A community delivering digital projects with Graham Kelly

We recently had a great episode with Graham Kelly , Managing Director of Okana , on the Digital Construction Podcast. Graham peeled back the layers on Okana's unique journey. He shared how their innovative community-based model is challenging traditional industry norms, coupled with insights into BIM adoption differences between the UK and Australia, and their pioneering digital twin work for the Sydney Opera House. It's a cracker of an episode you won't want to miss!

The Evolution of Okana: A Story of Growth and Collaboration

Okana's story began in 2010 as BIM Academy, a joint venture with Northumbria University , envisioned as a centre for excellence in digital construction. Graham joined in 2013, focusing on BIM and FM (Facilities Management), a core area that remains central to Okana today. Over time, the business diversified, incorporating safety expertise following the Grenfell tragedy and sustainability solutions with the addition of Building Research Solutions. In July 2023, Ryder took full ownership, leading to the rebranding as Okana. Crucially, Okana also merged with the Ryder Alliance, a global community of organisations sharing values and a digital-first mindset established back in 2010. This fusion created a "thriving community" and a "thriving built environment consultancy" aiming to do things differently.

Okana's Game-Changing Business Model

Okana operates on a unique three-part business model: core services delivered by their central team, a network of member organisations that collaborate, and advisory services for early-stage client engagement. This setup offers remarkable agility and collective capability, allowing them to compete with larger consultancies without the typical bureaucracy. With 15 organisations and approximately 1,200 people across the globe – from Australia to Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Asia – Okana can be "really selective, really agile and really opportunistic" in pursuing opportunities. The network is built on trust, enabling organisations to leverage shared expertise and deliver comprehensive solutions that would be impossible alone.

Sharing Knowledge and Maintaining Standards Across Borders

Operating a global community of experts comes with its challenges, but Okana has developed robust methods for knowledge sharing and maintaining high standards. This includes mandatory monthly calls where partners present projects and insights, fostering a rich exchange of best practice. 

Digital Down Under vs. The UK Approach

Graham offered a fascinating comparison between the UK and Australian digital construction markets. He observed that the UK market has historically led in process and standards, driven by government initiatives like BS1192 and ISO 19650. While this provided a clear "direction of travel," it also led to a "perceived complexity" and a tendency to "over complicate it" in practice. In contrast, prior to ISO rollout, the Australian market focused on "using better technology" to deliver "what was of value to a project," stripping out complexity where possible. While not always having the same guiding principles, Australian best practice was often about using process and technology to directly "improve what I am delivering today". Today, both markets are reaching a similar maturity, finding "sweet spots" for value delivery.

Pioneering Digital Twins: The Sydney Opera House "BIM to FM" Project

In 2013, Graham was part of a pivotal project at the Sydney Opera House, called "BIM to FM", an early form of what we now call a digital twin. Their successful tender focused not on selling a solution, but on deeply understanding the Opera House's existing information landscape. The core challenge was to create a "one view of the truth" from 27 disparate systems, managing a site that hosts 1,800 shows annually and has complex historical information gaps. Okana's team helped integrate models and systems into a "single pane of glass" and developed a robust model management plan. Today, the Opera House boasts a sophisticated system for condition monitoring and managing new construction, showcasing remarkable foresight for its time.

Digitisation: A Key Driver for Sustainability

Graham highlights that digitisation profoundly supports sustainability through "efficiency and insight". While acknowledging the potential contradictions with energy-intensive technologies like AI, he stresses that AI should be used for productivity to maximize the efficiency. Practical applications include using sensors in existing buildings to gain true performance insights for improvements, or generating early-stage energy models directly from Revit models for dynamic simulations. Furthermore, digital tools enable better surveying of existing buildings for effective retrofit strategies. The key is to focus on what is most efficient and truly works best.

Key Takeaways

• Okana challenges traditional consultancy models with its agile, global community network.
• Knowledge sharing is key.
• The UK led in BIM process/standards, but Australia focused on value-driven technology adoption.
• Pioneering "BIM to FM" work at Sydney Opera House in 2013 created an early "digital twin" for complex asset management.
• Digitisation supports sustainability through efficiency, insight, and informed decision-making.
• Okana's future includes expanding its community and focusing on "place shaping" for better human environments.