Roads Forum - Sponsored by SHEPHERD

Foamed Bitumen and Triple Blend Stabilisation: Performance Benefits and Practical Considerations

Elise Pearson
McMurtrie Consulting Engineers

Elise is a Civil Engineer with experience across design consultancy, technical advisory, and contract administration. Her skillset spans project and design management, stakeholder engagement, and a solid understanding of civil construction.She has worked with clients across both government and private sectors, with a particular strength in translating complex technical challenges into practical, deliverable outcomes. Her work is supported by a strong foundation in the specifications, standards, and policies that underpin infrastructure delivery in Queensland. Elise approaches her work with a mindset of continual learning and contributes to every team with thoughtfulness, warmth, and dependability.

Elise is an active contributor to the engineering industry and has held several leadership and volunteer roles, including membership on the previous Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council, Engineers Australia Bundaberg Committee member, and IPWEAQ’s 2022 Emerging Professional of the Year.

Damian Volker
Department of Transport and Main Roads

Damian Volker is the Director for the Pavements Rehabilitation Unit of the Engineering and Technology Branch from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).

Damian joined DTMR over 20 years ago as a Cadet Materials Technologist, spending the first half of his career in the TMR laboratories, also performing detailed pavement investigations and working as an asphalt and stabilisation Roadworks Inspector. This foundation developed a valuable understanding and knowledge of material properties and failure mechanisms.

With a mind for innovation and environmentally sustainable solutions, Damian has provided valuable technical input into all aspects of stabilisation rehabilitation projects, including detailed pavement investigations, design, testing, construction, training, performance research and development of DTMR specifications.

What is Measured, Matters: The Role of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Roadway Asset Management

Leigh Carnall
Civiltech Solutions

Leigh has accumulated over two decades of leadership in delivering complex civil infrastructure projects both in Australia and internationally. His extensive portfolio spans from transforming local and state roads, constructing resilient tailings dams, to spearheading urban development and disaster reconstruction initiatives. With a passion for progress and a dedication to excellence, Leigh has ventured beyond traditional civil engineering boundaries, integrating AI technologies to revolutionize how we understand our road infrastructure. His forward-thinking approach not only enhances project efficiency but also strategically utilizes vast data sets to predict, plan, and execute with unmatched precision.

Decarbonising the Bitumen Supply in Australia with Biogenic Materials

Michael He
Puma Energy - Bitumen

Michael is a Senior Product Engineer for Puma Bitumen where he has a background in Chemical and Materials Engineers. He has 7 years of experience in the bitumen and transport industry with a strong drive to produce more efficient and sustainable solutions for the industry.

Leveraging Advanced Technology for Rapid Disaster Recovery

Tom Sanders
SHEPHERD Services

Tom Sanders is GM of Research and Development (RACAS) at SHEPHERD, with 17 years' experience delivering practical solutions in infrastructure management and local government service delivery across QLD and NSW.

Starting his career at Sunshine Coast Regional Council and later working across NSW and the Cassowary Coast, Tom brings a hands-on approach to solving regional challenges. At SHEPHERD, Tom works with councils across Australia, delivering practical, transparent solutions that enhance community sustainability. With expertise in asset management, operations, and disaster response, he transforms complex data into clear, actionable insights. His hands-on leadership empowers teams and equips councils to make smart, impactful decisions.

Through RACAS, Tom continues to drive innovation and resilience in local communities.

Session 1

Barren Creek Timber Bridge Replacement Project

Martin Joseph
Mackay Regional Council

Martin Joseph currently serves as the Project Delivery Coordinator within the Infrastructure and Operations Directorate at Mackay Regional Council. He leads a team of project managers responsible for delivering capital works across a range of council assets in Mackay, including roads and drainage systems, public buildings, water and sewer infrastructure, and community parks.

His presentation focuses on the Barren Creek timber bridge replacement project in Calen, covering the construction process, option analysis, challenges faced, lessons learned, and the final outcomes.

Peter Bratt
Mackay Regional Council

Peter is currently the DRFA Manager with Mackay Regional Council. He has been in the disaster restoration role since 2017 when he offered to help Council with the delivery of restoration works resulting from Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie rather than retire. In addition to his DRFA role, he has provided high level project management support on a broad range of council engineering and building projects.

He has over 50 years of engineering experience predominantly in road & bridge construction, by both day labour & contract, for state/territory road authorities and for local governments.

Infrastructure Agreements

Sarah Hausler
McCullough Robertson Lawyers

Sarah Hausler is a specialist planning and environment lawyer, with particular expertise in infrastructure, environment, and strategic planning. Sarah’s experience includes advising government and private clients in relation to planning and environment litigation, project approvals and planning instruments, due diligence, infrastructure agreements, contaminated land, and other environmental matters.

Sarah has advised infrastructure authorities in respect of some of the largest infrastructure agreements in Queensland including for the Caloundra South Aura development, Caboolture West Waraba development, Adani Carmichael mine and rail, along with numerous infrastructure agreements for wind farms, road upgrades, water and wastewater infrastructure, incentive arrangements and urban development.

Karumba Community Seawall Resilience Project

Michael Wanrooy
Carpentaria Shire Council

Michael Wanrooy is the Director of Engineering for Carpentaria Shire Council. He is responsible for all roads, buildings, aerodromes, marine, parks and gardens, water, waste and sewerage infrastructure throughout the Shire. Michael has been with Carpentaria for 6 years.

Michael has strong experience in delivering rural projects in outback Queensland, having spent over 20 years in the region having worked in remote towns such as Bedourie, Birdsville, Barcaldine, Richmond and Normanton.

Session 2

Practical TTM options for local government – safer, more productive and cheaper

Dr Dan Sullivan
Solutions in Transport

Dan has 30 years’ experience across Australia and the UK and has worked in Private Sector and Government Agencies. Dan has a Bachelors in Civil Engineering, a PhD in Traffic Engineering, and an MBA.

Dan is focussed on specialist advisory services in Temporary Traffic Management applying expertise for his clients. He was appointed by the Austroads Board as Project Manager for the Safety at Road Worksites project focussed on harmonisation of training and registration and publication of the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management.

Dan brings together practical experience in TTM and an in depth understanding, not only of the written guides, but of the fundamental principles behind their development to provide clients with practicable risk-based solutions. Dan now works closely with local government, utility providers and other organisations focussed on improving systems and processes, so their responsibilities are met and to implement practical solutions scaled for the site risks.

Jolimont Creek Fishway

Muxith Habib
Mackay Regional Council

Muxith Habib is a Project Manager in the Infrastructure and Operations department at Mackay Regional Council. He oversees the end-to-end delivery of civil infrastructure projects across the region, including roads, culverts, drainage systems, and public parks— from initial concept through to completed community assets. At the conference, Muxith will present on the Jolimont Creek Fishway.

Martin Joseph
Mackay Regional Council

His presentation focuses on the Barren Creek timber bridge replacement project in Calen, covering the construction process, option analysis, challenges faced, lessons learned, and the final outcomes.

Recovery & Resilience in Queensland

Andrew Abbott
Queensland Reconstruction Authority

Andrew has broad ranging experience in the military and private sector in operational, strategic, corporate governance and project management roles. He has successfully led large-scale, multi-national projects and managed significant budgets including the Australian Army’s contribution to regional and domestic disaster relief efforts as well as security at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Papua New Guinea APEC summit, large defence acquisition projects, and a strategic transformation project at a large Defence Prime in Australia.

He is skilled in both strategy and policy and capability management and enjoys working with local councils and communities in Queensland.

Session 3

Noah Range Major Slip Site in Cape Tribulation

Gabriel Nucifora
Douglas Shire Council

Gabriel is the Construction & Commercial Manager at Douglas Shire Council, leading the Infrastructure Recovery Department. In this role, he oversees a $200 million+ program under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (DRFA) within the Douglas Shire Region.

With over 18 years of experience in civil infrastructure, Gabriel brings a diverse background across road construction, slope stabilisation, bridge construction, subdivision and property development, water and sewer treatment plants, and asset services. His expertise spans operations, contract management, and program management, with a strong focus on project delivery, strategic planning, and the development of effective business operations.

Claudia Brassard
Stantec Australia

Claudia Brassard is the Business Leader for Regional Queensland at Stantec, where she oversees a diverse team of engineers and project professionals delivering community infrastructure north of SEQ. With more than 20 years’ experience in civil engineering, project management, including senior executive roles in local government, Claudia has a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities unique to regional communities.

She’s currently seconded to Douglas Shire Council as their DRFA Program Lead. Leading their $200 million infrastructure recovery program following Cyclone Jasper. In this role, she’s responsible for strategic oversight, project delivery, funding submissions, and ensuring the rebuild improves resilience across roads, water networks, and landslip-prone areas. Claudia is passionate about practical solutions, building strong local teams, and delivering outcomes that genuinely support community recovery.

The Great Scour: Midge Point’s Journey To Reliable Drinking Water

Andrew Walz
Mackay Regional Council

Andrew Walz is the Principal Network Engineer within Water Networks for the Department of Infrastructure and Operations at Mackay Regional Council.

Andrew has been employed with Council for over 12 years. As the Principal Network Engineer, Andrew has a passion for delivery quality infrastructure projects utilising his technical experience to help deliver customer and client outcomes across projects.

Andrea Thayer
Mackay Regional Council

Andrea Thayer is the Commercial Support Advisor within Water Networks for the Department of Infrastructure and Operations at Mackay Regional Council.

Andrea has been employed within the Water Networks in Council, has been part of the smart metering space for over 13 years and was involved in the initial rollout that occurred in Mackay back in 2012. She is often the go-to-person for smart metering information due to her knowledge, history and understanding of the remote readers and the data as well as dealing with customers.

Does the colour treatment of raised safety platforms influence driver behaviour?

Todd Richards
Tipec

Todd Richards is a civil engineer and director at Tipec, with over 20 years of experience in the construction and civil engineering sectors. Todd began his career as a bricklayer, spending 15 years refining his skills before transitioning to civil engineering in 2019 to work at Tipec as a designer and study a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, graduating with honours in 2024.

Todd has specialised expertise in traffic and transport infrastructure planning and design, stormwater modelling and design, and active transport planning and design, working on a wide range of projects throughout the Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

When Todd isn’t working, he enjoys exploring local sights around Mackay with his family and taking on projects around the house, with the latest project being a bathroom renovation.

Understanding Cracks in Concrete Pipes

Sam Kane
Holcim Humes

Sam Kane, Humes Engineered Solutions Manager Queensland. Sam has worked the majority of his career as part of Humes Technical design team and is now in a technical sales role for Humes. Sam also represents the CPAA on Australian Standards committee BD-090 which is working on the amendments to AS 5100. Sam's understanding of installed pipe design was instrumental to the latest revision of the CPAA software PipeClass3.

SPEAKERS