Author: loren.blundell@iscouncil.org

The Verification and v2.1 Review workplans have been progressing well and are on track for a full roll out in August 2025.

Verification Workplan Update
The Verification and the Base Case Proposal and Materiality Assessment Procedures have been reviewed by the Verifiers, this feedback is currently being reviewed and incorporated into both documents.

During the initial consultation there were some risks identified by proponents, Verifiers and contractors. Below is a high-level summary of these risks, along with the way these risks have been addressed.

1. Consistency and Efficiency in Verification
• Risk Identified: How would the proposed changes improve consistency and efficiency in the verification process?
• Response: Employing a small, internal team that works across all materiality, base case and submission verification tasks will ensure a greater level of coverage and consistency as this will be their dedicated role. As such the ISQC team will be aware of the current state of play across all projects undertaking an IS Rating. Significant investigations were conducted to ensure these measures improve quality, credibility, and efficiency.

2. Implementation Details and Clarity
• Risk Identified: Concerns about potential delays and lack of detailed information, plus transparency and clear communication of expectations and requirements.
• Response: As discussed above there is a transparent, external-facing verification procedure outlining functions and resolution pathways, currently under review which addresses all of these concerns.
3. Qualifications and Expertise of ISC Quality Controller
• Risk Identified: Concerns about the qualifications and experience of the IS Quality Controller to fulfill their role effectively.
• Response: Part of the Verification Procedure will have the required skills and experience for the Verifier and IS QC. The IS QC will be part of a team with extensive experience in infrastructure delivery, verification, and project management, ensuring they have the necessary skills, tools and support.

4. Capacity, Turnaround time and Resources to Handle Workload
• Risk Identified: Concerns about ISC’s capacity to handle the increased workload and whether sufficient resources were allocated to ensure no delays in the process.
• Response The IS QC Roles will be additional to the ISPM’s and Regional Leads. During the development phase the expected workload was forecast with the resourcing for the IS QC role planned accordingly.

5. Conflict Resolution and Process Clarity
• Risk Identified: Concerns about the conflict resolution processes if there are differences of opinion.
• Response: The Verification Procedure outlining functions and resolution pathways, accompanied by existing informal and formal appeals procedures to handle disagreements.

IS v2.1 Review Workplan Update
Each of the different options are continuing to be developed further with some key tasks getting close to completion.
The recommendation for screening of credits ($100m-$499m) has had excellent feedback and is close to being finalised.

The macro review of credits has started strongly with initial feedback on proposed changes being sought from various Technical Working Groups this week. This includes a summarised form of the credit to allow for greater clarity.

The ISC detailed review of specific credits has started with significant help from sustainability professionals, including contractors, verifiers and consultants, who have experience in using the v2.1 tool.

The feedback that we have received so far has been excellent and has helped guide the steps in the process. We look forward to sharing more information as we continue the journey.

27 March 2025 – Update

As we move further into the year there is still plenty of work being undertaken in the IS Verification and v2.1 Review workplans.

Verification Workplan Update

The Verification and the Base Case Proposal and Materiality Assessment Procedures have been drafted and are currently with the Verifiers for their consideration. Once feedback from Verifiers is received, we will update and share the procedures more broadly for further feedback. These procedures also address some of the risks and opportunities that were identified from the stakeholder engagement.

Work has also commenced on the draft job descriptions for the new IS Quality Controller roles (IS QC) that will be needed to deliver the proposed changes.

IS v2.1 Review Workplan Update

A reminder that we are still requesting feedback on the recommendations that were made in the roundtable on 7 March 2025.

The macro review of credits has commenced, and a selection of draft credit reviews will be first shared with the IS Technical Working Groups next month prior to a wider review.

Lastly the engagement and feedback that we have received so far has been excellent and has helped guide the steps in the process. We stay committed to continuous engagement with our passionate sustainability community in order to improve our Rating tools and how they can be applied broadly.

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 1
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 1

Measure 2 – Fast-tracked Rating Tool Review – Macro level changes

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 2
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 2

Measure 3 – On-going IS v2.1 Technical Manual Review – Detailed technical improvements

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 3
• Provide Detailed Credit Feedback – Is v2.1 Design & As Built Tool
• Provide Detailed Credit Feedback – IS v2.1 Planning Tool

Measure 4 – Create Additional Rating Tool Pathways/ Rating Badges

• Webinar Recording – Measure 4
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 4

7 March 2025 – Update

IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool & Verification Workplan Update – Webinar Recording & Feedback Links

• Watch the Full Webinar 
• Download the Presentation 

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 1
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 1

Measure 2 – Fast-tracked Rating Tool Review – Macro level changes

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 2
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 2

Measure 3 – On-going IS v2.1 Technical Manual Review – Detailed technical improvements

• Webinar Recording with Details on Measure 3
• Provide Detailed Credit Feedback – Is v2.1 Design & As Built Tool
• Provide Detailed Credit Feedback – IS v2.1 Planning Tool

Measure 4 – Create Additional Rating Tool Pathways/ Rating Badges

• Webinar Recording – Measure 4
• Provide Feedback for IS v2.1 – Measure 4

4 March 2025 – Update

As we go into autumn the ISC is continuing to work through our plans to gather your feedback, develop and implement changes to how we do business. 

Verification Review 

Thank you for all of the comprehensive feedback that we received on the proposed changes to the verification process. ISC will soon respond to that feedback to our stakeholders.  

V2.1 Review 

Later this week, the ISC will present, and start to gather feedback on, a number of proposed changes to the v2.1 Rating Tools. . Information on ISC’s proposals will be shared through the following forums: 

• Webinar – Join us for a webinar on the 7th of March and hear from the team on where these workplans are up to. This session will be recorded and made available on the IS Council website following the conclusion of the online event. If you are unable to tune in live, we suggest that you still register by clicking here to ensure that you receive a copy of the recording.  

• Technical Working Groups – within each of the existing Technical Working Groups, the ISC will be talking about the v2.1 Workplan and recommendations developed. 

At the conclusion of these events, the ISC will provide links to information on the proposed changes, as well as details for how you can provide feedback. 

Note that the V2.1 feedback portal for detailed credit level recommendations is still open and we encourage all sustainability professionals that are familiar with our v2.1 Rating tools to contribute where possible. We will keep this feedback open until the 21st of March. 

V2.1 Feedback: https://forms.monday.com/forms/11f9830774b79ea418160010bacab258?r=use1  

17 February 2025 – Update

ISC is continuing to develop and refine what we are implementing to address our stakeholders concerns across our tools and processes in both our Verification workplan and our review of v2.1 Rating tools. There are a number of ways that we would like to get your involvement at the moment.

Webinar

Join us for a webinar on the 7th of March and hear from the team at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council on where these workplans are up to. This session will be recorded and made available on the IS Council website following the conclusion of the online event. If you are unable to tune in live, we suggest that you still register via the link here to ensure that you receive a copy of the recording.

Verification Proposal

We received and collated feedback from across the Ratings/verification value chain for over 10 months to enable use to develop two significant changes to the verification process that are being proposed as part of the Verification Workplan. The first round of targeted stakeholder consultation has been completed and we are now broadening the feedback opportunity to all impacted by or engaged with IS Ratings.

Details can be found by clicking here. 

Verification Feedback

We apologise for the tight timeframes and if you have feedback, please complete our questionnaire below by Monday 24th February. Given the significant input into the process to-date, we hope that our framing resonates with the majority of you, albeit that we always expect there to be a divergence of views.

Click here to provide feedback.

IS v2.1 Review

As part of our review of the ISv2.1 Ratings tools we have considered a significant amount of both high and detailed stakeholder feedback. We are committed to continuing on this basis and would like to invite the industry to provide detailed feedback at credit level for areas they have identified opportunities for improvement. We encourage all sustainability professionals that are familiar with our v2.1 Rating tools to contribute where possible. We will keep this feedback open until the middle of March.

IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool – Click here to provide feedback
IS v2.1 Planning Rating Tool – Click here to provide feedback

3 February 2025  – Update

It has been a busy couple of weeks as the ISC has continued to work on both the verification workplan and the review of v2.1 plan.

As part of the verification workplan, two key recommendations have been communicated to relevant stakeholders. This consultation process will continue for several weeks and will help highlight any risks or opportunities from those recommendations. These will be carefully considered in the next step prior to the final recommendation being determined. This will also impact other actions including updating documentation and processes as part of the key outcomes.

With regards to the review of v2.1 the ISC team has undertaken a multi-criteria analysis to compare and contrast possible process improvements. This has been done to ensure that the recommended improvements are well analysed and reviewed. These recommendations are in the process of being finalised and reviewed internally. Some of the key technical stakeholder engagement will be closely focussed on projects, ISAPs and teams that have been practically involved with delivering a v2.1 Ratings.

We look forward to sharing more details and having a wider range of stakeholders involved as we continue along this improvement journey.

15 January 2025  – Update

Over the past year ISC has sought and received extensive feedback across all our activities, particularly in relation to the v2.1 Design and As-Built Rating, and our Verification processes more generally. This feedback has been collated through individual workshops, interactions with projects, annual feedback survey, high level meetings, CEO workshops and others.  ISC would like to thank everyone for their time and insights. This has enabled us to consider how we are working with our stakeholders to ensure we are achieving our purpose. In response to the feedback, we have identified key areas for improvement and we have developed detailed workplans and proposals that we will be bringing to market over the coming months.

Positively, we heard that the market continues to see value in the role that the ISC and the IS Ratings tools play in driving sustainability outcomes across Australia and New Zealand. This was balanced by feedback regarding the v2.1 Rating Tool that highlighted concerns around a misalignment between the assessment of processes versus outcomes; the administrative burden associated with delivering an IS Rating, and questions about perceived value for money in application of an IS Rating. In addition, issues were raised regarding verification process and outcomes, including inconsistency of verification; extended timeframes; and inflexibility of verification approach.

In response to this feedback from our members and stakeholders, we have two key streams of work. They are:

–              Updates to v2.1 Rating tool
–              Verification process updates

As these streams of work progress, we will provide regular updates on outcomes through our communication channels, including ISC newsletter and direct mail. We will seek additional contributions on the implementation of the workplan items through targeted stakeholder engagement at particular project phases. The first phase of implementation stakeholder consultation will commence in February 2025.

As valued members and stakeholders of the ISC, we look forward to engaging with you collaboratively and ensuring that our tools and processes are up to date and fit for purpose.

We are excited to share the 2024 finalists for our Annual Gala Awards. This year’s awards will exemplify excellence in sustainability across environmental, social, governance, and economic quadruple bottom line outcomes and outstanding contributions to market transformation at organisational, systemic and societal levels. We would like to thank Holcim as our Gala Dinner & Award Partner for our 2024 Annual Awards.

Excellence in Governance – Thanks to our Award Partner, NSW Public Works 

• Fitzgerald and Robinsons Road Level Crossing Removal Project – The Metropolitan Roads Program Alliance (MRPA)
• Pound Road West – Frankston-Dandenong Road Bridge Upgrade – MRPV, Seymour Whyte, SMEC
• Metro Tunnel Project
• Union Road and Mont Albert Road Level Crossing Removal Project – South Eastern Program Alliance

Excellence in Economic

• Keon Parade Level Crossing Removal Project – Level Crossing Removal Project
• Dubbo Mindyarra Regional Rail Maintenance Facility – CPB Contractors
• Metro Tunnel Project
• Morley to Ellenbrook Line Project – MELconnx Alliance (Laing O’Rourke and OMTID)

Excellence in Environmental

• Unanderra and Towradgi Station Upgrade Projects – Degnan and Transport for NSW
• Western Plains Correctional Centre
• Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package – Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Consortium and Boral
• Northshore Hamilton Street Renewal Program – Economic Development Queensland
• Union Road and Mont Albert Road Level Crossing Removal Project – South Eastern Program Alliance
• Morley to Ellenbrook Line Project – MELconnx Alliance (Laing O’Rourke and OMTID)

Excellence in Social – Thanks to our Award Partner, Ventia

• Unanderra and Towradgi Station Upgrade Projects –  Degnan and Transport for NSW
• Tonkin Gap Project and Associated Works – Main Roads Western Australia, Public Transport Authority, Georgiou, BMD, BG&E and GHD
• M7-M12 Integration project – John Holland
• Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package – Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Consortium
• METRONET Byford Rail Extension – The MetCONNX Alliance (comprising Laing O’Rourke Australia and the Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery, WA)

Outstanding Achievement

• Eastlink WA Program Rating – EastLink WA IPT (Main Roads WA, BG&E, GHD)
• Union Road and Mont Albert Road Level Crossing Removal Project – South Eastern Program Alliance
• Sydney Metro City & SW – Line-wide Works – Systems Connect (CPB &UGL CJV)
• Preston Level Crossing Removal Project – North Western Program Alliance
• South Australia Road Network Maintenance – Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd
• Morley-Ellenbrook Line – MELConnx Alliance (Public Transport Authority and Laing O’Rourke)

Private Sector

• Ventia
• ARUP
• BORAL
• Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Consortium and Boral

Public Sector – Thanks to our Award Partner, Jacobs

• Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery
• Main Roads Western Australia

Emerging Leader – Thanks to our Award Partner, Perspektiv

• Kate Rowan – John Holland Group
• Heidi Dumesich – Ventia
• Colleen McDonald – Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery
• Sasika Perera – M80 Ring Road Alliance
• Camila Fonseca Mazzo – Laing O’Rourke

Enduring Impact – Thanks to our Award Partner, GAMUDA

• Lachlan Walker – McConnell Dowell
• Kat O’Mara – Edith Cowan University and CmdrKat Consulting
• Cathy Chesson – Mott MacDonald Australia

Tickets for our ISC Annual Gala Awards close on Friday 4th of October 2024. For more information and to purchase tickets click here. 

Having joined ISC just one month ago I have made it a priority to get on the road and meet as many of our members as I can in old-school face-to-face meetings. My primary aim during these meetings is to listen. For those of you I have not yet met, this message provides an opportunity to introduce myself, to say why I joined the ISC, and offer some initial thoughts on how I can serve you in this new role.

My career to date has included founding two successful businesses, serving as Head of Sustainable Development for ANZ Bank and as Melbourne’s Chief Resilience Officer. I joined the ISC from PwC Australia’s Energy Transition team. At every stage I have aimed to harness the talent and commitment of dedicated teams to achieve transformational outcomes for individuals, corporates and governments.

Leading the ISC feels like a fitting and logical extension. I’ve long been an informed admirer, closely watching the ISC’s purpose, its work, and its role in shaping a structured approach to sustainability for our sector. I am energised by the tremendous team and the standout culture we have internally. But I didn’t take on this role to stand still. We have much to do to assist our members and users to achieve ever-better sustainability outcomes, in ever-more effective ways.

Also, Infrastructure matters. It consumes, embodies and enables some 70% of Australia’s and 50% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions. While carbon is critical, it is just one of many ways that infrastructure affects the sustainability of communities. Through the IS Ratings and the enabling of our wider ecosystem through training and collaborative capability development of our membership, the ISC has established a world class framework for shaping, reporting, and incentivising the best intentions of the infrastructure sector, across some 36 aspects in 16 social, economic, environmental, and governance categories.

I cannot overstate the importance of a verification system that provides the evidence of sustainable outcomes, regardless of whether they are funded by the taxpayer or by investors subject to ESG disclosure regulation. Australia’s Infrastructure Policy Statement is crystal clear about the need for infrastructure to serve the communities they connect, and to do so sustainably. In New Zealand…the newly-announced National Infrastructure Agency will apply a fresh focus to the value that infrastructure will deliver in partnership with private investors.

Furthermore – and perhaps ultimately most important – the ISC provides an actively -managed pathway for whole-of-market transformation. We do this by:

• encouraging and celebrating innovation that delivers sustainability outcomes
• disseminating knowledge through case studies, training, events and webinars
• socialising it as “best practice” through the ratings tools,
• normalising it as “better BAU” when we upgrade the ratings,
• and standardising it when this leads to formal regulation.

I’d also like to highlight some recent and upcoming initiatives:

• IS Planning provides early-stage identification and costing of sustainability initiatives, and pull-through certainty into tendering and contracts right through the supply chain.
• IS Essentials offers a cost-effective reduction in complexity and scale, opening the benefits of an IS rating to projects under $100million – without losing the core purpose.
• Our Sustainability Capability Framework provides guidance for identifying, attracting and retaining desperately needed talent in the construction sector.
• The Connect Conference in Sydney from 22-24 October is the focal event, bringing together the whole ISC ecosystem to take stock, celebrate innovation and outstanding leaders, build connections and to look forward together. Please come and find me at the Conference if you have questions, concerns, requests or recommendations.
• We’re keen to capture more of the value of our collective thought leadership – building on both our working groups and other topic-specific engagements such as our supplier and circularity workshops, and converting these into a more proactive policy and communications strategy that aims to move the policy needle towards delivering more sustainable outcomes

To all of you – member organisations and individuals – that have provided the support and personally put in the hard yards on all of these initiatives – a personal thank you: you’ve set a high bar.

I’m eager to hear first-hand about life at the coalface for ISC members. These are clearly challenging times, and while we have a great foundation there is much that the ISC wants to and can do better. Please tell me where we can help in tackling the complexities and challenges associated with delivering and managing socially equitable, net zero, and nature positive infrastructure.

In closing, I’m delighted to have joined the ISC, I will continue to meet with you to discuss where you’d like us to focus our attention, and I look forward to working together to deliver infrastructure that connects, protects and empowers the communities we serve.

When I started to prepare this last message to members of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, I kept being drawn to my African roots. So, I took inspiration and guidance from many simple but profound African sayings to reflect on the last eight years and the lessons I will take with me.

If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.

My first projects, as a freshly minted environmental consultant in South Africa, took me to regional areas where the positive impact of infrastructure provision was undeniable and always confronting. Whether it was bulk water supply at 200-metre intervals intended for more than 700,000 people, the installation of the first sewer main servicing an informal settlement or 150 telecommunication masts providing service to millions of people, the lesson was as undeniable to me then as it is today. The world over, 100% of people need and benefit from infrastructure. Whether it is new or ageing, large or small – as long as there is investment in asset management – infrastructure enables people to thrive.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

When I joined the Council in 2016, I was employee number eight. We grew bigger, then smaller, and then even bigger again. But from the very first day, I was determined to lead with purpose. The first draft outline for our strategic plan, delivered to the board 91 days into my role as CEO, laid a clear path. In this, we aligned our organisation with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This alignment attracted several awards, including the Banksia Gold award in 2019 – a very proud moment. While our work touches 15 of the 17 goals, our charitable giving focuses on the two goals we don’t directly touch: no poverty and zero hunger. Each year, our Impact Report articulates our achievements in relation to the SDGs – which last year included 30% embodied emissions avoided, more than $297 billion of assets committed to credible sustainability performance assurance and an engaged member base with a combined annual turnover of more than $50 billion.

Wisdom is like a baobab tree. No one individual can embrace it.

I owe so much to so many, but a few in the formative years stand out. Thank you to Antony Sprigg and David Kinniburgh who took a calculated punt on me for a newly formed role to oversee training, the evolution and delivery of the IS rating scheme, and business growth. Thank you to David Singleton for giving me an appropriate runway, and to early sustainability champions, the late Menno Henneveld, Stephen Troughton and Leo Coci; Stuart Hodgson, Jo Haggerty and Tom Gellibrand; Liz Root, Chris Meale and Sean Sweeney as well as Fin Robertson, Corey Hannett and Kevin Devlin. My overwhelming appreciation to Alison Rowe and Sarah Marshall for their foresight into just how our impact could and would grow. Thank you to Jayne Whitney, who wisely counseled to ‘always play a straight bat’, Robin Mellon, who reminded me that there are many kinds of CEOs, and Suzanne Toumbourou who encouraged that, whatever change we seek to make, we are fundamental to making it visible.

If you want to go quickly go alone; if you want to go far go together.

The wise leader surrounds herself with a diversity of people that match her strengths and complement her blind spots. Today, the ISC has the variety of a spice market – lively, rich, colourful. My thanks go to the many warriors who have served on my senior leadership team, including our current team Patrick Hastings, Jane Nicholls, Eva Wang, Dr Kerry Griffiths, Owen Buckley, Ainsley Jardine and Michel Colen. Our sector is more skilled, capable and empowered to serve the current and future societal needs of infrastructure, so that people and nature thrive. I salute you as you charge into new markets, launch new and modified tools and blaze new channel partnerships.

You cannot beat a drum with one finger.

Nothing at the ISC happens in the absence of collaboration. The praise we received from Prime Minister Albanese when we celebrated the IS Rating Scheme’s 10th birthday is a testament to our strong relationships with governments of all stripes. We have worked collaboratively to achieve many important policy outcomes with all tiers of government. A recent highlight is undoubtedly the grant we secured from the Westpac New Zealand Government Innovation Fund. This gave us the green light to accelerate the development of IS Essentials for assets and portfolios of less than $100 million – a monumental step forward in delivering on our purpose.

I would like to personally thank our many partners over the years; including those who have joined forces to decarbonise and support Infrastructure Net Zero: Australian Constructors Association; Australasian Railways Association; Clean Energy Finance Corporation; Consult Australia; the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications & the Arts; Green Building Council Australia; Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Partnerships Australia; Roads Australia; as well as ASBEC and Engineers Australia.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

For sustainability to become a culture, it first needed to be a democratised capability. Today, we have multiple ways to build capability from the boardroom to the graduate pool. Our capability suite includes a learning platform, micro and e-learning options, plus transformative and targeted courses. Our mentoring program RISE is in its second tranche, and a tailored mentoring program for women in sustainable construction has just been launched, thanks to the NSW Government. Tapping into the full spectrum of talent available increases productivity; it also means accessing the perspectives of all people who use our infrastructure. Recalibrating our policies and strategies to attract more women is building a far more inclusive industry which values and respects difference as the source of all innovation.

He who seeks honey must have the courage to face the bees.

As we drive global best practice in infrastructure, striving for continuous improvement is a given. However, pushing the boundaries also means bracing for push back. Through the numerous iterations of our tools, especially where there is a step change, we have always welcomed feedback, especially the fierce and frequent kind. The ISC now administers assurance tools from strategic planning to asset management, and we will soon release IS Essentials so we support every asset, no matter the scale. All infrastructure – urban or regional, large or small, new or ageing – can deliver more for communities, and we have many people who have invested time to help iterate and improve to thank.

What you plant now, you will harvest later.

Over my tenure, the IS Council’s membership has grown four-fold and the number of IS ratings has tripled. We now welcome financiers, investors, manufacturers and asset owners among our members and our team has grown to 40-plus. We have a full suite of rating tools, across all asset classes, and across all Australian states and territories and in Aotearoa New Zealand.

As we have sown many fields together, this sector, this remarkable organisation and every single person connected to it will flourish. I will take this philosophy with me to Seamless – where I take on the role of inaugural CEO and the challenge of creating a circular clothing industry – alongside with my grandmother’s great advice to “blossom where your roots are planted”.

As I go well, I bid you ‘stay well – sala kahle’.