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.

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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.

Growth
$34M to $110M in four years
Transformed an SME without external capital into a market-leading contractor through disciplined revenue and people growth.
Scale & Capital
Retained earnings 8x. Net cash flows 10x.
Exponential revenue growth maintaining benchmark profit throughout. Corporatised contractor to best practice standards.
Turnaround
$5.4M loss to $2.1M profit in nine months
Through a $30M revenue decline. Two major subcontractor insolvencies. Sixty people exited, only one redundancy.
Joint Venture
$200M JV with Australia's largest contractor
Every capital barrier removed: working capital, bank guarantees, tier-1 people and systems.
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 in cost recovery
Forensic, commercial and contractual intervention across $120M in projects. Exposure identified, quantified and removed by negotiation.
Exit
$9M turnaround of a public company
Carrying $20M in accumulated losses. FUM 8x. Investment margins up 150%. Solvent wind-up. Capital returned to 5,000+ shareholders.
Governance
$14M in concealed losses uncovered
Fourteen projects completed without industrial action or subcontractor default. All compliance and warranty obligations met. No litigation.
How it works
Fractional Operator

Embedded in the business

10-12 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.