Building Tomorrow

This episode is part of a special series exploring AI in the construction industry. Muriel Demarcus is the founder and CEO of Marsham Edge, a Singapore-based consultancy focused on helping infrastructure, engineering and energy organisations unlock value from AI. She brings more than 30 years of experience leading major infrastructure programmes and digital transformation initiatives across Europe, Australia and Asia. Her background spans engineering, mathematics and commercial law, combining deep project delivery expertise with a practical approach to emerging technologies. In this episode, Muriel shares her journey from infrastructure executive to AI entrepreneur and introduces her team of AI agents, designed to work more like digital colleagues than traditional software. She explains why traceability and reproducibility are critical when AI is being used for high-stakes engineering decisions, and how secure, air-gapped AI can bring intelligence to sensitive data without sending the data to the AI. Muriel also explores the future of engineering decision-making and how AI can help detect early warning signs of high-consequence events, including lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, while reinforcing why engineering judgment remains more important than ever. Resources and links: Muriel Demarcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muriel-demarcus-a8165b2/ Marsham Edge: https://marshamedge.com/ Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is part three of a special three-part series exploring culture in the construction industry. Across the series, we unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector, including mental health, workforce sustainability, diversity, leadership, and the evolving expectations of construction workplaces. Michelle Turner is a Professor at RMIT University whose research focuses on construction workers' health and wellbeing, women in construction, and student resilience. With a background as a project professional before entering academia, Michelle has authored extensive research on workplace wellbeing, co-authored a book on health and wellbeing in the construction industry, and played a key role in evaluating the Australian Culture in Construction Taskforce pilot projects designed to improve workplace culture across major construction projects. In this episode, Michelle explains how the Culture in Construction Taskforce is transforming construction by tackling excessive work hours, improving mental health, increasing workplace flexibility and creating more inclusive environments for women. She discusses the evidence behind the pilot projects, why a five-day work week can improve productivity without increasing costs, the systemic barriers preventing women from entering and remaining in construction and why creating mentally healthy workplaces requires changing how work is designed—not simply expecting workers to become more resilient. Resources and links: Michelle Turner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-turner-05915b2a/ RMIT University: https://www.rmit.edu.au/profiles/t/michelle-turner Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dawna Wright is the Senior Managing Director and Head of Australia Forensic & Litigation Consulting at FTI Consulting and a highly regarded forensic accountant with more than 25 years of experience in auditing, forensic accounting and expert witness work. Having built her career across Big Four firms before specialising in forensic accounting, Dawna regularly assists lawyers, regulators and tribunals in complex commercial disputes, including major construction litigation. In this episode, Dawna explains the unique role forensic accountants play in construction disputes, from quantifying loss and damage to working alongside delay experts and quantity surveyors to provide independent expert evidence. She shares practical advice on how lawyers can better brief forensic accountants, discusses the importance of collaboration during expert conclaves and joint reports, and clears up common misconceptions about expert witnesses. The conversation also explores how AI is improving document analysis without replacing expert judgement and why closer collaboration between legal and finance teams is essential for construction companies to manage compliance risks and avoid costly disputes. Resources and links: Dawna Wright on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawna-wright-43758415/ FTI Consulting: https://www.fticonsulting.com/experts/dawna-wright Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Chapman is the CEO of the Queensland Major Contractors Association, representing the companies delivering Queensland’s largest infrastructure projects, including roads, rail, energy, and major civil works. With over 30 years in the engineering and construction sector, Andrew brings deep insight into how Australia’s major projects pipeline is evolving and what it will take to deliver it. In this episode, Andrew unpacks the scale and complexity of Queensland’s $127 billion infrastructure pipeline and what it means for delivery across the next five years. He discusses the key constraints facing the industry, including productivity decline, workforce shortages, supply chain limitations, and approval delays. The conversation also explores the need for more collaborative contracting models, better risk allocation between clients and contractors, and improved procurement practices to reduce disputes and improve certainty. Andrew also highlights the growing role of technology, robotics, and smarter work design in lifting productivity, as well as the importance of addressing industry culture, mental health, and burnout to retain and attract workers. Resources and links: Andrew Chapman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-chapman-30711216/ Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bronwyn Weir, Managing Director of Weir Legal and Consulting and co-author of the Building Confidence Report and Associate Professor Dr Matthew Bell, Co-Director of Studies at the Melbourne Law School, join the conversation to unpack major reforms reshaping Victoria’s residential building system. Both bring deep expertise in construction law and regulatory design, with a focus on how building regulation impacts consumers, practitioners, and industry accountability. In this episode, Bronwyn and Matthew explore the drivers behind Victoria’s building reforms, including past system failures, combustible cladding, and weaknesses in regulatory oversight. They discuss the transition from the Victorian Building Authority to the new Building and Plumbing Commission, the introduction of first resort insurance, expanded rectification and enforcement powers, and the new building system objective focused on health and safety. The conversation also examines whether these reforms will meaningfully improve outcomes, shift industry behaviour, and rebuild trust in the construction sector. Resources and links: Bronwyn Weir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-weir-3076671a/ Matthew Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bell-b69a2a7/ Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/ The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.