Speakers

Clare Jones is a highly accomplished Commercial Director with more than 15 years of senior leadership experience across major civil engineering, building, and complex infrastructure projects. With a strong foundation in commercial management, contract administration, and financial governance, Clare has built a career leading high‑performing teams and delivering commercially successful outcomes on some of Australia’s most significant developments.

Clare currently serves as Commercial Director for the $1.15 billion Waterloo Metro Quarter Development, where she leads the commercial and development functions for the John Holland–Mirvac Joint Venture. In this role, she has established strengthened governance frameworks, enhanced commercial controls, led negotiations with Sydney Metro on PDA amendments, and overseen the end‑to‑end management of major consultant and D&C contractor engagements. Her leadership has driven alignment across multidisciplinary teams while embedding a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Prior to this, Clare held senior commercial leadership roles on Sydney Metro’s Pitt Street Station precincts, including Commercial Lead for the $420 million Pitt Street North OSD. She managed all upstream and downstream commercial activities, procurement, claims and variations, contract administration, and commercial reporting, while resolving complex project interface issues and maintaining strong governance across multiple delivery packages.

Clare’s earlier experience includes Commercial Manager roles with CPB Contractors on the $110 million GPARC Aquatic Centre and the $520 million Northern Beaches Hospital PPP, where she led commercial strategy, forecasting, subcontract lifecycle management, risk management, and financial reporting for high‑value, multi‑stakeholder projects. She also served as Commercial and Project Controls Manager for the Kentz Alliance on the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facility, overseeing commercial reporting, change control, procurement, and alliance performance frameworks.

Before relocating to Australia, Clare developed a robust commercial foundation in the UK across healthcare, education, residential, retail, and major transport infrastructure projects. Her experience spans numerous contract forms—including D&C, GC21, NEC, JCT, AS2124, AS4902, and alliance contracting—giving her deep contractual and risk management expertise.

Clare holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law, and is an RICS‑accredited mediator. Recognised for her strong communication, negotiation, leadership, and organisational capability, she is also an active mentor, supporting the development of emerging commercial professionals across the industry.

Driven, strategic, and adaptable, Clare consistently delivers commercial clarity, disciplined governance, and strong stakeholder relationships, contributing to the successful delivery of complex, large‑scale infrastructure and development programs.