University of Western Australia
Global CEO of Multiplex and UWA engineering graduate John Flecker will deliver this year’s Dr George Hondros Memorial Lecture, sharing his insights on ‘Why Multiplex has stood the test of time’.
The lecture series is held in honour of celebrated civil engineer George Hondros, a member of staff at UWA from 1956 to 1966 in the Department of Civil Engineering, and who was renowned for his expertise in structural analysis, concrete and soil mechanics.
Mr Flecker became global CEO of Multiplex in 2019, after starting with the company as a cadet site engineer in 1987 and progressing to Australasian CEO in 2011.
Multiplex began life as a small construction company in Perth in 1962, established by John C Roberts AO in 1962, who named it after the fast-growing Echinopsis Multiplex cactus, hinting at Mr Roberts’ hopes for the company’s swift growth.
With its first project an effluent pipeline in Perth’s south, Multiplex quickly gained a reputation for delivering major Perth landmarks on time and on budget, before expanding into NSW in 1978 and constructing some of Sydney’s largest CBD buildings.
Now a global construction platform that has delivered more than 1,120 projects around the world with a combined value in excess of US$100 billion, Mr Flecker will also offer insights on ‘is bigger better’ and ‘what’s great about the construction industry and what isn’t’.
His presentation will take the form of a conversation, chaired by CEO of Prichard Francis Arthur Psaltis, a contemporary of Mr Flecker during his studies at UWA and a great-nephew of Mr Hondros.
To establish the lecture series, the George Hondros memorial fund was established in 1967 from donations to the University by Mr Hondros’ family, together with members of the Greek community, students, colleagues and friends.
Several years ago, a second round of fundraising was undertaken, championed by Mr Psaltis, who served on the organising committee of the lecture series for many years.
The free event will be held at The University Club of Western Australia on Wednesday 9 October between 6pm and 9pm.
Registration is essential. For all the details see here.