Inertian Insight – December 2024

In his end-of-year wrap-up, Inertia’s Managing Director, Scott Clements, reflects on the highlights of 2024, including the resurgence of projects and opportunities in the year’s second half, the influence of political shifts on industry confidence, Inertia’s contribution to communities, key project achievements, and the team’s growing capacity and capabilities.

“However, come June, the brakes came off, with a number of projects commencing and new opportunities coming in even faster. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a similar conversation with others in the property and construction market covering several sectors, and the sentiment was mostly the same. In particular, at Inertia, we’ve seen multiple sectors move forward strongly, including residential land, complex industrial/processing, social and affordable housing, aged care and seniors, and even commercial fit-out and repurposing.

What does 2025 hold in store? Considering I didn’t forecast the market to be this strong until say… February/March next year, I expect we are going to see more of the same, with only capacity (including councils/utilities, consultants, and contractors) acting as a handbrake for what could truly be one of the strongest ever seen in Queensland.”

Read Scott’s wrap-up

Inertia and TACTIC co-hosted Beyond 2032: Building Brisbane’s Legacy, an inspiring evening dedicated to envisioning Brisbane’s future far beyond the 2032 Olympics. With leaders from across the industry, we explored how the Games offer a unique opportunity—not just for a moment of global celebration, but for creating a legacy that impacts Brisbane and Queensland for generations to come. The night kicked off with opening remarks from Anthony Ryan, CEO of Brisbane Economic Development Agency, highlighting SEQ’s positioning for investment and sustainable growth. From there, a fantastic lineup of speakers—Shaun Gallagher, Amy Marsden, Shy Tay, Jackson Hills, Peter Edwards, Caitlin Shields, and Deb Robbins—shared transformative ideas on essential areas like:

• Opportunities for sporting and transport infrastructure and the public realm.
• Addressing housing and social legacy.
• The importance of collaboration and forward-thinking to shape Brisbane’s future.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this critical conversation about Brisbane’s legacy. A special shoutout to our co-host at TACTIC who helped to make this event possible. Together, let’s keep the conversation going for a brighter future for Brisbane.

Watch the event highlights!

We are proud to announce Sean Staceyas a major shareholder! Sean has played a pivotal role as Group Lead – Buildings, driving innovation and growth for the team and the broader company.

Sean shared, “I am both thrilled and thankful to be given the opportunity to join the ownership group at Inertia. I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey over the last 4.5 years, having the chance to contribute to and celebrate the growth and success of the business. I look forward to continuing to work closely with other shareholders and the wider team, as we continue to forge our path through what promises to be an exciting next chapter in Queensland’s construction industry.”

Scott Clements, Managing Director, said, “We are excited that Sean has agreed to come on board as a major shareholder at Inertia. Since starting as a Structural Principal in the middle of the covid uncertainty, Sean has gone from strength to strength. Not only has Sean shown immense growth in his own leadership and management skills, but has also been a major factor in the formation of a successful and cohesive Buildings Group.

Our capacity and capabilities have expanded significantly since Sean took on the role of Group Lead, as clients and team members alike are attracted to working with Sean’s unique balance of technical expertise, delivery focus, and management ability, all whilst having a bit of fun along the way. We welcome Sean into the ownership group and look forward to working together on the next phase of Inertia’s journey.”

Scott attended the launch of Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA)’s 2024 Queensland Major Projects Pipeline Report. This report is an essential guide to the future of Queensland’s construction sector, with the pipeline now projected to reach $103.9 billion over the next five years, up from $92 billion last year. As Scott noted, “It is clear that the coming decade will be pivotal for Queensland’s construction industry, which Andrew Chapman aptly called the ‘Golden Decade of Construction.’ The industry’s call to improve productivity across planning, construction methodology, and industrial relations was no surprise – these elements will be crucial to delivering this extensive pipeline.”

Our team attended the annual Property Council of Australia Christmas Lunch—a wonderful opportunity to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate. The highlight of the day? Taking a moment to step back from the hustle and reconnect with our wider industry community. It was a powerful reminder of the incredible relationships we have cultivated and how our collaborative spirit continues to drive success.

The results are in, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone for helping us raise $1,900 for Movember! 🎉 Every donation, big or small, makes a huge difference.

If you’re inspired to continue supporting this worthy cause, you can still contribute here.

A big shoutout to our Inertians, who collectively covered an impressive 508 KM for men’s health! Let’s celebrate our Movember champions!

• Magnificent Movement: Brittany Collins – Braved the rain to log an outstanding 181 KM!
• Fantastic Fundraising: Alex Turner – Raised a phenomenal $500!
• Most Excellent Mo: Dave Kelly – Once the reigning champion of the “Not So Excellent Mo,” Dave surprised us all by showing up on the final day with a moustache worthy of victory!
• Not So Excellent Mo: Aaron Knight – Channeling his inner Dave, Aaron’s attempt at a moustache left us with more questions than answers, but there’s no denying his enthusiasm!

Inertia marked the holiday season with a festive Christmas party, where we celebrated the incredible contributions of our team through the Inertian Awards. Despite the rain, nothing could stop us from honoring the amazing individuals who make up our team. Congratulations to our 2024 Inertian Award Winners:

• Yoda Award – Aaron Knight and Ivan O’Connor – This award recognises an Inertian(s) who is an outstanding mentor and strives every day to improve the people and systems around them. Yodas can remain calm and positive under pressure and is constructive when addressing issues.
• People’s Champion Award – Brittany Collins – Our people’s champion is a positive force in the organisation, treating other Inertians as they would like to be treated, and setting an example for us all to follow.
• Sea Monkey Award – Sheldon Whitworth – This award recognises personal growth, with our winner showing the most growth in their role while demonstrating a desire for learning and sharing knowledge.
• Big Bang Award – Diego Mello – This award is for the Inertian who embodies the spirit of innovation, continually strives for intelligent solutions, and goes beyond the call of duty to push boundaries.
• Inertian of the Year Award – Jed Michel – Chosen by our leadership team, the Inertian of the Year is the team member felt to embody our values and someone who brings passion, commitment, creativity, and excellence to their role every day. Jed has earned this honor for the second year in a row—a testament to his unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions.

Congratulations to our award winners on their success and their outstanding contributions to Inertia. Special mentions to Mohamed Elnahas, Casey Shea, and Honeylette Mia Ferolin for being nominated across 3 awards and Joanna Gardiner for being nominated across 4 awards. A big thank you to Brittany Collins and Joanna Gardiner for organising this year’s unforgettable Christmas party!

Explore Inertia’s culture