The Building Talks Podcast

The Building Talks Podcast

A fortnightly podcast showcasing conversations with professionals across Australia’s Built Environment—spanning Construction, Property Development, Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Consulting (and much besides). In each episode, we explore the challenges, opportunities, and trends shaping the industry, while hearing the stories, insights, and experiences of the people behind the projects. From architects and engineers to builders, project managers, quantity surveyors, researchers, and business leaders, our guests offer valuable perspectives from across the sector. Whether you're curious about industry issues or want to better understand the people driving Australia’s built environment, The Building Talks Podcast brings you authentic conversations with those ‘in the know.’

Episodes

June 23, 2025 75 mins

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Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast!

We’re shifting gears from design and delivery into the world of property investment. I had a great chat with Liam Carmody, General Manager at Palise Property, about how everyday Aussies can get started in building a property portfolio, even without loads of cash or experience.

Liam’s career began in civi...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast!

In this episode, we’re stepping into a part of the design world that often flies under the radar, but impacts all of us daily, landscape architecture. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Debbie Laporte, Director at Orterra, a Brisbane-based design practice making serious waves in shaping the way we ...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast!

We're diving into one of the industry's hottest topics—Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)—with Scott Hearne, Director of Integration & Innovation at Sensum.

Scott breaks down what MMC actually means, why it's growing fast, and how it can help solve Australia’s housing cris...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome to another episode of The Building Talks Podcast

Ever feel like the construction industry’s in a bit of strife? Well, you’re not alone - and neither is John Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association (ACA). I finally caught up with John to talk about the big stuff; industry reform, procurement chaos, cultural burnout, and what we can ...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome to another episode of The Building Talks Podcast

This week, I had a brilliant chat with Dr Gretchen Gagel, a global construction leader with 40 years of experience across the US, Australia, and beyond. She’s the founder of Women Thriving in Construction and a key voice in driving cultural change in the industry. With her new book, Building Women ...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks PodcastThis week, I had a great yarn with Nauman Akhtar, one of Melbourne’s go-to guys in the world of building services. He’s worked with some big names—D&E Air Conditioning, Multiplex, and Kapitol Group—and now he’s running the show at his own outfit, INSITE Advisory Group.

We got stuck into what building service...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome to another episode of The Building Talks Podcast! This week, I’m catching up with Damien Quinn, a bloke who’s made the bold move from construction project management to tech entrepreneur. Starting out as a cadet while studying, he climbed the ranks at Multiplex, then took the leap into software, start-ups, and securing capital to grow—and he’s got...

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Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into a fascinating and thought-provoking topic—Post Carbon Inclusion.

Our guests for this episode are Ralph Horne and Louise Dorignon from RMIT University in Melbourne. Ralph is the Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor at the College of Design and Social Context, while Louise s...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to the first episode of Season 4 of The Building Talks Podcast!

    This week, I’m chatting with Mick Hawes, a high-performance business coach specialising in the construction industry. As a bestselling author and former elite sports coach with Tennis Australia, Mick brings a unique perspective on achieving success in both business and life.

    We dive int...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to the final episode of the How to BE a Property Developer Series on The Building Talks Podcast!

    In this wrap-up episode, Steve Chandler and I tackle the big question: What’s next? If you’ve been following along and are eager to dip your toes into property development, this episode is your guide to taking those all-important first steps.<...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to the penultimate episode of The Building Talks Podcast for the How to BE a Property Developer Series! This week, Steve Chandler and I explore the all-important topic of delivery in property development—breaking it down into pre-construction design, risk management, and navigating the construction phase.

    In this episode, we dive into:

     ✅ ...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to the final episode of The Building Talks Podcast Season 3! I’m Martin Preece, and I’m thrilled to close this season with an inspiring conversation featuring George Abraham, Managing Director of Hickory  —one of Australia’s most innovative construction companies.

    George shares his journey from starting without industry connections to bec...

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    Hey, Legends! Ready to crack the code on generating revenue in property development? In this episode of The Building Talks Podcast, I’m joined once again by Steve Chandler, our resident expert for the How to BE a Property Developer Series. This time, we’re talking all things revenue—the essential part of any development project that gets cashback in your pocket after m...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week’s episode of The Building Talks Podcast! I’m Martin Preece, and I’m chatting with Rory Hunter, founder and CEO of Model, a pioneering build-to-rent development and investment group. Rory’s journey into property development is incredible—starting in 2005 when he bought an island in Cambodia, transformed it into a world-renowned holiday...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast! I’m Martin Preece, and this is Episode 4 of our special How to BE a Property Developer Series with the insightful Steve Chandler. This time, we’re getting into the real work behind managing authority approvals and handling the people side of property development—basically, how to keep everything on track without...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast! I’m Martin Preece, and in this episode, I’m diving into Australia’s housing crisis with the insightful and passionate Rob Pradolin. Rob’s a seasoned pro in property development, having spent years with big names like Australand (now Frasers) and leading his own projects since he was 23. He's not only got th...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast, and Episode 3 of our special How to BE a Property Developer Series with me, Martin Preece, and our expert guest for all seven episodes, Steve Chandler.

    This week, we’re tackling feasibility studies—one of the trickiest parts of property development! Last time, we covered acquisition; now we’re diving in...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to another exciting episode of The Building Talks Podcast with me, Martin Preece! This week, I had an awesome chat with Tom Macrokanis, founder and director of Macro3D and Macrofab, a fabrication and engineering firm in Victoria.

    We dive into Tom’s work at Macro 3D, where he's shaking up the construction world with 3D concrete printi...

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    Hey, Legends! Welcome to Episode 2 of our special 7-part How to BE a Property Developer Series, on The Building Talks Podcast!

    Throughout this season, I'll be chatting with Steve Chandler CEO of LEFTA Group and Director at the Property Development Institute. In this episode, we’re continuing our exploration of the ins and outs of property development, div...

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    Hey Legends! In this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Nick Travers, the owner and director of Techne Architects. Nick’s firm has made a big name for itself here in Melbourne, designing some of the city’s most iconic hospitality venues. From trendy cafés to buzzing pubs and restaurants, Techni Architects...

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