Technologies News

Construction Pathways Forum Inspires Future Builders – 4 June 2025

Senior Construction students at Marist College Ashgrove recently had the opportunity to attend an inspiring Construction Pathways Forum, thanks to the efforts of Ryiah Taylor, Senior Career Pathways Coordinator from Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), and Kahla Caspen, Training Advisor for the Cross River Rail’s Unity Alliance.

The forum spotlighted the Cross River Rail (CRR) Project—one of Queensland’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings. Delivered through a combination of public-private partnerships, the project includes three major components: the Tunnel, Stations and Development (TSD); the Rail, Integration and Systems (RIS); and the European Train Control System (ETCS). Unity Alliance is leading the RIS component, which involves some of the most complex and rewarding integration work on the project.

Students were privileged to hear from three guest speakers from Unity Alliance:

• Tim Carlton, Senior Safety Advisor and Old Boy (Class of 2006)
• Matt Laughton, Site Manager and current parent of three Marist students
• Andrew Russell, Undergraduate Engineer

Each speaker shared insights into their current roles and, more importantly, the unique career journeys that brought them there. Their diverse paths highlighted the many opportunities within the construction industry and the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and passion.

They also discussed the challenges of working on the Cross River Rail project, particularly the strict safety and regulatory requirements when operating within Queensland Rail environments—especially around high-voltage overhead power systems.

The students were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions and showing genuine interest in the speakers’ experiences. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the forum as both informative and inspiring.

A select group of students will soon have the rare opportunity to visit an active CRR site, offering a firsthand look at the scale and complexity of this landmark project. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting partnership between Marist College Ashgrove and Construction Skills Queensland.

A heartfelt thank you to our guest speakers and to Ryiah Taylor for making this valuable event possible.