CopperString 2032, QLD

Brian is a Director and co-founder of ConnellGriffin. He has over 20 years’ experience in the construction and transport infrastructure industry. During his career, Brian has been responsible for commercial contract management of a broad range of projects.

Brian’s extensive experience working in an advisory capacity to both public and private sector clients make him a valuable asset to any project.  His experience includes the provision of commercial and contract management, risk management, claims management, project auditing, financial tt and the review and auditing of business processes and contract administration procedures.

Brian’s commercial insight combined with his strong technical skills in the industry make him well equipped to determine the most cost effective, timely and sensible solutions for clients.

Jonathan is a highly accomplished commercial advisor with over 17 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure projects across the energy, rail, road, and social infrastructure sectors. Recognised for his leadership and ability to drive multidisciplinary teams, Jonathan has a proven track record of delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and to exceptional standards. His technical expertise, strategic approach, and commitment to stakeholder engagement have earned him a reputation for achieving enduring project outcomes and fostering long-term professional relationships.

Jonathan holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ireland and further enhanced his qualifications with Project Management studies in Australia. Following his studies he spent 7 years at Transport for NSW, where he managed critical projects under the Transport Access Program. In this role, he successfully delivered railway station construction, transport interchanges, roadworks, and commuter car park developments, showcasing his ability to manage complex, high-impact infrastructure initiatives.

Following a sabbatical in 2018, Jonathan joined Aurecon Group in Auckland, where he was seconded full-time to the City Rail Link Project. As Senior Project Manager, he led the client owner verifier team, overseeing delivery for the rail systems and stations contract.

Returning to Sydney in 2019, Jonathan joined ConnellGriffin, where he held senior leadership roles on prominent projects, including Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport, Sydney Water P4S, TfNSW Parramatta Light Rail, and the TfNSW Coffs Harbour Bypass. Since relocating to Brisbane in 2021, Jonathan has been instrumental in ConnellGriffin’s operations in Queensland, playing a key role in shaping the state’s infrastructure landscape. His extensive experience, technical proficiency, and dedication to excellence position him as a trusted leader and advisor in the infrastructure sector.

Ian Costa e Silva is a Senior Advisor with a solid foundation in civil and construction engineering. Armed with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Construction), Costa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. Costa has played a pivotal role in delivering major infrastructure projects across diverse sectors, including rail, oil and gas, roads and buildings. His expertise extends to transactional aspects of major projects in the transport infrastructure domain, showcasing his versatility in project management. Notably, Costa has served as a project manager in the flood recovery of essential public assets post-disaster, demonstrating his commitment to community resilience and infrastructure restoration.

In his current capacity as a Senior Advisor, Costa excels in transaction management, where he actively contributes to the development and execution of procurement plans and processes. His involvement in interactive tendering and market sounding reflects his strategic approach to project development.

Furthermore, Costa is a seasoned project manager, overseeing projects through their entire lifecycle - from planning and design to construction and handover. His comprehensive skill set ensures the successful delivery of infrastructure projects with a focus on efficiency and excellence.

Key projects throughout Costa’s career include the CopperString 2032 project, which involved the construction of an 840km electricity transmission line in Queensland. It is recognised as the largest transmission project in Australia and managed by Powerlink. Additionally, Costa has been a key player in the SunHQ Hydrogen Production Facility project, led by Ark Energy, contributing to advancements in sustainable energy solutions. His role in the Flood Recovery Program for Brisbane City Council underscores his commitment to resilient infrastructure in the face of natural disasters.

In summary, Costa’s career is characterised by his leadership, expertise in project management, and commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure projects.

With twelve years' experience, Claudia has an extensive background in leading multidisciplinary teams for medium to large scale transport and infrastructure projects in Australia, the Middle East and the UK at all stages of the project lifecycle. She brings her enthusiasm, motivation, problem-solving and collaboration skills to each of her design management, project management and advisory roles. 

Claudia loves working closely with clients and stakeholders to solve their complex challenges, using a big picture approach along with attention to detail to ultimately deliver something we can all be proud of and makes a difference to the communities we serve. She is armed with a strong understanding of complex interface management, risk mitigation and a passion for bringing diverse and innovative thinking together to deliver high-quality outcomes, sustainably. 

Claudia is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland who has extensive experience across project development, design and delivery, including multidisciplinary and interface management and coordination, commercial and risk management, utilities management, contract administration and construction certification. She is joining from Arup, an international engineering firm where she began her career as an undergraduate in 2010 and more recently held the position of Queensland Roads and Streets Business Manager.

Juan is an experienced and trusted consultant providing infrastructure and procurement advice to various clients. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Business (Finance) from the Queensland University of Technology.

Juan has extensive experience in the procurement of transport services and business case development for the purposes of supporting client investment decisions. He has supported the development of several major road and rail transport business cases including, the North West Transport Network and Rockhampton Ring Road. 

Juan has also provided financial and commercial services across a range of air, bus and rail passenger services and freight transport across Australia. 

Sam is a Quantity Surveyor with strong commercial experience gained in the United Kingdom and brings over 5 years of commercial experience working in London and Manchester, UK. He currently holds a Master’s Degree in Quantity Surveying. Prior to joining Connell Griffin, Sam worked for over 4 years as a Quantity Surveyor for a major civils Contractor where he undertook the procurement and commercial management and dispute resolution for projects from inception to handover.

Sam brings commercial expertise in procurement, commercial management, claims and dispute resolution from inception to project handover within the demolition, civil and infrastructure sectors. Having worked on high profile projects in Contracting, Sam uses his experience to effectively procure packages, manage and control building costs, draft and manage claims that arise in line with the relevant contracts and identify areas of risk that may lead to issues within projects. He has worked for both private and public clients in a collaborative manner and ensures that the most economically viable solutions to project issues are made whilst maintaining good relations for all parties.

Roya holds a Bachelor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration. She is also recognised as a Chartered Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering and Project Management by Engineers Australia. As a Constructionarium Australia Board Member, Roya actively contributes her expertise to the board, bringing insights and leadership to the organisation. This position reflects her commitment to governance and strategic decision making within the sector.

Roya's past experiences highlight her ability to lead and innovate in complex engineering projects. Notably, she played a crucial role in developing an accelerated transaction process to support the CopperString 2032 Project for Powerlink QLD. Her responsibilities included coordinating workstream leads to develop technical specifications, contractual documentation and overseeing pre-award tendering activities. Roya's leadership is further emphasised through her role as the chair of weekly workstream lead management meetings, ensuring effective collaboration and progress tracking.

In her current role as an Advisor, Roya brings a diverse skill set, including project and design management, engineering technical advice, and technical and strategic reporting. Her expertise also extends to strategic reporting, showcasing her ability to provide comprehensive insights for decision making at both technical and executive levels.

Among the headline projects that define Roya's career, the CopperStrings 2032 Project stands out as a significant endeavour. Her involvement in the Inland Rail and the Logan Enhancement Project further underscores her commitment to major infrastructure initiatives, demonstrating her versatility and expertise in diverse engineering domains.

Antony is a Civil Engineer specialising in project controls with a particular interest in project scheduling, data analysis and cost management. He has worked on infrastructure projects of national significance throughout the North Island of New Zealand and Australia.

Antony has worked independently on client engagements and been seconded as part of their integrated project teams. These engagements included aviation, maritime, roads, rail and social housing sectors for clients including TransGrid, Sydney Metro, Auckland Transport, Auckland International Airport, CentrePort Wellington, Housing New Zealand, Kiwirail, and the NZ Transport Agency.

Augusto is a distinguished professional with a strong foundation in research and consulting. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the Queensland University of Technology, where he was acknowledged for his academic excellence. Augusto has actively engaged in numerous international case competitions and research projects across Asia and Europe, consistently achieving top placements and enriching his expertise in global economic dynamics. His professional journey includes roles in consulting, where as part of a graduate cohort, he developed strategic models and conducted economic analysis. Augusto is well-equipped to provide strategic insights and recommendations. He is passionate about continuous learning, professional development, and contributing to sustainability initiatives.