Sustainable Builders Yak

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Ben Bardon, CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association (NAAA), shares his journey from working as a painter and decorator to becoming one of Australia's leading voices on apprenticeships, skills development, and workforce planning. The conversation explores the challenges facing the construction industry, including labour shortages, apprenticeship completion rates, skills pathways, and the growing demand for qualified tradespeople needed to meet Australia's housing and infrastructure targets. 
The discussion dives into the realities of the apprenticeship system, examining how young people enter the trades, the role of schools and vocational education, and the barriers preventing more Australians from pursuing construction careers. Ben also unpacks the impact of migration, government incentives, workforce participation, and industry culture, while highlighting practical solutions to improve apprenticeship outcomes, attract more women into the trades, and build a stronger, more sustainable construction workforce for the future.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
 Ben's journey from tradesperson and educator to CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association 
 The state of apprenticeships and workforce shortages in the Australian construction industry 
 Why apprenticeship commencements and completions are struggling to keep pace with demand 
 School pathways, vocational education, and helping young people discover careers in the trades 
 The role of migration, government incentives, and workforce planning in addressing skills shortages 
 Supporting apprentices through training, mentoring, and industry pathways 
 Increasing female participation and creating more inclusive construction workplaces 
 The future of Australia's construction workforce and the challenge of delivering enough skilled tradespeople

LEARN MORE
NAAA: https://www.naaa.com.au/about-us
Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
The Sustainable Builders Alliance

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Candice Halliday from CNA Design Studio shares her journey from founding a successful architecture practice to becoming a leading voice for emerging professionals within the Australian architecture industry. As the incoming president of Imagine at the Australian Institute of Architects, Candice discusses the importance of collaboration, sustainable design, and creating healthier, higher-performing buildings that meet the challenges of a changing climate. 
The conversation explores the role of Passive House principles, building performance, retrofit design, and the future of sustainable construction in Australia. Candice shares insights from the Thrive Passive House Conference, discusses the need for better building quality and public education, and explains why architects, builders, policymakers, and industry organisations must work together to drive meaningful change. We also dive into adaptive reuse, reducing embodied carbon, improving building standards, and how emerging technologies and AI could help shape the future of architecture and construction.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
 Candice's journey from sole practitioner to founder of a growing architecture practice 
 Lessons and insights from the Thrive Passive House Conference 
 Passive House principles and improving building performance in Australia 
 Building healthier, more energy-efficient homes through better design 
 Retrofit strategies, adaptive reuse, and reducing embodied carbon 
 The future of sustainable architecture and the role of the NCC 
 Why collaboration between architects, builders, and industry bodies matters 
 AI, innovation, and emerging opportunities for the next generation of architects

LEARN MORE
CNA Design Studio: https://www.cnadesignstudio.com/
Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
The Sustainable Builders Alliance

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Ben Walsham from Arkata shares his journey from studying as an architect to becoming a certified energy assessor, and how witnessing underperforming, single-glazed luxury developments drove him to step away from traditional volume building to tackle Australia's home performance crisis. The conversation explores how a simple shift in mindset, moving away from added R-values and looking at total U-values instead, can completely reframe how architects and homeowners understand heat loss and window budgets.
The conversation digs deep into the realities of modern construction, bridging the gap between design theory and actual on-site sequencing. Ben explains how Arkata utilises early-stage thermal modelling and a unique "value engineering for performance" dashboard to eliminate weeks of frustrating coordination, helping clients optimise their designs before town planning approval. We also dive into the future of the industry, unpacking the upcoming 2029 code changes, the rise of AI-powered compliance tools like NatHERS Hero, and why mandatory energy disclosure at the point of sale is the ultimate financial catalyst needed to transform Australia’s housing market.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Ben’s origin story: from volume builder graduate architect to sustainability consultant 
The reality gap: how architecture curriculum falls short on contract admin and buildability 
Reframing metrics: why added R-values mislead the industry and how U-values expose glass as the weakest link 
Value engineering for performance: using upfront dashboards to balance budgets and hit 8+ star ratings 
The 2029 code roadmap: AI-powered software, NatHERS Hero, and scaling efficiency to 200,000 homes a year 
As-built verification: the transition toward airtightness testing and closing the performance gap 
Mandatory energy disclosure: how banks, ESG ratings, and point-of-sale reporting will drive the retrofit economy 
Quick-fire round: passive house vs. solar design, SIPS alternative construction, and a surprising love for death metal
LEARN MORE
Arkata: https://arkata.com/  
Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
The Sustainable Builders Yak Podcast

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Kyle and Luke from Future Builder share how their platform is helping builders scale their businesses through structured systems, training, and community support.
They dive into the fundamentals of running a profitable construction business—from accurate pricing and strong sales processes to effective project management. They also introduce Future Builder’s core tools, including Base Camp, The Vault, and Key to the Kingdom, designed to provide builders with practical resources and white-label assets.
Kyle, a 32-year-old custom home builder from Tasmania, also shares his journey in the industry and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
The conversation explores the future of construction, including the growing impact of AI and robotics in improving productivity and efficiency.
Episode Highlights:
Understanding pricing and profitability
 Improving project management systems
 Building an effective sales process
 Overview of Base Camp, The Vault, and Key to the Kingdom
 Role of AI and robotics in construction
 Insights from a custom home builder’s journey
Guest:
 Kyle & Luke – Future Builder
Company:
 Future Builder
Company URL:
 https://www.futurebuilder.com.au/

Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA):
 https://www.thesba.com.au

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Damien Collins from RecycleAll and NeverStop Construction shares his journey from plumber to eco entrepreneur, and how building some of Melbourne's most celebrated sustainable projects — including the prototype for the Nightingale Housing model — led him to tackle construction's most overlooked problem: plastic waste.
The conversation explores the circular economy opportunity hiding in plain sight on every building site, from cable spools and polystyrene packaging to PVC pipe offcuts. Damien explains how RecycleAll's app-based bin system makes on-site waste separation simple, contaminant-free, and commercially viable — and why it often costs builders less than traditional landfill skips.
We dive into the 18 months of groundwork required to build relationships with processing partners, the landmark RMIT study on construction site packaging waste (a world first), and what Extended Producer Responsibility could mean for the industry. The episode also covers the devastating axing of Sustainability Victoria, the future of waste-to-energy, and why mandatory stewardship schemes are the missing piece in Australia's circular economy puzzle.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
RecycleAll's origin story — born from frustration on a city of Yarra job site
How the bin system works and what it actually costs builders
Processing partners, contamination-free supply chains, and the end market
The RMIT global first study on construction site packaging waste
Extended Producer Responsibility and voluntary vs. mandatory stewardship
Sustainability Victoria's axing and what it means for recycling infrastructure
Waste-to-energy and the future of landfill in Australia
Advice for eco entrepreneurs: passion, immersion, and learning by doing
LEARN MORE
RecycleAll: https://www.recycleall.com.au 
NeverStop Construction: https://www.neverstop.com.au/
Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au
BROUGHT TO YOU BY