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For Australian construction professionals building high-performing, sustainable homes and homeowners looking to create their own sustainable, high-performing home.
61 Episodes
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Send us Fan Mail Episode Description Alex Campbell, director of Tallwood Custom Built Homes shares his journey from a two-way radio room to becoming one of Western Australia’s most awarded builders. In this episode, he unpacks the realities of building a profitable construction business—covering growth, client selection, insurance challenges, and long-term sustainability. Episode Covers Building a successful construction business without a trade background The importance of ...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description Simon Clark and Brian Guinan sit down with Andrew Smith from Weathertex to explore carbon-negative timber cladding and sustainable manufacturing. From their unique fibre-processing method to innovative product ranges like Weather Groove, Prime Board, and Natural Boards, this episode unpacks how low-carbon materials are shaping the future of construction. Episode Covers Weathertex’s manufacturing process and Mason gun technology How fibre ...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description What happens when experienced builders speak openly about the industry? In this episode Brian & Simon sit down with Dean Backman and Luke Callery of Build Insite bringing real insight from real people on a pursuit to build better homes. With decades of hands-on experience, they share honest insights on the National Construction Code, labour shortages, sustainable building, and how collaboration and social media are reshaping the construction indu...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description Cathy Inglis, industry expert in masonry and brickwork, joins Brian Guinan and Simon Clark from SBA to explore the future of brick, block, and masonry in Australian construction. She discusses innovative construction materials, bespoke and architectural brick options, labor challenges, robotics in bricklaying, and strategies to support apprentices and small bricklaying businesses. Cathy also shares her views on the volatility of brick pricing, the complexi...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description Melissa Neighbour, Founder and Principal Director of Sky Planning, takes us inside Australian council planning and residential development. She explains how state policies, council approvals, and incentive-based strategies shape projects, explores the shift from quarter-acre blocks to apartments and low-rise infill, and shares insights on sustainability, community-focused design, and navigating bureaucracy. Episode Covers The evolving Australian dream: apa...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description John, Managing Director of Bowens, shares the story of a family-owned business founded in 1894 and his leadership journey since becoming Managing Director in 2005. We discuss how Bowens has grown through innovation, automation, and a focus on quality, speed, and ease of doing business. The episode explores timber and building supplies, expansion into claddings and linings, the importance of local manufacturing, supply chain reliability, and Bowens’ commitm...
Send us Fan Mail Episode Description: In this episode, we sit down with Simon Croft, Chief Executive of Industry and Policy at the Housing Industry Association (HIA), to explore the current state of Australia's housing market. Simon shares his extensive experience in construction, policy, and building, delving into the pressing challenges of housing affordability and supply shortages. With the government targeting the construction of 1.2 million homes in the next five years, Simon discusses ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode: We sit down with Saul Griffith to explore his journey from metallurgy to MIT, Silicon Valley, and now leading work in policy, engineering, and sustainability. Saul shares insights on electrification, zero-emissions infrastructure, and how tradespeople are central to building a clean energy future. We also dive into innovative ideas for long-lasting homes, smarter energy markets, and practical ways Australians can trade and generate electricity. Episode Cover...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jennifer Snyders, President of the Bamboo Society of Australia, shares her journey from indifference to advocacy for bamboo in sustainable construction, environmental restoration, and carbon reduction. Born into a bamboo legacy—her father founded House of Bamboo in 1972—Jennifer explains how this fast-growing, renewable material can transform Australia’s building landscape. Simon Clark highlights bamboo as a potential solution to construction supply challenge...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Simon Clark and Brian Guinan chat with Emma Sutcliffe, Director of EV Firesafe, about the realities of electric vehicle (EV) fire safety. Emma shares how losing her plug-in hybrid in a 2018 bushfire inspired her mission to protect emergency responders, educate the public, and advance EV safety research in Australia. Dive behind the scenes of EV fire testing, from controlled burns in Perth to large-scale experiments with the National Fire Protection Associatio...
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 49 of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Joel Seagren, National Mechanical Ventilation Engineer at Fantech, to unpack the critical (and often overlooked) role of ventilation in high-performance homes. With a background in mechanical engineering, renewable energy, and a Master’s in building sustainability, Joel brings decades of experience to this conversation — from consulting on daylight modeling in the early 2000s to becoming a NatHERS assessor and cha...
Send us Fan Mail How many hours have you wasted quoting jobs that never go ahead? In this episode of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Richard Armstrong, a former Melbourne renovation builder who turned over a decade of hard-earned experience — and frustration — into innovation. After 15 years working on extensions and renovations across inner-city Melbourne, Richard saw firsthand how vague budgets, mismatched expectations, and time-wasting quotes were burning out good builders. S...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Jesse Raeburn, a former Block contestant, and real estate agent turned builder, who is now creating high-performance, sustainable homes in Melbourne. Jesse shares his journey from starting as a tiler in Queensland to transitioning into real estate, and eventually following his passion for building. He reflects on the valuable lessons he learned along the way — including the importance of building strong relationships with agents, and how choos...
Send us Fan Mail The Australian construction industry is recognizing the importance of weather resistant and vapour permeable building wraps. A correctly applied building wrap goes a long way to creating a resilient home protecting the building structure from water penetrating into the structure. In this conversation with Jesse Clarke, ProClima's Innovation and Research & Development Manager we dive deep into the science involved for a highly resilient and high-performing buildi...
Send us Fan Mail Jeremy McLeod a ground-breaking Architect the entire built environment community can learn from. We talk all things sustainable architect and sustainable construction. This episode is brough to you by Holcim, Valley Windows & Crafted Hardwood If you're looking for a renewable energy provider try Momentum Energy The Sustainable Builders Yak has no affiliation with Momentum Energy, though we'd love to get in touch.
Send us Fan Mail A conversation with Nathan Mawby, Property Journalist from the Herald Sun and Realestate.com where we discuss consumer trends with property sustainability. This episode is brought to you by Weathertex, Wunderbuild & Vapourseal Builders, Designers & Architects; Sign up to be an Sustainable Builders Alliance member via https://www.thesba.com.au/signup
Send us Fan Mail Meet Dave Hurley - a sharp, detail-driven carpenter who’s raising the bar on what it means to build better. In this episode, we unpack what separates true high-performance construction from the rest. We explore the build details most people miss - and why once you see them, you can’t unsee them. This episode is sponsored by HazardCo, Proclima, Recycle All
Send us Fan Mail Hydrowood is pioneering one of the world’s first underwater forestry operations, salvaging beautiful Australian hardwoods—like Tasmanian Myrtle, Oak, Blackwood, and Celery Top Pine—from the depths of Lake Pieman. Submerged for decades after the 1980s hydroelectric flooding in Tasmania, these timbers are being recovered and given a new life. Join us as we explore Hydrowood’s innovative journey, the stories hidden beneath the water, and how these beautiful ancient forests are ...
Send us Fan Mail We’re joined by Bec Kempster, Chief Operating Officer of the Sustainable Builders Alliance, to mark the official launch of the SBA new membership program. With a rich background in operations, marketing, and business leadership, Bec has played a pivotal role in aligning the Alliance around its core mission: to give you the confidence to build high-performing, sustainable homes. We unpack the “why” behind the membership, the benefits for builders and industry professionals, an...
Send us Fan Mail Challenges of sustainability at scale as Australia's biggest home builder & 7 star NatHERS compliance across 6 climate zones & 100's of designs! Adrian Popple is Metricon's National Design Director and has been working with the company since 1988. Adrian has an incredible vantage point being a national leader and having seen the ups downs of the construction industry over nearly 40 years. He explains; What homeowners are looking for in terms of sustainability & we...
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