Building Resilience Through Adversity

Building resilience through adversity

How the construction industry can rebuild itself to be stronger than ever.

With the ever-changing environment across Australia and the world, and its impact on the construction industry, we sat down with our Managing Director, Tim Gagen to get his insights and better understand how he chooses to tackle adversity in his life, career and business.

How have you faced challenges in the past?

Plain and simple – hard work. I’m a big believer in the adage, “the harder you work, the luckier you get”. With this as my guiding principle, I have always been driven to work hard, even when obstacles are thrown my way.

Within the current circumstances of our industry, it’s understandable to not feel motivated, which is why it’s so important to develop daily habits and a strong mindset that helps to keep you on track towards your goals, even when times get tough.   

It’s also important to remember that we can’t face all challenges alone, so having the support of family, friends and mates across the industry is so crucial. We need each other, now more than ever.

What lessons have you learnt through facing adversity?

Every challenge tests us and pushes us outside of our comfort zone, and that is where we find our greatest growth. While it is extremely uncomfortable to live through challenging times, they also bring with them new perspectives, new ideas and when we look back, we are often surprised at just how much we can handle.

As the first man to swim the English Channel, Captain Matthew Webb made famous the quote “nothing great is easy”. The way I choose to take his words into my career, business and life is that amazing things can happen on the other side of adversity.

What support networks do you rely on to help you through tough times?

Every building has a number of reinforcements that support its overall structure – nothing ever stands alone. When one element of the building is compromised, the structure can rely somewhat on its supports to still maintain its overall integrity. The same should be said for ourselves.

It’s crucial that we all create a support network so that when we are faced with challenges in one area of our lives, the other parts can help to keep us together.

Right now, with our work taking a hit, I’m relying more on my family, friends and workmates, but also in pursuing hobbies and interests that bring me joy and a sense of purpose outside of work.

What can those in the construction industry do to strengthen their resilience?

With so much of what is happening in our industry and around the world, out of our control, the most important thing we can do is to remind ourselves of just that –we unfortunately aren’t able to completely control the situation. But what we can control is our reaction to it.

There will be other challenges that hit us in the days, months and years to come, and during those, you’ll likely find yourself grateful for the challenges you’ve already faced.  

Though many may be used to testing their physical strength on the job site, this is a time to really check in on your mental strength. I encourage everyone to be prepared to have conversations with your work mates, check in on them and how they’re doing and where you can, be open to sharing your experience too.

What is the Streetbuild team doing to support the during this challenging time?

For many years we’ve invested in an employee assistance program which provides all our staff with access to counsellors and resources designed to support their emotional, mental and general wellbeing. We believe that championing the importance of this message year-round is vital in addressing such a key issue.

In addition, we’ve been staying connected as much as possible through team check-ins and virtual lunches to which we’ve received positive feedback from the team. 

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Woolworths Wollongong eCOMM Expansion

To keep up with ever evolving retail customer needs, Woolworths Group partnered with Streetbuild to erect a new online shopping collection point. The project featured Australia’s first fabric awning, as well as modifications to the loading dock and back of house area to ensure the smooth processing of this new service.

Julie Smith

Chief Financial Officer – Director

Julie is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience advising business. With a background in professional services, Julie has worked with businesses across a variety of industries at every stage of business to consult on their future plans, execute new ideas and develop strategies that drive business growth.

Her main area of focus is applying data analytics to get behind the numbers and provide insight to help our business and clients. In her role at Streetbuild, Julie enjoys working with colleagues across all areas of the business to assist in delivering for our clients.

Herman Monserrat

Financa & Administration Manager

As a qualified Accountant with 13 years’ experience across a large number of organisations and industries, Herman manages the Finance and Administration function at Streetbuild.

His strengths lie in project cost management, financial management, forecasting and reporting and his meticulous work ethic and financial management mastery make him an invaluable asset to the Streetbuild team.

Rimon Ayoub

NATIONAL ESTIMATING MANAGER – DIRECTOR

With Rimon’s Extensive experience in the construction industry he has obtained over 15 years in leadership roles across a variety of sectors, including operations management experience within the construction supply chain industry, followed by a shift to Project Management role in the commercial construction industry which then led Rimon into the current Estimating Management role he is currently in with us at Streetbuild.

Rimon brings an extensive amount of professional insight and knowledge to several aspects of commercial construction, Rimon offers an outstanding degree of expertise to Streetbuild. He has built an enviable reputation as an innovative thinker responsible for the pre-construction of all national projects.

CAMERON MORRISON

STATE MANAGER WA/SA/NT – DIRECTOR

Worked at StreetBuild for just over 2 years. Moved to WA in 2007 with his family. Cameron currently hold extensive knowledge after being in the construction industry for 26years with qualifications such as Diploma of Building, Diploma of Building Surveying and a Cert III in construction (fit out and finish). Cameron has had several leadership roles within his 26years of experience in the construction industry and through these experiences his career advice is it’s a small world, surround yourself with good people.

A personal message from Cam… “I look forward to being a part of the good work that has been delivered by the Streetbuild team over the years”.

Steve Winchester

National Construction Manager – Director

As a highly motivated, goal orientated, and process driven leader, Steve’s focus is on driving collaboration within project teams to achieve optimum project outcomes for each and every client.

Managing the Queensland construction team as State Manager, Steve instils his acute attention to detail, quality and safety into each team member. This has resulted in an unwavering track record of successful commercial, retail, industrial and residential construction and refurbishment projects.

Tim Gagen

Managing Director

Backed by over 25 years in construction, Tim is well respected in the industry, demonstrated through the strong relationships he has established with his own team, clients, consultants and sub-contractors. Tim became managing director in June 2018, after a successful 10 year period with Streetbuild working across all areas the business.

He has proven to be a leader, that understands the importance of effective client communication, and his success lies in his commitment to taking a ‘hands on’ management approach.

Having worked and learnt under strong mentors himself, Tim understands the value of providing strong leadership, and mentoring to his staff members. Tim has a natural ability to develop and strengthen both individuals and management teams resulting in deeply loyal, inspired and effective colleagues.

Graeme Street

FOUNDING DIRECTOR – CHAIR

In 1998, after a successful and diverse domestic and commercial construction career spanning 30 years Graeme founded his own business, Streetbuild.

From day one, Graeme’s attention to detail ensured that business was constructed on the foundations of quality service, industry best practice, strong business ethics and an unwavering desire to go the extra mile for all stakeholders.

To this end, Graeme’s focus was to establish Streetbuild as a trusted employer and business partner – something he is proud to have successfully achieved with 25 staff that uphold these same values and over 30 construction partner organisations across Australia.

After leading the Streetbuild team as Managing Director for 20 years, in July 2018, Graeme handed the batten to Co-owner, Tim Gagen who has since shouldered the overall management and commercial direction of the business.

Graeme has now taken a more ‘helicopter view’ of the business, remaining as Founding Director & Secretary and Board Members, playing an advisory role in the areas of compliance and business practices.

With the commercial management of the business taken care of, Graeme now has the opportunity to pursue his passion for developing the Streetbuild team and providing mentorship to staff covering everything from construction expertise to business acumen. This process has been instrumental in providing a pathway to meet the short and longer-term aspirations.

Graeme continues to derive great satisfaction and pride in the ongoing development and expansion of the Streetbuild business and the people that make it happen in the STREETBUILD WAY.

Woolworths Wollongong eCOMM Expansion

To keep up with ever evolving retail customer needs, Woolworths Group partnered with Streetbuild to erect a new online shopping collection point. The project featured Australia’s first fabric awning, as well as modifications to the loading dock and back of house area to ensure the smooth processing of this new service.

Kmart Perth New Store Fit-Out

Over 8 weeks, Streetbuild converted this retail space into a brand new Kmart store. The project began with demolition and removal of existing fit-out which was then replaced with a new store front, upgrade to all internal fittings and relocation of service facilities.

Woolworths Oran Park eCOMM Expansion

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Streetbuild were appointed to construct a new online shopping collection point for Woolworths Group to help facilitate and evolve with rapidly changing customer needs. the changing customer needs. This project included the construction of a new canopy, office, cool room and back of house space.

Big W Blacktown Refurbishment

Streetbuild were engaged to transform this outdated Big W store under the Australia wide Renewal 2.0 initiative. The refurbishment included demolition and modifications to the existing store, installation of new flooring, paint refresh and upgrades to service areas and back of house facilities.