InfraBuild recognised as a Gold Winner in the AFR BOSS Best Places to Work

InfraBuild has been recognised and named one of the Financial Review Best Places to work for 2026 in the Manufacturing & Consumer Goods category, in partnership with Bendelta. This is a significant acknowledgement of the culture, leadership and everyday practices that define the company across its national operations.

Commenting on the recognition, InfraBuild CEO Francisco Irazusta said, “Our greatest strength is not what we make. It is our people.”

The recognition, awarded by the Australian Financial Review in partnership with Bendelta, reflects employee feedback and a detailed assessment of workplace policies, practices and outcomes.

For InfraBuild, it is a recognition grounded in the experience of more than 4,500 employees working across recycling, manufacturing, distribution and processing.

A workplace built by design, not by chance

At InfraBuild, being a great place to work is not incidental. It is the result of deliberate choices and actions about how people are supported, developed and empowered.

As Francisco noted, “No company becomes a great place to work by chance. You earn it through trust, standards, leadership and the daily choices that tell people: you matter here.”

The company’s values, being one and stronger together, leading with respect, committing to continuous improvement and building a sustainable future, shape how work is done every day.

Building leadership and opportunity

A key focus has been strengthening leadership capability and building clearer pathways for progression.

Our Women in Leadership programs have supported more than 100 participants, with 23% progressing into more senior roles and a 90% retention rate. Female representation across the business has increased over the last 3 years, alongside stronger engagement scores.

More broadly, structured development conversations, leadership programs for our frontline and middle level leaders and early careers programs are helping employees build skills and take on new opportunities with confidence.

Creating a culture of care and belonging

InfraBuild’s “We Care” program is embedded in daily operations, from site huddles to shift changeovers, encouraging people to check in with each other and speak up when something is not right.

Supported by more than 180 accreditedMental Health First Aiders, the program reflects a broader commitment to safety, respect and inclusion across all sites.

This is reinforced through initiatives such as cultural awareness training, the “being an active bystander” program and our employee assistance program.

Supporting wellbeing and sustainable performance

Employee wellbeing is supported through practical, accessible initiatives such as the Mind Mastery series, which provides tools for resilience, focus and managing pressure both at work and at home.

Our updated parental leave policy and Transition to Retirement program support employees at every stage of their career, giving people the clarity and dignity to plan what comes next while ensuring critical knowledge is retained within the business.

Connecting working to a greater purpose

A defining feature of InfraBuild’s culture is the connection between daily work and a larger purpose.

Employees can see how their role contributes to producing Australian steel with lower embodied carbon and supporting a more sustainable future, whether they are operating equipment, processing materials or supporting customers.

This connection to purpose is reinforced through leadership communication, site engagement and ongoing conversations that link individual contribution to broader outcomes.

Recognition of performance

Francisco said the recognition reflects both performance and character. “We work hard, we expect a lot, and we care deeply about doing important work well. But we also know that high performance and humanity go together. The best teams prove that.”