Construction Sector  ·  Executive Partner
Melbourne, Australia  ·  Available nationally and remotely

Brian
Sands

Trusted to grow, improve and maximise the value of construction sector businesses.

Embedded or retained. The accountability is the same.

Start a conversation
Brian Sands

I take a seat and own the outcome.

A Registered Builder who started building houses, scaled a 9-figure commercial construction business without external capital, then negotiated a $200M joint venture with Australia's largest contractor at the time.

Thirty years leading businesses and projects across the full spectrum of the built environment.

For owners, executives and boards who want the operator's thinking without the full seat, I work with a small number on a retained basis. Either way, you get the operator, not the observer.

Growth
Building the capability and systems to scale without breaking
Turnaround
Fast diagnosis, rapid stabilisation, a clear path forward
Transformation
Restructuring for profit, accountability and operational clarity
Risk
Commercial and contractual exposure identified and resolved
Scale
Infrastructure and leadership built to grow at pace
Exit
Structured transactions that protect shareholder reputation and value
Outcomes delivered

Went into the GFC having built a $100M construction business. Came out of it with a $200M joint venture as well.

Joint Venture
$200M JV with Australia's largest contractor at the time
Every capital barrier removed: working capital, bank guarantees, experienced people and systems. Tier-2 agility securing tier-1 projects.
Growth
25% year on year growth to $110M. No external capital.
Transformed an SME without external capital into a market-leading profitable contractor through disciplined revenue and people growth.
Scale & Capital
Retained earnings 8x. Net cash flows 10x.
Revenue tripled. Profit grew faster. Growth without debt or equity. Best-fit corporatisation. Pre-qualified preferred contractor.
Turnaround
$7M loss to profit in nine months through a $30M revenue fall
Project recoveries through two major subcontractor insolvencies and external financial crisis. Sixty people exited, only one redundancy.
Cash Flow
Overdraft removed in three months. Cash 8x in six months.
Restructured a flat operating model to profit-accountable business units. Utilisation and margin introduced as individual accountabilities.
Risk & Recovery
$10M recovered across $120M of at-risk projects
Forensic review, then commercial and contractual intervention. Exposure identified, quantified and removed by negotiation, not litigation.
Exit
Solvent wind-up. $20M in losses cleared. Capital returned to 3,000+ shareholders.
Liquidated assets. Funds under management grew 8x. Investment margins up 150%. Full compliance. No residual liability, clean exit.
Governance
$14M in concealed losses uncovered
Fourteen projects completed without industrial action or subcontractor default. All compliance and warranty obligations met. No litigation. Offshore parent company clean exit.
How it works
Fractional Operator

Embedded in the business

Fixed days per month. An interim business or project leadership role with a defined mandate and an accountable outcome. One engagement at a time.

Retained Advisor

The operator in your corner

Monthly retainer. For owners, executives and boards who want experienced operator thinking without the full seat. Sessions, workshops, direct access. The standard doesn't change.

Advisory, coaching and mentoring also available for senior leaders and teams.

What people say

Brian is a strategic thinker who knows what success needs to look like, responds with analysis and structure, and delivers through continuous energy and pragmatism.

Marc Stigter
Global Strategy Advisor

Brian's combination of experience, instinct, intellect and practical commercial nous is rare. He sees the critical issues, risks and opportunities and makes informed decisions to deliver.

St John Frawley
Construction & Infrastructure Partner, Thomsons

Brian is a strong leader with great people and relationship skills. A sound grasp of both risk management and financials, successfully led through turnaround and growth.

Greg Diamond
Consultant, Former Partner at PwC

Start with a conversation.

A confidential conversation about your business is where it starts. No form, no process, no obligation.