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Building Tomorrow

Building Tomorrow

By: Society of Construction Law Australia
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Building Tomorrow is the official podcast of the Society of Construction Law Australia, bringing together the people shaping Australia's building and construction industry.

Each episode features conversations with leading lawyers, engineers, project managers, developers, academics and industry experts exploring the issues influencing construction today. From construction law, contracts and dispute resolution to infrastructure, sustainability, technology, leadership and innovation, Building Tomorrow examines the challenges and opportunities transforming the Australian construction landscape.

If you're a construction lawyer, engineer, architect, project manager, student or simply interested in the future of Australia's built environment, you'll hear expert perspectives and real-world stories from the professionals driving the industry forward.

New episodes are released every second Tuesday.

2026 Society of Construction Law Australia
Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • When AI Becomes Your Engineering Colleague with Muriel Demarcus
    Sep 7 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • The Productivity Myth with Michelle Turner
    Aug 24 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Follow the Money with Dawna Wright
    Aug 10 2026

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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