CLIENT: Hewlett-Packard
PROJECT VALUE: $100 million
SCOPE OF SERVICES: Project Management Office Services and Project Planning and Scheduling
PROJECT COMPLETION: 2011

Project Overview

In 2011 HP secured a new managed services contract with Downer to supply services from the End User computer through to Main Frame infrastructure to support Downer’s national application requirements.

Phase 1 was to transition services to HP with minimal disruption to Downer’s operations within four months of Service Commencement date.  This included taking ownership of three existing datacentres.

Once transitioned HP aimed to transform Downer’s IT Infrastructure environment to a single datacentre (dual site) to support group-wide application roll-out and house the majority of Downer systems and servers.  This also included moving Downer on to HP’s new leading edge cloud technology.

TBH’s Role

Throughout HP/Downer’s Programme, TBH was committed to providing Planning & Controlling services to HP, which included but was not limited to the following:

• Create Master/Child files in MSPS
• Train Project Managers on how to maintain/update schedules in the MSPS environment
• Create PMO framework documentation for compliance
• Set up a Programme SharePoint site
• Create and manage programme governance including Risks, Issue and Change Management
• Created automated weekly reporting using the contractual milestones by obtaining live data in MSPS and SharePoint at the Project and Programme level
• Operational handover to HP internal resources.

To read more about Marita please go to australianoftheyear.org.au. Image from australianoftheyear.org.au

A complex project can really benefit from an independent coach and umpire.  Tracey Brunstrom Hammond (TBH) have decades of experience in providing project management services, and brought their skills to the 1 Bligh Street project to smooth the programming path for Grocon and their multitude of subcontractors.

TBH was involved on the 1 Bligh St project primarily to provide construction programming and planning services, and independent progress monitoring and reporting services. Their involvement commenced from the pre-tender stage and continued through almost to completion and handover.

“At the pre-tender stages we were involved in producing construction methodologies, site staging and  establishment variations, indicative costing and cashflows, and eventually of the tender programmes that assisted Grocon in winning the job to begin with,” explained TBH Senior Consultant Scott Bertoni.

“Once Grocon had commenced on the job we assisted them in producing both contract programmes and target programmes for the project. These were fully resourced programmes that allowed us to both forecast potential man-power estimates and track against actual on-site performance of individual trades.

“As the project progressed we maintained a monitoring role, reporting back to Grocon with upcoming issues that had the potential to cause delays to the project in a timely matter, allowing Grocon to manage these issues before they became critical.

“The most important features of our work were both the collaborative relationship we had with Grocon in the construction planning phases of the project, and the value that our programming services added to the project. The fact that we are an independent consultancy is of great value, as we are able to better inform our clients without the bias or agenda that may sometimes occur if these roles are performed in-house.”

The most challenging part of the programming task was the staging and construction logistics of the unique double-skinned facade and full length atrium.  TBH needed to factor in how individual complex elements affected each other, and the program as a whole.

TBH has been in business in Australia since 1965, founded with the skills and experience of Richard Tracey and Gerald Brunstrom, who had been providing services to the US Defence and Aerospace industries from their office in Seattle since 1955.  The first TBH project in Australia was managed from an office in Perth, and was for the US Navy, who constructed the Harold Holt Communications Station on the Western Australia coast.  In 1966 a Sydney office was opened, facilitating projects including upgrades of the Sydney and Melbourne airports, hospitals and high rise constructions.

TBH expanded into Brisbane in 1980 and Canberra in 1990, and also has offices in Melbourne and Perth.  For almost 30 years TBH was providing their skills to projects in Asia and the Middle East from the Australian Offices, and in 2008 TBH joined forces with Confluence to form Confluence TBH, a  Singapore-based venture which provides specialist services throughout Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Europe, with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi.

This is a company that takes the quality of their service seriously, with accreditation by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.  TBH are an AIPM member, and were 2009 State Winner for Project Management Achievement Award for Deer Park Bypass, Melbourne.

TBH’s ability to manage complexity, finesse details and provide Expert Witness services has proved invaluable for projects including railways, civil infrastructure, all types of construction, ICT, natural resources, hospitality, airports, Defence, health and education.

This year, the Congress will be held in Brisbane at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. With less than one week to go, TBH is proud to be part of this prestigious event, and look forward to meet all the delegates attending from over 30 countries. Visit us at Booth 39!

Since 2004, the mining sector has grown to be the largest industry sector in Queensland. While the traditional sectors of Agriculture, Accommodation and Food Services have had relatively low rates of growth in the past decade, mining has experienced much faster growth rates, driven largely by price increases for key commodities. Currently, there is in excess of $100 billion in future resource investments under active consideration in Queensland.
While the resource sector continues to drive the national economy, the competition for skilled labour will become a key issue. TBH has extensively research this sector and the potential staffing impacts these mines and their associated works will have on accommodation levels. We have gained an appreciation for the potential accommodation ‘pinch points’. In response to this we have developed a range of accommodation strategies that will assist mine companies attract and retain their valuable staff, by TBH working with mine companies to deliver a full Development Management Turnkey accommodation solution. We recognise the importance of developing project specific delivery strategies. TBH has successfully delivered complete accommodation solutions and are ready to do this for you where and when required.

Minister for Health Geoff Wilson said the emergency department includes the latest in medical technology.

Mundingburra MP Lindy Nelson-Carr said in addition to the new emergency department, North Block would also be home to a 34-bed maternity ward and an intensive care unit.

“North Block will have an expanded intensive care unit allowing for patients who need specialise one-on-one care,” she said.

For the full Townsville Bulletin article please go here.

Meiske has predominantly been involved in technology focussed projects since 2002.

I love working with people. Most people will know I enjoy a chat and being social. My favourite projects are those that allow me to form relationships with the client, as well as other colleagues rather than working on my own. There can be a greater need for interaction with the client, particularly as part of the job is the challenge of having to extract information from the client. Not always an easy task.

As most of the projects I work on are technology focussed, I love that I am kept constantly on my toes. These types of projects can change so quickly. I’m always trying to stay ahead!

So far, the biggest advantage has been the travel. I have spent time in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. An added bonus was experiencing the subway system in Hong Kong.  As a regular user of public transport in Sydney, I realised the NSW State Government could learn a thing or two!

On a National level, I want to help make TBH a household brand. TBH has been around for 45 years and is often referred to as an Icon in the services we provide. I want to be a part of the team that works towards achieving the same status for our technology based work as our traditional services.

On the International scene, I am very interested in being involved in further enhancing the application of TBH services in Asian countries. There is so much work out there and we have so much to offer.

On meeting a new client –

When meeting with a client, particularly a new client, always start with a smile! If you can, approach people in a personal manner rather than getting straight into business. People always like to talk about themselves. They will feel more comfortable and the business talk is much more effective.

On when things get hard to deal with –

Always find the bright side to things. No matter how difficult something becomes, find something great and focus on the positive.

On those long nights in the office –

During those long late hours in the office when you know there is still a long way to go before heading home, a long line of chocolate on your desk helps!

It is TBH’s greatest pleasure to announce that Meiske Sompie and Jonathan Jacobs have been invited to join the Board as Directors of the TBH Group. A big welcome to both Meiske and Jonathan!
On a sad note, Gordon Lynas has formally stepped down as a Director of  TBH Group but will be committed to work with TBH as a Specialist Consultant.

Following a recent visit and seminar at the City University of Hong Kong on behalf of the ConfluenceTBH Joint Venture and announcing the opening of our new services in Hong Kong, we were visited by a group of 20 undergraduate students and two of their lecturers from the University. The students and their senior lecturer Dr Mei-Yung Leung were keen to visit an Australian project management and strategic services company and office, whilst they were in Sydney.

The guests visited TBH Sydney Office for the afternoon of Monday 16^th May, where they were given a presentation of what TBH is, does and our history and development by our Managing Director – Phil Lee. They were provided with some TBH mementoes and then after a briefing about TBH’s role by Brian Kooyman on the Sydney Olympics, they were taken by bus on a site visit to Homebush Bay.  This project was selected due to the varying nature of project delivery systems, and the extensive remediation and site rehabilitation work required on the site. After an interesting but tiring afternoon the students returned to the Sydney CBD around 6.00 pm and all expressed their appreciation of a great visit and afternoon. Thanks to all those who contributed to the success of the visit, especially Charles Yeung, Charlene Sin, Tess Esplin, Le Kien Luu, Maria Stamatas and Phil Lee.