Plenary Group

Happy United Arab Emirates Commemoration Day. Plenary Group has been operating in the UAE for several years, successfully delivering the country’s first schools public-private partnership in the Zayed City Schools project, and is currently delivering the largest student accommodation PPP in the region in the Khalifa University Student Accommodation project.   The UAE is fast becoming a leading hub for PPPs in the region and we are pleased to have an established presence, working alongside responsive government partners and local and international private sector partners.   Abu Dhabi Investment Office مكتب أبوظبي للاستثمار | Department of Education And Knowledge - ADEK | Khalifa University

Plenary Group Co-Head of Origination, Asia Pacific Carl Retschko participated in a Property Council Victoria panel at its Innovating Victoria’s Health Infrastructure briefing, which focused on how adaptive reuse, sustainability and infrastructure repurposing are reshaping Victoria’s health sector. Carl appeared alongside Priscilla Radice from the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, Hayley Wardrop from Aurecon, and panel moderator Fatima Mohamed from CBRE Asia Pacific. Drawing on Plenary’s experience financing, delivering and managing the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital project, Carl touched on how city-shaping projects can drive economic growth and community outcomes as well as the role public-private partnerships can play in unlocking greater development capacity. 

Plenary Group General Manager, Middle East Eng.Yaser ALNuaimi was invited to present at last week’s Future Schools Summit in Dubai on how collaborative, innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) can benefit educational infrastructure. Drawing on his extensive experience shaping Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure and investment landscape, Yaser said the benefits range from accelerated project completion and cost efficiency to innovation in design and enhanced maintenance and expertise. “The education sector in the UAE struggles with ageing infrastructure and limited access to global learning environments. “PPPs leverage the strengths of both the public and private sector to collaboratively develop sustainable school infrastructure and improve the quality of education.” Plenary successfully negotiated the UAE’s first schools infrastructure PPP – the Zayed City Schools project – and is currently delivering the Khalifa University Student Accommodation PPP and a new Zayed City Schools campus as part of an expansion to the original PPP. WorldLink Conferences

“It looks beautiful. I’m really excited for this next chapter for Footscray.” This was just one of the many reactions from the 200 community members who recently attended the sneak peek day at the new Footscray Hospital. The Plenary Group-led Plenary Health consortium is delivering and managing the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital – the largest single investment in health infrastructure in Victoria to date – in partnership with the Victorian Government and Western Health.    Inner west locals enjoyed a sausage sizzle and photo booth while getting an early glimpse into their new state-of-the-art hospital, set to open to patients in February next year. Western Health will host a community open day in early 2026, offering more opportunities for the community to explore the spaces designed to provide world-class care to Melbourne’s west. Victorian Government | Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority | Victorian Health Building Authority | Victorian Department of Health | Western Health Plenary Group | Sojitz Corporation | Multiplex | Cox Architecture | Billard Leece Partnership | Honeywell | Compass Group

Plenary Group thanks ADQ for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion around procurement and investment models for transformative infrastructure developments globally.    Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Development Warwick Taylor notes the benefits private capital in public infrastructure development can bring, and the strong public outcomes that can be delivered through thoughtful involvement of private capital with development appetite.    “Privately financed infrastructure developments have delivered outstanding assets and economic outcomes for governments and communities over the long term. "We are seeing a resurgence in procurement activity and capability across governments around the world, and an understanding of the value that private capital brings. "This will create opportunities for long-term investors with greenfield appetite, who will benefit from access to an outstanding and exclusive pool of high-quality assets which deliver long-term stable returns.” Read the full white paper here https://lnkd.in/get98aE4

The second episode of Plenary Group’s Shaping Infrastructure podcast series – Inside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – is now out. Considered a cultural and economic powerhouse for Victoria, MCEC is a global benchmark for value capture in the infrastructure world, showcasing how private capital can not only mitigate risks, but introduce game-changing innovations. Host Sonia Nair speaks to several key figures who were instrumental in MCEC’s journey as we uncover the story behind its rise to prominence and the exciting potential for expansion, sustainability and reinvention in urban infrastructure. Featuring: - Plenary Group Co-Founder and Director John O'Rourke - Victorian Convention and Event Trust CEO Natalie O'Brien AM - Former Premier of Victoria and Victorian Convention and Event Trust Chair John Brumby AO - NH Architecture Director Hamish Lyon - Woods Bagot Principal Andy Gentry - Plenary Conventions Chair Glenn Hay - Plenary Group Senior Asset Manager Brendan Xuereb - ICMS Pty Ltd CEO Sarah Markey-Hamm - Talk2 Media & Events CEO Matt Pearce Have a listen wherever you get your podcasts, and stay tuned for future episodes. Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gczFsvFh Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gCNsKcV3

Plenary Group’s specialist community infrastructure developer and operator Pariter has entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of Canberra and Opal Healthcare to develop and operate a landmark university-based intergenerational retirement and aged care community. Pariter CEO Tom Roche joined ACT Government Chief Minister Andrew Barr, University of Canberra Chancellor Lisa Paul AO PSM, Vice-Chancellor and President the Hon Bill Shorten, council member Medy Hassan OAM FRSN FAIB, and Opal HealthCare Communications and Sustainability Director Roseanne Cartwright to announce the partnership – the first of its kind in the ACT and only the second in Australia. The project comprises the development of the retirement living and aged care community on the university’s Bruce campus under a 100-year lease agreement, complementing the existing health infrastructure and further bringing the UC Campus Masterplan Health Neighbourhood to life. Read more https://lnkd.in/gGbdVjMu

NSW Government Premier Chris Minns has officially opened the world-leading integrated medical, research and health innovation centre, UNSW Health Translation Hub, at UNSW Sydney. Situated in the heart of the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, the UNSW Health Translation Hub was developed in partnership by UNSW Sydney and Plenary Group. It connects pioneering research and education with public health, private industry and community – the first of its kind in Australia to operationalise translational health at scale. UNSW will occupy two-thirds of the 35,600 square metre facility under an initial 20-year agreement, which includes co-location with Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre and The George Institute for Global Health. The remaining space is led by Plenary and open to industry, representing a unique opportunity for likeminded partners to co-locate with UNSW and within the precinct. UNSW Health Translation Hub is majority funded by IFM Investors' managed funds, HESTA – through its healthcare property mandate with ISPT – and UniSuper, alongside Plenary Group. Plenary is also the development and asset manager for the project, with Hansen Yuncken the contractor and Architectus the lead architect. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g-SkDDsT Health Infrastructure | South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Essence Project Management | Colliers Urban Planning | ASPECT Studios

Plenary Group's Brendan Smith, Matt Crocker and Katrina Rollason hosted New Zealand Government Associate Minister of Defence Chris Penk MP at our Single Living Environment & Accommodation Precincts (LEAP) 1 project in Holsworthy to showcase how a defence accommodation public-private partnership (PPP) works in practice.   16 years on, the LEAP 1 facilities maintain a high standard of accommodation and maintenance – underlining the financial, design and operating merits of defence PPPs and the collaborative way in which Plenary and Compass Group Australia’s Delta Facilities Management work with the Australian Government.    Completed in 2009, the $300 million LEAP 1 project delivered more than 1,395 independent living accommodation units for Australian Defence Force personnel at three defence force bases across New South Wales and Queensland, and is fundamental to the ongoing recruitment and retention of high-quality servicemen and servicewomen in the ADF.

Congratulations to Plenary Group Director, Origination Rachele Williams, who has been reappointed as the Consumer and Distributed Energy Resources (CER/DER) representative on Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)’s Reliability Panel.   The panel monitors, reviews and reports on the safety, security and reliability of Australia’s national electricity system – helping to maintain a secure and reliable power system for consumers.   Rachele combines her experience at Plenary with 25 years’ experience as a power system engineer and across leadership roles at the Energy Security Board (ESB) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).   Rachele said she is looking forward to playing a part in accelerating Australia’s continued transition to a net zero system.   “I’ve witnessed CER/DER move from a theoretical concept to something many energy consumers are taking up. My focus in this space is about facilitating consumers’ engagement with the electricity system and market, and finding solutions so that can happen in a fair, reliable and stable way. "My role at Plenary has introduced another perspective to my understanding of DER, which is the role an integrated approach to energy for precinct development can play, and how technologies like district heating and cooling can deliver energy efficiency and emissions reductions for customers. "I have also gained invaluable experience in the commercial and financial decisions around large infrastructure investment, which will be required to facilitate the energy transition.”