Business Leaders Lunch – Building, Construction & Trades

We’ve got great speakers so we encourage you to book your tickets and invite your clients and colleagues to join you for this event.

The theme of the event is Solutions for the Building Industry “Survive or Thrive”.

This year’s event will be aligned with our chambers Advocacy agenda – we’ll be looking at what’s killing the industry, and what the solutions are for Building sector businesses in this region. Led by our MC Andrea McDonald of Barker Ryan Stewart, we’ll be hearing from a line-up of great speakers.

Proudly supported by the Hills Shire Council, event sponsors SDG and Entrax Commercial Interior Fitouts, and brand sponsors Netcare and Narellan Pools Hills District, we’ll be focusing our discussion on:

• Problems and solutions for the industry and businesses operating in it.
• The strategy for building and approvals to achieve Jobs Growth in NW Sydney
• The Skills Gap for the Building Sector
• Necessary infrastructure to support the additional housing NSW needs.

This lunch is set to help Chamber members and guests discuss the opportunities to grow and thrive in a sector in the year ahead – Don’t Miss Out!

Join us at this event and become an active part of the Sydney Hills Business community.

• Connect with other businesses to grow your supply chain during our networking sessions, before during and after the panels.
• Discuss and learn from other business leaders in the region.

Book now.

+ Andrea McDonald | MC, CEO & Director

Andrea is the CEO and Director of Barker Ryan Stewart.

Andrea is responsible for proactively leading the Barker Ryan Stewart team and managing the overall operations of the company through the development, delivery and continual refinement of effective business strategies and actions.

Andrea provides a high level of strategic business advice to the team and helps foster a culture of excellence by developing a skilled, motivated, and engaged team. She helps build and maintain a sustainable positive working environment and culture across the company.

+ Mike Edgar | General Manager | The Hills Shire Council.

Mike commenced his duties as the Group Manager Environment and Planning in July 2005 for the Hills Shire and appointed its General Manager in July 2017.

He has, in the past worked, casually for TAFE, UTS and UWS lecturing and tutoring across several courses related to the urban and built environments.

+ Michael O’Donnell FAIB | Deputy President | Master Builders Association of NSW

Michael is a Licenced Builder, Building Consultant/ Expert Witness, Deputy President of Master Builders Association NSW and admitted as Fellow to the Australian Institute of Building.

Michael joined leading NSW home builder Huxley Homes in 1976 after serving 9 years in the Australian Army. For the majority of his time with Huxley Homes he was responsible for the management and construction of all Huxley Homes in country and coastal NSW and Victoria.

Michael left Huxley Homes in 1995 and started MKO Constructions. Over the next 15 years MKO Constructions specialised in the design and construction of residential building projects in the North and North West suburbs of Sydney.

In 2010 Michael obtained his qualifications in Training and Assessment and began teaching tomorrows Builders through the Master Builders Association Certificate IV in Building program. In 2015 Michael obtained accreditation as a Building Consultant and to this date is specialising in the preparation of Expert Witness reports and giving evidence to his reports in the NCAT and Supreme Court of NSW.

Michael has qualified as an Assessor for the Livable Housing Australia Design Guidelines and assists Builders in designing homes to make them more liveable today and more easily adaptable as the needs of occupant’s change over the years.

Michael has been a member of the Master Builders Association since 1998 and has served as President and now Trustee of the Parramatta division of the MBA, Chairman of the MBA Housing Committee, Industry representative on the HBCF Underwriting Committee and a judge for the MBA NSW Excellence in Housing Awards.

+ Craig Turner | Managing Director | SDG

Craig Turner is the Managing Director of SDG.  He leads a nationally recognised and award-winning Survey and Land Title Consultancy. With over 30 years of industry experience, Craig has guided his team to consistently deliver exceptional results.

As the current President of Surveyors Australia and former President of Consulting Surveyors NSW, Craig’s industry involvement is extensive. He also serves on the board of the Industry Training Alliance, represents the industry on the NSW Digital Survey Plans Consultative Committee, and is a member of the Industry Advisory Councils for both UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and UniSQ Surveying and Built Environment.  Craig frequently presents at seminars and workshops.

Awarded the 2022 Professional Surveyor of the Year, Craig is dedicated to fostering a service-oriented culture at SDG and is committed to making a meaningful impact on his team, clients, and the broader community.

About our Panel Speakers

+ Michael Trifiro | Partner and Senior Registered Surveyor | SDG

Michael Trifiro is a Partner and Senior Registered Surveyor at SDG, Australia’s first and only iCIRT-registered land surveying consultancy. Since becoming a registered surveyor in 2012, Michael has led some of SDG’s most significant projects, including strata and stratum title management, Greenfield land subdivisions, and waterfront planning. His expertise and leadership were recognised with the “Young Professional Surveyor of the Year” award at the EISSI Awards, alongside accolades for his urban cadastral projects at Wentworth Point and Tamarama.

In addition to his work at SDG, Michael plays an active role in advancing the surveying profession. He serves as a director and board member of the Association of Consulting Surveyors NSW Board and AusSearch and as a committee member for the ISNSW Cumberland Regional Group, where he is dedicated to upholding the highest industry standards.

Michael’s commitment to excellence reflects SDG’s dedication to delivering best-practice outcomes and exceptional service.

+ Sonja Palic, Business Manager & Co-Owner, Entrax Commercial Interior Fitouts

Sonja is the Business Manager and Co-Owner of ENTRAX along with her husband Ivie Palic.

Sonja manages the overall operations of the business ensuring the day to running and serves as the representative for dealings with subcontractors, suppliers and clients.

Sonja is very passionate and active in community roles including previous Chair of the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, Chair of the AUS-NZ Croatian Women in Leadership and Board Advisory Committee with ZAMBI wildlife foundation