracting frameworks built on trust, transparency, and shared risk, can turn delivery from conflict to partnership. He shares the inside story behind Sydney Water’s Partnering for Success model, along with the leadership, culture, and incentives that make collaboration stick.

If you want to understand why adversarial approaches are breaking down, what a collaborative framework really looks like in practice, and how to deliver projects that create lasting public value, this episode is full of lessons you won’t want to miss.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Hook/Intro

01:55 Who is Mark Simister and His Background

18:31 Collaborative framework for complex infrastructure delivery

19:46 Case for collaboration

26:00 What is a collaborative framework?

28:57 Key Principles of Collaborative Framework

38:44 Success Enablers

46:29 Building the culture

53:05 Common challenges

59:01 Steps you can take

01:04:59 Key takeaways

01:10:18 Conclusion/Outro

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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 Omer Iqbal, President of PMI Sydney and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sydney Water, whose career has spanned oil and gas, mining, defence, transport, and utilities.

Omer shares why portfolio management is the missing link between boardroom strategy and on-the-ground delivery, how defining risk appetite at the top shapes hundreds of projects on the ground, and why success means more than just hitting time and budget.

He also discusses how innovation can thrive even in highly regulated environments, what it takes to keep mega-projects resilient under pressure, and why building high-performing teams starts with job design and shared purpose.

If you want to understand how complex capital projects really succeed, balance board expectations with delivery realities, and lead portfolios that create lasting public value, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

01:16 Podcast beginning

02:19 Why portfolio management?

05:47 Standard portfolio structure

12:07 Risk assessment and Cynefin framework

21:43 Innovation in portfolio environment

26:05 Success: Investment or investments

28:15 The influence of regulations

33:49 Triple constraint case scenario

39:53 People component in portfolio management

47:43 Understanding the impact of industry tools

56:33 Omer's management advice for the young professionals

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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 

Description:

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 Veno Panicker, a Partner in Construction & Infrastructure at Hamilton Locke who has worked closely with contractors and developers across civil, energy, and public infrastructure.

Veno talks about why Australia’s obsession with lump sum contracts is fuelling insolvencies, how shifting risk down the chain is eroding project outcomes, and why redefining “value” in infrastructure must go beyond timelines and budgets.

He also discusses how smarter contract models can unlock innovation, what it really takes to boost productivity on-site, and why investing in education, diversity, and tech adoption is non-negotiable for the future of the industry.

If you want to deliver infrastructure that’s truly fit for purpose, protect the health of your supply chain, and build long-term capability in Australia’s construction sector, make sure to listen to this episode!

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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 

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 Scott Beveridge, a Senior Strategic Sourcing and Category Manager at Downer who has over 25 years of experience in procurement. Scott talks about why integrated planning is crucial for managing risks, how accurate cost benchmarking can transform procurement outcomes, and the value of strategically engaging the market to balance innovation and reliability.

He also discusses why building genuine, trusted relationships matters more than relying on contracts alone, the necessity of strict transparency and governance to protect integrity, and how AI and technology are reshaping the future of procurement.

If you want to gain practical insights to confidently deliver projects, enhance your procurement strategies, and achieve greater impact from infrastructure investments, make sure to listen to this episode!

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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 

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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Welcome to ‘Beyond the Plan’. In this episode, Ali Farhoodi sits down with Barry Gordon, Director of Commercial and Contract Management at Transport for NSW, to unpack the biggest contract mistakes he’s seen over his career, and what you can do to get it right from the start.

If you work in major projects (government or private) this episode is a must-watch.

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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 

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, Ali Farhoodi sits down with John Szmajda, an industry veteran with 45+ years of experience delivering massive projects like the Sydney Metro, and mining infrastructure for clients like BHP and Rio Tinto.

We take a brutally honest look at what it really takes to deliver large-scale projects successfully, and John shares the 5 things every project needs to get it right.

This episode is packed with practical insights you can take straight into your next project.

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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