South Australia
20 October 2022
Tonkin has hosted our biennial conference at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide on 17th October, with staff from around the country coming together to celebrate.
On Monday the 17th of November, Tonkin was finally able to bring together staff from our offices across the country to the National Wine Centre in Adelaide; allowing the celebration of achievements and successes, while networking internally and both creating and strengthening relationships with fellow colleagues.
The day kicked off at lunch time, with Tonkin staff arriving to the National Wine Centre with lunch served and an opportunity to break the ice and get to know each other better before formalities commenced.
Opening the conference, Tonkin CEO Gerry Doyle welcomed the staff and spoke vulnerably about mental health and well-being, encouraging everyone to check in on their colleagues – “it’s okay not to be okay,” a conversation which allowed for keynote speaking Paul Taylor to step up and present next.
An engaging and passionate speaker, Paul had the room captivated with his important messages, tips and tricks to improve mental health, brain function and strengthen self-belief, while squashing the self-doubt gremlin that talks to us inside our own heads (plus the suggestion of a few cold showers here and there to start the day, which some Tonkin staff have already tried their hand at!)
Following on from Paul, selected Tonkin staff presented to the group on a range of topics including stand out project achievements: The Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk, Budj Bim Tail Tourism Infrastructure Project and the Fleurieu Connections Alliance.
Additionally, the important work being done by Tonkin to address the effects of climate change as a result of the engineering industry also took center stage throughout the presentation Decarbonisation of the Built Environment – Challenges and Charting the Course, which provided excellent insight and an optimistic outlook as to how Tonkin can engage with and effect real change within the work we do.
Then, providing a completely unique approach to the Tonkin presentation scope, we heard about Finding the Yellow Brick Road and leadership, how to raft with bears in Canada and learnt the importance of knowing our co-workers that little bit better with some live polling and lots of laughs.
Once the formalities for the day had concluded, staff enjoyed drinks and canapes on the terrace of the Wine Centre, with live music and the opportunity to continue mingling and getting to know each other better – especially those working from different offices.
Dinner was then coupled with the opportunity to find out who won the awards in each project category, with a spontaneous charity auction for The Smith Family and a generous $1,200 raised with a thank you to retiring Board Member Rod Ellis rounding out the night.
“The conference was a huge success, and it was important for us to be able to connect in person after such a long time, given the fact that Tonkin has expanded so quickly,” explains Tonkin CEO, Gerry Doyle.
