Held on February 16, the Queensland Major Contractors Association’s Innovation and Excellence Awards celebrated the achievements of people and projects in Queensland’s design, engineering, and construction sector.
Winners were drawn from a variety of projects across Queensland. Nine categories were awarded, and 500 industry leaders were on hand to witness the celebrations and see firsthand the collaboration, innovation, and excellence on display.
Following the Awards, QMCA spoke with Julie Mitchell, Deputy Director-General of Infrastructure Management and Delivery at the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), about the significance of the awards to the department and the industry.
“TMR has a long-standing and valued relationship with the QMCA and its member organisations,” Julie stated. “We are committed to fostering collaboration between government and industry, promoting efficient, effective, sustainable, and safe infrastructure solutions.”
Emphasising TMR’s pride in supporting the awards and recognising the achievements of organisations vital to both the department and the future of infrastructure in Queensland, Julie explained TMR’s support for the Technology and Innovation Award and its alignment with their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and new technology.
“TMR embraces emerging technologies to ensure our transport network meets current and future customer needs. Innovation, whether incremental or transformative, is crucial for progress and to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Julie.
Industry awards, particularly in construction and infrastructure, are vital in acknowledging exceptional efforts and achievements, and the QMCA awards provided an opportunity to reflect on the industry’s direction, celebrate successes, and inspire continuous improvement.
“There is no doubt that exceptional effort is made year after year in construction and infrastructure,” Julie commented. “Industry awards offer a chance to shine a light on outstanding successes, provide insights into future industry trends, and inspire organisations to keep striving for improvement.”
Julie concluded by highlighting the importance of collaboration between government and industry, encouraging innovative practices, and recognising excellence in driving Queensland’s infrastructure forward.
“The QMCA awards serve as a platform to celebrate these contributions and inspire future advancements in the industry, showcasing how government, contractors and the entire industry can work smarter while we keep challenging ourselves and find new ways to deliver projects for Queenslanders,” said Julie.
Photo: 2023 QMCA Innovation and Excellence Awards Department of Transport and Main Roads Technology and Innovation Award Winner – Heavy Lift Vessel for Demolition & Assembly – Shiploader and Berth 2 Replacement – McConnell Dowell
