Ventia is proud to be a long-term and strategic partner of nbn. Yesterday Ventia joined nbn and industry leaders for the nbn Supplier Summit and Supplier Awards.

We were named winner across two categories - Customer Experience and Safe Work Culture, and we were also named runner up for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category.

Delivering great customer experience in times of natural disaster 

Ventia's exceptional response following the devastating floods in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales in early 2022 won the Customer Experience award.  

The floods caused significant impacts to the nbn network, with more than 250,000 services impacted over a four-week period. Our Unify Network team was integral in the response to this natural disaster. For 23 consecutive days our teams worked around the clock. In collaboration with nbn Co and other service providers we completed more than 1,900 orders to restore services - more than a 100% increase on average order volumes. 

Ventia's Operations Centre, who coordinated the response, successfully managed an immediate and dramatic lift in the number of inbound and outbound calls during the response. In February there was a 22% increase in call volume over the average, and in March this rose to 30% above average. Following the network assurance work, our teams worked with nbn Co and other providers across Lismore and Byron Bay to undertake a resilience hardening program. This initiative raises plinths for nodes in flood affected areas to minimise the future impact of floods to local communities.

^{Group Executive Telecommunications Mark Ralston (right) receiving the award for Customer Experience.}

Creating a safe environment for workers and the community

At Ventia, we place safety and health above all else and our collaborative approach saw us awarded the Safe Work Culture award.

We led a deep dive into the stored energy risks associated with horizontal directional drilling across the nbn ecosystem. The project involved identifying areas where safety could be further improved and reducing risk of future incidents. The outcome included a greater under understanding of the stored energy risks that can be associated with horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with the learnings being shared for the benefit of those undertaking drilling projects into the future. 
 
Using our registered training organisation, we also assisted in the development of a module to utilise industry knowledge and assist new telecommunication workers to be 'work ready' with an understanding of HSE requirements. This updated module will be completed by all new starters on nbn projects and, amongst other benefits, provides new and existing partners with detailed knowledge of best practice regarding critical risk controls, and other common controls to ensure safer work sites.  

^{EGM Fixed Networks Joshua van der Heiden (right) receiving the award for Safe Work Culture.}

Social enterprise partnership driving positive diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes 

Our program that is providing employment and training for young spatial analysts living with autism, was named runner up in the Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) award category. Ventia's partnership with social enterprise Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA) provides these young people with personal and professional development opportunities, and also enables Ventia and clients, including nbn, to utilise their talents on critical projects. The analysts work alongside designers and engineers in our Telecommunications business. 

They receive on-the-job training, gain real-world experience, and build confidence working on major national projects such as nbn, where they obtain insights and experience working as part of a team. Due to the program's resounding success, Ventia is furthering its collaboration with ASA and funding a dedicated Ventia designer to work directly with ASA to upskill the organisation and its participants in additional design areas.

^{The nbn® Supplier Summit and Awards is held each year with key partners to encourage collaboration and share learnings across the industry.}

Making infrastructure work for our communities

Ventia's Group Executive Telecommunications Mark Ralston said the company was honoured to be recognised for exceptional service to the nbn and communities across Australia.

Ventia has been a proud and long-term partner of nbn, playing a vital role in the delivery of this essential infrastructure project and look forward to our on-going partnership to nbn and our contributed contribution to communities throughout Australia.

'We are extremely proud of the significant contribution Ventia makes to the nbn in collaboration with other delivery partners, and we sincerely congratulate all 2022 nbn Supplier Awards winners and finalists.'

The nbn® Supplier Awards and Supplier Summit are held each year with key partners to encourage collaboration and share learnings to drive continuous improvement across the industry.

^{Top picture, left to right: GE Telecommunications Mark Ralston, CEO nbn Stephen Rue and EGM Fixed Networks Joshua van der Heiden}