David Foley - From Drafting Blueprints to Leading Digital Innovation in Construction

Building Stories

David Foley, director of digital delivery and founder at IIMBE, shares his journey in the construction industry. Foley always had a fascination with buildings and wanted to be an architect. He ended up becoming an electrical engineer and learned drafting on the drawing board before transitioning to AutoCAD. Video version at https://youtu.be/PKqkG8Uc1Ik Foley emphasizes the importance of efficiency and problem-solving in his career. He faced challenges in self-belief and overcoming imposter syndrome but found success by treating people well and surrounding himself with good people. Foley is proud of the team and culture he has built at IIMBE. The conversation highlights the importance of gaining diverse experience in the construction industry and not getting siloed too early in one's career. It emphasizes the need for collaboration and empathy between different disciplines and the value of sharing knowledge and workflows. The discussion also touches on the challenges of adopting new technologies and the potential of AI and data in improving efficiency and decision-making. The guests share their experiences of making mistakes and the importance of owning up to them and finding solutions. Overall, the conversation encourages problem-solving, embracing new technologies, and continuous learning. takeaways

• Efficiency and problem-solving have been key factors in Foley's career success.
• He faced challenges in self-belief and imposter syndrome but found success by treating people well and surrounding himself with good people.
• Gain diverse experience in the construction industry and avoid getting siloed too early in your career.
• Collaboration and empathy between different disciplines are crucial for successful construction projects.
• Share knowledge and workflows to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Embrace new technologies, such as AI and data, to enhance productivity and problem-solving.
• Own up to mistakes, find solutions, and learn from them.
• Continuously learn and adapt to the evolving needs of the industry.

Sound Bites

• "I wanted to be an architect when I was at school. I loved buildings."
• "I always had a fascination with buildings. I've always loved them."
• "I'm a problem solver. See your problem, fix it where you go."
• "Before you become a manager or a leader, you should have experienced every part of the project lifecycle."
• "BIM people, some of them are just BIM people now, and they actually don't have the background in construction or industry."
• "Having a mix and balance of young people and senior people in a business is important for knowledge transfer."

Keywords construction industry, journey, fascination with buildings, architect, electrical engineer, drafting, AutoCAD, efficiency, problem-solving, self-belief, imposter syndrome, treating people well, team and culture, construction industry, diverse experience, collaboration, empathy, knowledge sharing, workflows, new technologies, AI, data, efficiency, decision-making, mistakes, problem-solving, continuous learning Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 07:27 Early Fascination with Buildings 13:07 Work Ethos 18:19 Buildability 21:41 Challenges and Overcoming Self-Doubt 24:38 BIM Community in Australia 32:20 The Importance of Collaboration and Sharing Knowledge 34:05 Pride in Team and Culture at IIMBE 34:43 Advice for Those Considering a Career in Construction 34:58 Gaining Experience in All Phases of the Construction Industry 42:52 The Challenge of Communication in the Construction Industry 48:32 Owning Up to Mistakes and Responding to Adversity 52:00 The Potential of Data and AI in the Construction Industry 01:02:24 The Importance of Data for Design, Commissioning, and Handover 01:05:22 Quick Fire 01:09:33 The Future of the Construction Industry: Photogrammetry, AI, and Efficiency