GHD and QUT survey finds Queensland's young technical leaders feel ‘left out’ of Brisbane 2032 legacy conversations

While there has been much said and written about the Brisbane 2032 legacy, many of Queensland's young technical leaders (aged 18 to 34, who work and study across STEM fields) who are in the prime position to contribute to the delivery of the Games infrastructure, feel their voice is not being heard.

According to research co-authored by QUT and professional services company GHD, only 27% of Queensland’s young technical leaders feel that their voice is currently being heard in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Yet with seven years to go, a strong sense of optimism is evident with nearly three-quarters of respondents saying they feel empowered to contribute to the planning and delivery of the Games.  

The joint independent research project seeks to understand how young leaders perceive the legacy of the 2032 Games and how this demographic contributes to infrastructure and the shaping of such legacies. In 2024, QUT and GHD surveyed 256 young leaders (18-34 years old) in fields such as engineering, construction, environmental science and sport in addition to conducting two roundtables.  

The respondents ranked transport/mobility, sustainability and housing as the top three legacy priorities of the Games. Housing, inequalities and community displacement were ranked as the top three current social issues facing Brisbane, with 93% of respondents considered housing and rental difficulties as the most pressing concern.   

Only 26% consider Brisbane very or extremely inclusive today, but 75% of those surveyed believe that the delivery of the Games could help make Brisbane more inclusive.   

Dr Agnes Toth-Peter, Research Fellow, QUT noted “this first of its kind research captures the voices of young technical leaders, their levels of optimism and ambitions to drive legacy and adoption of technology, ultimately contributing to thriving communities – in the lead-up to the Games.

“For young technical people, the Games is a unique career opportunity. They are the ones who will face more of the consequences of decisions being made today. This is why it’s important that when we talk about the legacy of the Games, we include young people in decision-making,” added Brad Wood, Growth Leader – Major Games and Events, GHD and Co-Chair of the Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ) 2032 Games Taskforce.

Survey findings include:  

• 68% of young technical leaders surveyed believe that mobility and transport connectivity should be the top priority of Games legacy.

• Housing, inequality, and community displacement are key concerns with 93 per cent of young technical leaders ranking housing and rental issues as the top social issue.

• 60% of participants prioritise sustainability as a crucial element for major event planning.

• Only 27% of young technical leaders surveyed across Queensland feel that their voice is heard.

• 3 out of 4 young technical leaders feel empowered to contribute to the Games preparations.

A follow-up survey and additional discussion are being considered as part of a broader longitudinal study aiming to track the resiliency, confidence, and technological adaptation of young technical leaders in the Queensland market, leading-up to the Brisbane 2032 Games. With a particular focus on Brisbane and host regions, the research set out to delve deeper into the perspectives and potential contributions of young technical leaders as living beneficiaries of the 2032 Games.  

This research is not commissioned, sponsored, or approved by the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games ('Brisbane 2032'), the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, the International Olympic Committee, or the International Paralympic Committee. GHD is not associated or affiliated with Brisbane 2032, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, or the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032.

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across more than 160 offices located on five continents.