Sunday, 27 November 2016

Looking back at QBCC - now 3 years old

Photo - QBCC Annual Report


QBCC was one of the most memorable whole of business deliverables I have been instrumental for.

In the first year, QBCC reported it had 1097 dispute cases lodged by builders and home owners. 83% of cases were resolved within 28 working days.

In the first six months EDR saved 304 families and contractors from the need to use litigation

Four years ago I started with QBCC. I turned up and was given a hostile reception by nearly every member of staff, who all believed I was from 'over the river' and about to cause them more pain. It was at that point I realised this was going to be a hard task!

In my first week the QBSA commissioner had been relieved of duties; the board that had been dismissed was replaced by a new, strong, board; and I had been asked to produce a blueprint of the road ahead.

At a senior level the business was set for change. At a grass roots level the teams were in pain, had been shoved around by the Parliamentary 'Inquiry into the Operation and Performance of the Queensland Building Services Authority 2012'; they felt that their conversations had been taken out of context and they had not been listened to.

It was a great start.

Phil Kesby, the QBCC chairperson and a very strong, kind and dedicated person with 34 years’ experience in infrastructure delivery and property related industries explained to me on the second week we had 12 months to deliver, and he expected a plan from me within 5 days on how we were to deliver, what I would take accountability for and what my personal belief of delivery confidence was on each item, O yer, and I was to walk it through the minister, Tim Mander.

One month later we had a signed off plan with 32 projects, $18M of delivery, confidence levels in writing and being held accountable to the board, the new commissioner, Steve Griffin, and the minister.
Out of that came a very strong PMO, a team of dedicated personal with Darren Evans at the helm reporting through to me. We were off!

For the QBCC as a business I had to deliver a new commission, new board, new structure.

And for the people, a strong advocacy and meaningful changes for the consumers and industry with new legislation, new act of parliament, internal review, early dispute resolution, review of licencing, education, fast track processes, bringing pools, plumbers, trade-persons and painters under the act, subcontractor and suppler debt recovery and new 24 hr contact centre, standards and tolerances guide (in consumer simple terms)

Making everyone working under the envelope of a building accountable

Consumer and industry events were being held nearly every week. Vendors, contractors, agents and more were brought on to deliver. We had to fight to bring everyone along the journey; consumers, industry, the press, legal teams, and the parliamentary opposition.

Regular headlines such as 'Death of the QBSA: Start of the QBCC' caused us pain

And a very rushed year later after many meeting with Minister Mander (at that time) we delivered, I had brought the teams on board, sold the successes, the visions and delivered to Commissioner Griffin and the board a business that was capable of delivering to the public. Don't get me wrong, I left with the understanding that there was plenty more change to happen, and work to be completed, but I left with my head high and feeling proud.

Customer First
Fairness and Equity
Accountability

And as for my confidence levels that I reported at the beginning to the board. I was successful by 96% on my deliverables.

And to the team, the business, the board, Minister Mander, Phil Kesby, Commissioner Griffin and Darren Evans I thank you for your dedication and a year of rides, uncertainty and change; without everyone pulling together the train would have stopped. Often!

David Camus
Note:- This article is not endorsed by QBCC. Facts have been taken from the QBCC website and from the QBCC annual report.


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