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Infrastructure and public works have the power to shape the trajectory of regions, cities and communities. It both reflects and defines the culture and values of a city. Brisbane – Meanjin (the city by the river) is currently experiencing a transformational change through infrastructure. This transformation must draw inspiration from the region’s diversity and rich history to create a true reflection of its people and establish Brisbane as a player on the world stage. Hello. My name is Ben Dudman. I am an accomplished Civil Engineer with expertise in civil construction and a passion for infrastructure megaprojects. I’m also a proud future student of the University of Queensland MBA program. When writing my notes for this video, I ended up writing something that people might find a little strange… I wrote “I love infrastructure”. And, really, I do. Infrastructure is so much more than what it appears at face value. Quality infrastructure creates cities that improve lives, creates opportunities for individuals and businesses, and sees collaborative practice flourish. I applied for this program to give myself the skills and knowledge to stand out from the crowd and drive my career forward. But what I truly think I will get from this program is the ability to help shape the future of infrastructure in Australia, and even internationally. I am inquisitive by nature and have always enjoyed learning; particularly where new skills and knowledge have direct applications. Maybe that’s why I’ve dived headfirst into studying Spanish and Italian and have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of studying the intricacies of chess. But, back to the task at hand, I’d like to take some time today to respond to your questions as part of my scholarship application here at UQ. I have worked at the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority for the past two and a half years and am currently the Area Manager for the future underground rail station at Roma Street. In 2036, Roma Street Station will be the largest intermodal transport hub in Queensland, with 46,000 passenger movements per day. In my role, I manage the successful delivery of all elements of the Tunnels, Stations, and Development works. The role requires extensive experience and expertise associated with management and leadership of teams in the delivery of complex civil and rail infrastructure projects. The role focuses on delivery and contract management throughout the Design and Construct phase of the project. For me, I see the UQ MBA program as a pathway to help me transition from a technical role into senior leadership and C-suite roles and multiply my opportunities for the future. The diversity of the MBA staff and student body is fascinating, and I am looking forward to making connections with people from a variety of industries, with a range of knowledge and experience. I can only imagine the growth I will go through in this program. A key challenge I face in my role is managing and coordinating key stakeholders and interfaces. From late 2021, through to mid-2022, I oversaw works to redistribute loadings from the Inner Northern Busway over the Roma Street Station tunnels. As you can imagine, this professional challenge required a high level of management and coordination. The structure was an existing Department of Transport and Main Roads asset, with a busway operated by Translink and foundation loadings which impacted the future Cross River Rail passenger tunnels. From design, through to completion of work, I actively engaged all key stakeholders and sought input to achieve best-for-project outcomes. During construction, I provided DTMR with monitoring data and construction updates and facilitated site visits and inspections. I facilitated open and productive discussions between the principal contractor, designers, construction phase support engineers, asset owners and other key stakeholders. I was pleased that these collaborative efforts resulted in an innovative solution to underpin the existing busway piles, allowing excavation of the Roma Street Station pedestrian adits below. The solution allowed the busway to remain operational throughout construction and tunnelling works to proceed with minimal disruption – a fantastic outcome for all parties. I was recently asked to participate in the CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools program because of my involvement in the Cross River Rail project and my experience in the civil construction industry. Taking up this opportunity was a no-brainer for me as I remember how much I enjoyed participating in events such as the annual Science and Engineering challenge when I was in high school. Those events got me excited about the possibilities and applications of STEM and made me want to become an engineer. STEM Professionals in Schools is a national volunteer program that facilitates partnerships between schools and industry to connect students with real-world STEM applications. I am excited to participate in this program and am looking forward to collaborating with my local high school and its teachers to facilitate hands-on activities for students to promote awareness of STEM applications and highlight career path possibilities. I’ve also worked to support and promote young professionals in the early stages of their careers. I have recently been involved in the promotion and development of a new graduate and undergraduate program for the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority. I have assisted in defining the scope of work for graduates participating in the program, filmed promotional material and attended open days to give candidates a better understanding of what it’s like to work in the industry. I believe that this program is an excellent career launchpad and I’m grateful to be involved. Thank you for your time. Answering these questions today was a wonderful moment of reflection and I hope to share more of my experiences with the panel and all MBA staff in the coming academic year. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship and I look forward to hearing from you soon.