Building A Better Environment

The Age

Wednesday April 16, 2008

Paul Edwards

WHEN I was studying architecture in the '70s I had a building science lecturer who talked about energy efficiency, water saving and proper use of materials. He was 30 years ahead of his time.

What I learned there has been a major contributor to my green ideologies within the building industry.

While still a student, I accepted a cadetship to work with the then Housing Commission and when I graduated in 1976, I was contracted to work for the commission for a few years. I gradually worked my way up the chain and, after seven years, became branch manager looking after medium-density housing projects with a budget of more than $50 million and more than 40 staff.

I have noticed in recent times that particularly generations X and Y are in a hurry for career outcomes. My advice is to be patient, strategic and always do your best, but most importantly, maintain a balanced perspective of your career and have fun along the way.

Life isn't only about your job. I've always enjoyed (life coach) Stephen Covey's famous quote: "There is not one person ever, who on their death bed said, 'I wished I'd spent more time at work'."

After leaving the Housing Commission in 1985, I joined the Public Works Department and was involved in an exciting range of public building projects. In 1988, I achieved my first director position while on secondment to the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services. In the five years in that role we achieved a lot, most notably establishing the Victorian Infrastructure Program. This delivered more than $200 million of public projects, mainly police stations and courts and the Werribee Hospital.

One of my major responsibilities was to establish a unique financial facility to enable private-sector funding of public infrastructure projects. I also oversaw the development of the first operating lease program for public infrastructure in Australia.

I then took a more senior executive role with the newly formed Department of Planning and Development and was eventually accountable for a budget above $250 million and 250 staff. I was honoured to receive the Prime Minister's Prize for Leadership in 1997.

That same year, I took a senior executive role at the City of Melbourne as the director of City Services. This was one of the best jobs I ever had; really exciting in terms of diversity and challenge. I became director of City Strategy and Development, which included the city planning function. We focused on energy usage and water saving - principles I've carried through to the Building Commission and more recently the Plumbing Industry Commission.

In 2000, I was offered the opportunity to lead a statutory body, the Building Commission, and was appointed to my current role as commissioner. I am proud that Victoria was the first Australian state to achieve a five-star energy efficiency housing standard.

The environment is the biggest global issue we have to face. During the next five years, the building sector must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and change the way we build and manage existing buildings.

In 2005, I also became the Plumbing Industry Commissioner and my combined roles can help realise this. A key achievement has been providing greater sustainability, with the commission contributing to the State Government's Our Water Our Future policy.

My current roles also tie in nicely with my appointment in January 2007 as chair of the Green Building Council of Australia. This has been a successful initiative and now annually turns over $5 million, but more importantly, delivers sustainable buildings.

My passion for the environment has helped me get to where I am today. I think it's important to follow your heart and not your wallet when it comes to career choices. -- PAUL EDWARDS

CV

Born 1954.

Education Marian College, Ararat, 1971; St Patricks College, Ballarat, 1972; bachelor of architecture at Deakin University, 1978; master's in planning at University of Melbourne, 1984; postgrad studies in leadership at Oxford.

Employment Ministry of Housing 1976-1985; Public Works Department of Victoria, 1985-1987; Ministry of Housing and Construction 1987-1988; Ministry of Police and Emergency Services 1988-1993; Victorian Government 1992-1997; City of Melbourne 1997-2000; Building Commission 2000 to present, Plumbing Industry Commission 2005 to present.

Unwinding I chair the Melbourne International Comedy Festival - one of the world's big three. It's hard work but it's a lot of fun. My wife and I try to get down to the coast at least a couple of weekends a month. Playing golf at Lorne is a great escape. I try to keep reasonably fit by running and swimming.

Career highs Simply engaging in every job I have done. Being the current chairman of the GBCA and a director of the World Green Building Council based in Toronto are both enormously rewarding positions.

Career lows I once missed out on a CEO position in a photo finish that became even more disappointing when it evolved into a media story. The important thing is to learn from these experiences.

© 2008 The Age

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