When Scott Power talks about the BMD Group, he doesn’t start with numbers or headlines. As CEO, he starts with people. That’s because after nearly five decades in business, the family-born company’s defining characteristic isn’t what it builds, but how it builds.
“We deliver the same projects as our competitors,” Power tells The CEO Magazine. “But the way in which we do that – the relationships, the values that we stay true to both internally and externally – is a key differentiator for us.”
It’s a mindset that has helped the company grow from a local contractor to Australia’s leading integrated engineering, construction and urban development business – and now, an emerging global force.
Growth with purpose
BMD’s journey is grounded in an entrepreneurial spirit. This instilled a mindset that gives the business the flexibility to adapt, remain open to opportunity and use it to its strategic advantage.
“Being privately owned, we can be very flexible in how we pursue opportunities. This has been a key part of our success,” Power points out.
“We very rarely say ‘no’ to an opportunity without understanding it. That openness has allowed opportunities to come our way that otherwise might not have if we had our blinkers on and a rigid view of where we should be focused.”
BMD graduates gaining valuable experience at HMAS Albatross
This type of thinking has guided BMD’s evolution from constructing local subdivisions to major infrastructure and now, international markets. The company’s expansion to parts of the world like the United Kingdom, the Philippines and, most recently, the United States, has been intentional, with Power insisting its success all comes down to the people – and the partnerships – behind it.
“One of the real benefits of growing from a small business is that small businesses can handpick all of their individual employees based on their alignment with our company’s values that we hold near and dear,” he says.
Crookwell 2 Wind Farm delivered for Crookwell Development, New South Wales
“We are building a workforce that reflects Australia’s future. That includes actively seeking First Nations employees, social enterprises and programs that create real long-term opportunity.
“Strategic partnerships are similar for us – they continue to play a key part in our success. We’ve had a number of key partnerships that have played a role in our growth over the past 46 years and Iplex Australia is one of them.
“Our unwavering focus on excellence and performance is what enables us to create real, tangible benefits for communities across our projects.”
Diversifying for resilience
As BMD has scaled, so has its need for stability. Geographic and sector diversification became essential to weather economic shifts and seasonal challenges.
“Originally, it was very much a geographic-based diversification in broadening our footprint,” Power explains.
“Having grown up as a Queensland-based business, we saw firsthand the impacts of the wet season and how it affected our ability to maintain a consistent turnover, as well as the pressure it put on cash flow.”
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Along with geographic-based diversification, sustainability initiatives and sector diversification have also helped BMD build resilience. Today, the company operates across urban development, defense, water, energy, renewables and transport, with each sector helping balance the others as cycles shift.
“Our work in renewables is a key part of supporting the global energy transition,” Power says. “Projects such as Port to Renewable Energy Zones and the construction of wind farms demonstrate a commitment to building the infrastructure needed for a more sustainable future.
“Across all of our operations, we prioritize environmental protection by reducing carbon emissions, enhancing waste management through circular economy principles and actively protecting biodiversity in the areas where we work.
“We’ve been able to achieve growth through these different sectors. And from this growth, we’ve been able to continue to create more opportunities for our people, which is something we’re really committed to – it’s our aspiration to really power futures and create legacies for people.”
An Olympic-size opportunity
As Brisbane prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Power is energized by the prospect of BMD competing on home soil, when the company will have an opportunity to build a lasting legacy where it all began.
“I was fortunate enough, half my life ago, to be in Sydney for the Sydney Olympics. I just thought it was the most fantastic event I’ve ever been a part of,” he says.
“I think it’s incredibly exciting to think about Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics. The opportunity for us as an organization and one of the larger local contractors is that we get to play a key role in delivering its infrastructure.”
Molonglo River Bridge being delivered for delivered for Federal and Australian Capital Territory Governments, Australian Capital Territory
While the Games may only last for a matter of weeks, the infrastructure will remain for decades to come.
“The infrastructure creates a legacy for the city for the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years,” Power says.
“We’re building generational infrastructure that’s going to be here for years to come. And at BMD, we’re keen to see the opportunities this brings to our local businesses.”
Clarke Creek Wind Farm – Stage One Northern Civil Plant Works delivered for Squadron Energy, Queensland
Even more, with an event of this caliber, he acknowledges that collaboration and skill development are key.
“There’s a lot to be done in what’s a relatively short period of time,” he admits.
“The opportunities to put in place initiatives to build workforce capability and create pathways for many different people to contribute to its delivery, including First Nations’ participation, are fantastic. And Brisbane will be better for being able to provide these opportunities to the diverse workforce that represents our city.
“BMD is harnessing the opportunity of 2032 to build a more capable, diverse workforce by creating pathways for Indigenous people, empowering local talent and supporting athletes into meaningful careers that last beyond sport.”
Refreshing the brand
With its 46th anniversary recently marked, BMD this year unveiled a new brand identity that reflects the company’s next phase.
“We approached the brand refresh with a desire to reinforce our purpose as a business and consider all the things that are important to us that we can leverage into more opportunities to fuel future growth,” Power says.
“We’re Australia’s largest, privately owned civil contractor. Historically, we’ve been pretty modest about this. But honestly, we couldn’t be prouder of the things we do, so that’s also at the heart of our brand refresh.”
That pride is a natural byproduct of civil engineering, he says, sharing a personal story.
“When I go out with my father or my kids, and we drive around the different areas of Brisbane, I get to say, ‘We built that.’
“Building key pieces of infrastructure that will serve the people of Brisbane for the next 50 or 100 years – not everyone gets that opportunity. And it’s exciting.”
