Building Sydney: A family affair

John and Phil McLuckie have had the unique privilege of navigating the complex world of infrastructure procurement together as father and son. Through their consultancy, Valorem Advisory, now proudly part of The APP Group, the duo has made a significant contribution to shaping Sydney’s urban landscape. Over the years, their combined efforts have been integral to the successful delivery of transformative projects, including the highly impactful Northwest Metro.

“We love working together, the only thing is he can't call me dad when we’re at work! It started off that everyone would refer to Phil as my son, but as time has gone on, he’s the one that everyone knows and I’m just Phil’s dad,” says John with a smile. 

Their relationship as both family members and professional partners plays a crucial role in their success.

Delivering complex infrastructure projects

Infrastructure procurement is an inherently challenging field, marked by tight deadlines, budget constraints, and the complexities of navigating regulatory requirements. Effective collaboration and communication across a wide range of stakeholders are also essential to project success. 

To address these challenges, John and Phil adopted several key strategies that have helped them thrive:

• Collaborative leadership: By working closely together, John and Phil leverage their complementary skills and knowledge to drive projects forward. Their ability to collaborate seamlessly has been essential in overcoming obstacles and ensuring project success.

• Leveraging technology: John and Phil embrace digital tools like Ansarada Procure to streamline procurement processes, improve collaboration, and enhance decision-making. As John notes, “Our jobs are incredibly stressful, there is so much to think about. The great thing about Ansarada is that it takes a lot of the stress out of it for me. I know that I can trust it.”

• Risk management: By proactively identifying and mitigating risks, they ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of projects without compromising quality.

• Community engagement: Building strong relationships with local communities and stakeholders is crucial. This approach helps them gain support, address concerns, and ensure that projects align with the needs of the people they serve.

A shared passion for innovation

Both John and Phil share a deep passion for infrastructure and are committed to delivering projects that improve the quality of life for Sydneysiders. Their work is not just about building roads and railways, it's about creating opportunities and making Sydney a more accessible, liveable city.

“It’s so important for a city to provide equal quality of opportunity in terms of travel to work, hospitals, and getting an education,” says John. “I believe the only way you can create or promote equality is to give people equal benefits. If people can’t afford to live in an area with good access to these institutions, it becomes a constant cycle for generations to come.”

The satisfaction of seeing a project come to life is tempered by the lessons learned along the way. “The hardest thing is actually seeing it. When you build something, you see all the mistakes you made along the way. And you’ve said, if you're not careful, you focus on all the bad things. But you have to step back and say, geez, we've created something really good.”

Transforming lives through infrastructure

The Northwest Metro project stands as a shining example of the McLuckie duo's impact on Sydney’s urban landscape. This project has significantly improved connectivity across the city, reduced travel times, and enhanced accessibility, ultimately transforming the lives of countless residents.

“If you thought the best jobs were in the city and you didn’t want to get to the city, well, that's a long way to go now,” John explains. 

The Northwest Metro has helped bridge the gap between Sydney's urban core and its surrounding suburbs, creating new opportunities for residents in the city’s northwest. By improving access to the heart of the city, the project has made commuting more efficient and enhanced the overall quality of life for people across the region.

A legacy of excellence

The collaboration between John and Phil McLuckie has been instrumental in the successful delivery of some of Sydney’s most iconic infrastructure projects. Their shared passion for improving Sydney, coupled with their complementary expertise, has enabled them to overcome challenges and achieve remarkable results.

Through a combination of innovative approaches, strategic risk management, and an unwavering commitment to community engagement, they have left a lasting legacy on Sydney's urban landscape. Their work continues to make a positive impact on the city, improving the lives of its residents and helping to shape the future of Sydney for generations to come.