Barpa recently had the opportunity to step out of the project environment and into the classroom, with David and Jeremy visiting the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to deliver a guest lecture to final-year Construction Management students.
The session formed part of UTS’s Corporate Social Responsibility and People Management studies and provided an opportunity to share Barpa’s journey and demonstrate how the construction industry can achieve strong commercial outcomes while also creating meaningful and lasting social impact.
David and Jeremy spoke about Barpa’s unique Indigenous business model, our partnership with Icon and our commitment to using construction as a vehicle for creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and businesses.
A key theme of the discussion was that commercial success and positive social outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Barpa’s experience demonstrates that social responsibility can be embedded into the way a construction business operates, supporting Indigenous procurement, employment and career pathways while continuing to deliver for clients.
The session also explored the importance of diversity across the broader construction industry, including Barpa’s focus on increasing female participation. Women now represent approximately 34% of Barpa’s workforce, reflecting our commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive industry.
The connection with UTS is particularly meaningful for Barpa, with Bandala Farrawell, one of our cadets, currently undertaking the Construction Management course. It is a great example of the pathways we aim to create, connecting education, practical industry experience and long-term careers in construction.
Feedback following the lecture was extremely positive, with the Barpa story resonating strongly with the students. One of the key messages taken from the session was that there is a different way of doing business in construction, one where the projects we deliver can also leave a positive legacy in the communities in which we build.
For Barpa, sharing our experience with the next generation of construction professionals is an important part of that journey. As these students prepare to enter and ultimately lead the industry, we hope the discussion encourages them to think beyond what they build and consider the broader impact that construction businesses can have on people, businesses and communities.
