Introducing my new book

Since the COVID pandemic made its unwanted entry into our lives, I decided to finally write the book that I knew was important but was set aside in favour of more urgent priorities in pre-pandemic life. So after 15 months of research and writing, I am pleased that this book is now complete. The book is called ‘BIG FIXES: Building Bridges to an Inclusive Future‘.

My motivation was about helping myself to be clear-minded about what is precious for our well-being as a society and making sure we can recognise these things be compelled to protect and expand them. I am now sharing these reflections hoping that readers of BIG FIXES may find it helpful in crystallising their own perspectives about the future and start building a consensus for positive and authentic change.

But before that can happen, all of us must have a clearer understanding of our responsibilities today to make wiser choices because they pay forward to the future impacting everyone and everything. Infrastructure forms part of the backdrop to these reflections because of how transport, water, energy systems shape our lives (and our children) in terms of where we live, how healthy we are and the work we do.

The book is available in paperback and ebook formats from Amazon.

I invited reviewers to read my book, and this is what they had to say.

Professor Ian Harper AO, Dean, Melbourne Business School, Melbourne University

"If your vision of infrastructure is roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, then your vision is too narrow. Let Garry Bowditch widen your perspective to think about infrastructure as the gift that current generations pay forward to future generations.

When we invest in infrastructure, we express hope for the future. We also create the future since good infrastructure empowers human beings to trust and collaborate with one another, and this, in turn, unleashes human ingenuity and creativeness that literally fashion the future.

BIG FIXES will change the way you think about infrastructure, but, more fundamentally, it will change the way you think about the future and how to secure the hope of brighter and better things to come."

Sir John Armitt CBE, Chairman, National Infrastructure Commission, United Kingdom

As the world emerges from the shadow of Covid the need to invest in infrastructure to grow our economies is a common theme. Will these investments, public or private, result in real long term benefits to our societies. If we continue as in the past it is questionable.

BIG FIXES argues for the central importance that citizens have an underlying trust in the decisions of professionals, politicians and their policies. The need for openness and transparency in the debate of options, and costs which ultimately are born by the citizen, for collaboration between stakeholders, the use of reliable data and the wise use of land which once purposed is not easily repurposed. Whole life considerations, recognition of legacy, the risk of planning and designing for the short term and failing to recognise future technologies and their impacts.

As engineers, architects, planners and of course politicians we expect the citizen to trust us to develop infrastructure and systems which are completely reliable and resilient.

Systems that recognise the complexity and interconnectivity and the potential of several risks happening simultaneously.

BIG FIXES is an important reminder of our responsibilities and a guide to enable better outcomes especially by putting foremost the end customer, listening to what good means for them not what simply creates a good business case.

Garry Bowditch does not pretend it is easy but if we can take on board half of his recommendations then we stand some chance of creating better infrastructure for future generations.

D.J. Gribbin, Former Special Assistant for Infrastructure to the President of the United States of America, The White House

BIG FIXES should be on the shelf of any professional who cares deeply about infrastructure.?The book’s thoughtful view of infrastructure policy pierces through the political obsession with how much should be spent and focuses instead on the foundational policies needed to restore infrastructure globally.?This first principles’ view is as helpful as it is refreshing.?

Garry Bowditch provides an experienced and measured approach to reshaping our public institutions to allow them the ability to build public trust and develop the type of systems needed to create infrastructure that, in his words, “provides humanity with a means to an end.”

Ross Israel, Head Global Infrastructure, QIC

Infrastructure investors should heed the call of BIG FIXES. As fiduciaries of capital, the cross over to being owners of infrastructure is brought out by Garry Bowditch’s focus on the importance of stakeholder primacy and customer stewardship.?

In delivering resilience and future-proofing the infrastructure they own, long term institutional investors have a tremendous?opportunity to make a difference to deliver lasting intergenerational legacies.?

They are uniquely positioned in a world decarbonising, digitalising and decentralising to be active FIXERS; it’s a timely call to action!

Governor Martin O’Malley, Fmr Governor of Maryland & Mayor of Baltimore

Societies improve the well-being of their people, not by locking money in a vault but by distributing human solutions to human problems more efficiently, more sustainably, and more broadly.

“BIG FIXES” is a clarion call to the deeper and more life-giving instincts of our humanity. It is a call not merely to rebuild the failing infrastructure of our past but to build anew with a clear eye toward the further future.??

Garry Bowditch helps us understand that the success of our efforts — in these critical times of environmental and social change — requires “a more profound practice of reciprocity.”???It requires a way of building, living, and governing that strengthens our trust in one another and our faith in a better tomorrow.

Marion Terrill, Transport and Cities Program Director, Grattan Institute

There’s no shortage of reports, papers, books and analysis on every conceivable aspect of infrastructure. And yet, this one is different. Garry has stepped back from the ‘what’, and the ‘how’ and instead asked ‘why’. It’s a very personal perspective on infrastructure – what it’s really for, will it still be good in the future, and is the best way to get what we want and need from it. Well done, Garry.

Leslie Hosking,?Non-Executive Chairman & Director?

The time has come for all non-executive directors to consistently fulfil our duties in orchestrating long-term meaningful change. Bowditch recognises there are many challenges, but BIG FIXES will help clear your mind about what is really important to transforming business - great collaborations and opening the gates of human?ingenuity.?

Done well new technologies and digitisation of [infrastructure]?services are a powerful ally in putting customers back in control. BIG FIXES will engage and provoke all boardroom?members with insights, examples, and frameworks to start today in building bridges to a better future for all.

My book BIG FIXES is available in paperback and ebook formats from Amazon.