La Trobe University > Infrastructure and Operations > About us

About us

We are committed to supporting the University in its aspiration to be 'the difference' in the lives of its students, staff and visitors. We do this through planning, creating, and delivering modern infrastructure for the University and providing a full range of services that make La Trobe a lively, connected, safe and attractive environment in which to learn and work.

Our vision

Infrastructure and Operations will proactively lead, manage and support the University's property portfolio through planning and capital works, operations and maintenance to maximise their effective use. We will provide best practice support to enable the University's strategic plan by enhancing teaching, research, residential and other business activities and assets.

Click here to view our Service Statement.

Our departments

Infrastructure & Operations Group is separated into 2 departments Asset Transformation and Infrastructure and Operations

Asset Transformation (AT) Department, led by Gerard Blood, comprises of the following departments:

  • Master Planning, Sustainability & Systems
  • Development and Delivery
  • La Trobe University City

Infrastructure and Operations (IO) Department, led by Andrew Jennings, comprises of the following departments:

  • Net Zero
  • Facilities & Asset Services

The Leasing team, whilst reporting to the Procurement Business Services, has a close working relationship with teams in the AT and IO departments and is included in ISO Certification. See ISO Certification achievement below .

Master Planning, Sustainability & Systems

Delivering excellent leadership, service and support to our colleagues across I&O through strategy, policy, business improvements and productivity. We provide leadership and expertise in campus planning, urban design and sustainability across the University. We manage the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary providing land management, visitor experience and indigenous plant production services. We lead the management of the Occupational Health & Safety, Environment and Quality (OHSEQ) Management System for the Group as well as provide strategic and operational support and expertise in IT systems within and outside of our Group.

Development and Delivery

Responsible for planning and delivering projects across various facilities. The department works in a highly collaborative environment, in consultation with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure that project outcomes enable and enhance excellence in professional service staff delivery and the teaching, learning and research experience for academic staff and students.

The department offers best practice advice around delivery methodologies and project solutions. We drive the programme for commercial development of all campuses, growing revenue from existing and new assets, securing research, economic and employment partnerships through property transactions, and attracting external investment. The department also provides strategic property advice.

La Trobe University City

Responsible for strategic program management of  initiatives within the La Trobe University City program, including strategy development, business cases, prioritisation, benefits management, communications and delivery support.

Facilities, Assets & Services

The department is responsible for the strategy and management of all operations and maintenance within the buildings, facilities and grounds in order to exceed the needs of the University community.  This includes cleaning, waste, landscaping, security, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, life safety, building fabric and civil works.

Net Zero

The department is responsible for achieving the University goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2029. The Net Zero team conceives, develops and delivers projects which exceed the University's sustainability financial and community targets ensuring La Trobe University is sustainable for today and tomorrow.

ISO Certification

Infrastructure and Operations was the first department in a Victorian University to be certified in three ISO standards. ISO, or the International Standards Organisation, develops and publishes international standards for products, services and systems across a range of industries to make sure they are safe, reliable and of good quality.

I&O has been certified in three ISO standards:

  • ISO 9001 - Quality
  • ISO 14001 - Environmental
  • ISO 45001 - Occupational Health & Safety

This means that I&O have developed and implemented management system and business processes in line with international standards for quality management, OHS and environmental management. These standards incorporate the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle and are supported by regular compliance and risk assessments, internal audits and regular reporting against key objectives.

I&O are proud of these certifications and are committed to continuously monitoring our processes, products and services to improve our quality, environmental and OH&S performance.