Laing O’Rourke and UQ Business School team up for sustainability

03 Jun 2008

Laing O'Rourke will work with experts from UQ Business School to further embed sustainable business practices throughout the organisation.

Executive Chairman Andrew Wilson said the agreement, which was signed yesterday, would cover sustainability training for all staff, collaborative research, and expert input to the company's sustainability review processes.

"Professor Andrew Griffiths is a leading expert in the area of business sustainability in the face of climate change," Andrew said.

"We wanted to be the first to stake a formal claim on UQ Business School's time and expertise in this critical area."

University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield was present at the signing.

"It is very encouraging that a company as large and influential as Laing O'Rourke sees the value of vanguard research into sustainable business practices," Professor Greenfield said.

"Such partnerships between the business community and UQ ensure that the latest research is assessed and implemented by industry, to benefit not only the relevant company but also the wider community."

Head of UQ Business School Professor Tim Brailsford said the agreement would also allow the two organisations to work together on the School's prestigious MBA program.

"We are developing an International MBA to allow multi-national organisations - like Laing O'Rourke - provide opportunities to staff to study in a range of countries as their work postings allow," he said.

"We hope to progress this initiative in partnership with Laing O'Rourke."

The agreement was signed at UQ Business School's Downtown facility at Central Plaza One - next door to a Laing O'Rourke's Central Plaza 3 construction site.