We are pleased to announce the 2026 Future Infrastructure Leader Scholarship has been awarded to:
Winner: Kyle Jones – Architectural Assistant, Populous
Kyle began his career at Populous at 17 and has contributed to major venue designs major venues around the world such as the Las Vegas Sands Arena and Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. Now focusing on his home-state of Queensland, Kyle says he is passionate about applying his global knowledge to local sports and entertainment infrastructure. Currently completing his Master of Architecture while working full-time, Kyle says he is driven by a vision for Queensland as a state where people love to be together… in spaces that are for everyone all the time.
This prestigious scholarship for emerging professionals offers up to $5,000 in tickets to major IAQ events across 2026, providing direct access to roundtables with taskforces and working groups, industry breakfasts, and keynote speaker events. Over the year, 2026 recipient, Kyle Jones will have the opportunity to:
- Build strong relationships with senior leaders across Queensland’s infrastructure sector
- Gain exposure to key policy and program discussions shaping the decade ahead
- Participate in industry forums where challenges and solutions intersect between government and private industry
- Strengthen their career trajectory through high-value professional development and visibility within IAQ’s network
This is a career-shaping year ahead for Kyle that will see him gain a foot in the door to connect with industry leaders and government key players thanks to IAQ’s strong network and reputation in Queensland.
Congratulations to Kyle, IAQ’s 2026 IAQ Future Infrastructure Leader Scholarship Recipient.
2026 IAQ Future Infrastructure Leader Scholarship Finalists
We are also proud to recognise the strength of this year’s shortlist. Our five finalists stood out for their commitment to industry and emerging leadership potential.
Finalists:
- Adam Preston, TSA Riley
- Akshay Doosa, SYSTRA
- Marc King-Turner, Arcadis
- Thien Chu, GHD
- Tim Crawley, SYSTRA
Each finalist demonstrated strong capability and a clear passion for advancing Queensland’s infrastructure future. We look forward to seeing where their careers take them and hope to welcome them at IAQ events throughout the year ahead. As a finalist, they each received a voucher for one free ticket to an IAQ Infrastructure Insights Breakfast in 2026.
IAQ’s 2026 scholarship selection reflects the remarkable talent within Queensland’s infrastructure sector. IAQ thanks every nominee for their time, effort and commitment. The future of our industry is bright because of emerging leaders like these.
See the End of Year Celebration and Awards Night Photo Gallery
