Leading Through a Construction Boom
How to Build a High-Performing Survey Team in the Middle of a Skills Shortage
Joel Gregory in conversation with Chris Staak, State Manager, ESO Surveyors.
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Session Overview
Inside South Australia’s Infrastructure Boom
Major civil projects — like the $16 billion Torrens to Darlington upgrade — are ramping up across the state. But while the scale is exciting, it’s also exposing some critical challenges beneath the surface.
Surveyors and civil teams are under pressure like never before:
- A surge in data complexity
- Tight deadlines,
- And a shortage of skilled professionals.
These issues aren’t just technical — they’re structural. And without a smarter approach to data and collaboration, the pipeline of upcoming projects could outpace the capacity to deliver them.
In this webinar, Chris Staak, State Manager from ESO Surveyors, shares how his team is tackling these challenges head-on and how technology, data workflows, and skills pipelines must evolve to meet the ever-evolving needs of the industry.
What You’ll Learn:
- The real-world cost of poor underground service data—$4.6B annually
- How ESO grew its SA team from 1 to 40 during a construction surge
- Why reality capture, robotics, and data automation are redefining surveying
- How standardised project templates and naming conventions are boosting efficiency
- The looming talent gap—and how ESO is working with unis and TAFEs to solve it.
Session Details
Available on demand
Duration: 40 minutes
Cost: Free
About the Guest
Chris Staak
SA State Manager
ESO Surveyors
With over 18 years of industry experience, Chris Staak serves as the State Manager for ESO Surveyors in South Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Geoinformatics and Surveying from the University of South Australia, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide. Chris has contributed to numerous key infrastructure projects and is dedicated to keeping ESO Surveyors as an industry leader. As the Chair of the Future in Civil Committee at the Civil Contractors Federation SA, he is passionate about shaping the future of the industry. Chris actively advocates for broader education pathways, training programs, and increased industry engagement to attract skilled talent into the construction and infrastructure sectors.