Inside Infrastructure

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, Adrian and Ilya sat down with Co-Head of Macquarie Capital, Australia and New Zealand John Pickhaver to discuss his journey from civil engineering to private finance, the evolution of infrastructure financing in Australia, and the opportunities of technological disruption.

Adrian and Ilya sat down with Chair of the Productivity Commission, Michael Brennan to discuss Australia’s reform opportunities, how the economy might evolve coming out of COVID-19, and what the future of productivity growth may look like in a services-based economy.

Adrian and Ilya sat down with WA Minister for Transport and Planning, the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, to discuss the WA Government's infrastructure response to COVID-19, the pathway to recovery, and the nexus between land use planning and transport infrastructure.

Adrian and Ilya talk with Deputy Chair of Infrastructure WA Nicole Lockwood about the infrastructure advisory body model, the trends and chief drivers behind the freight system overhaul in the WA, and why we need a focus on rational pricing and social licence in infrastructure provision.

In the last episode for 2020, Adrian and Ilya sit down with former Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts, Mike Mrdak AO to discuss his 30 year career in the public service, the infrastructure market reform agenda of the 1980s and 90s, and the evolution of the telco sector and new frontier for digital infrastructure investment.

Adrian and our new co-host Janice sit down with Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO Graeme Newton to talk about the lessons from the 2011 Queensland flood in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges of building Brisbane's new underground beneath the Brisbane River and CBD, and what's required to make Queensland's 2032 Olympic Bid a success.

Adrian and Janice sit down with NSW Health Infrastructure CEO Rebecca Wark to talk leadership, building hospitals through COVID, and how technology and uncertainty is shaping the future of health services in Australia.

Adrian and Janice sit down with Aware Super CEO Deanne Stewart to talk about her journey from Bathurst kid to Fulbright Scholar, how Australia's infrastructure market competes internationally, the boom in infrastructure M&A, and the challenges and opportunities for ESG investment in Australia.

Adrian and Janice interviewed Managing Director of Sydney Water Roch Cheroux to shed light on how our complex urban water system actually works, the state of urban water reform in Australia, and what we need to do to combat increased climate variability and drought.

Adrian and Janice sit down with Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP to discuss why he believes in the power of markets and the role for government intervention. The Minister also shares his reflections on the policy rationale behind the sale of Telstra, the next big capital phase for the NBN, and the state the Federation.

Adrian and Janice sit down with Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop, Jacinta Allan, to talk about her experience as Victoria’s longest serving female Minister, the major COVID challenges facing Victoria's Big Build program, and the story behind one of the nation's biggest and most complex rail projects, the Suburban Rail Loop.

In the last episode of Inside Infrastructure for 2021, Adrian and Janice spoke with NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat about the origins of his family name, his love of tax, igniting a new productivity boom out of COVID, and how we reform the way pay and use infrastructure.

In the first episode of Inside Infrastructure for 2022, Adrian and Janice speak with Lord Mayor of Melbourne City Council Sally Capp about her journey to the top job, debunking the death of the city, rebounding from COVID, and how the Council is decarbonising Melbourne.

Regular listeners of the Inside Infrastructure Podcast will know the episode always ends by asking guests what their favourite piece of infrastructure is. In this bonus episode, Adrian and Janice turn the spotlight back on themselves and discuss what their favourite piece of infrastructure is.

Adrian and Janice sit down with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr to discuss his approach to reform, the modern approaches and opportunities that exist to deliver the ACT Government’s infrastructure pipeline and whether it could elevate the Territory’s status on the world stage, and what’s on the horizon as the ACT Government implements its decarbonisation agenda.