top of page

Meet the V Team

Writer's picture: Brendan McGroreyBrendan McGrorey

Updated: Apr 16, 2020

Lately we’ve been busy introducing our new business, Varity Project Services, to the world, and it seems only right to now also introduce the team behind it. Read on to learn more about Paul Young and Brendan McGrorey, Varity’s Co-Directors.



It goes without saying that Paul Young and Brendan McGrorey, Co-Directors of Varity Project Services know a lot about the Australian construction industry.


With over 50 years combined experience between them and countless high-profile and high-value projects under their belt, their experience in delivering successful construction projects is indisputable.

That said, when you commission a business to manage a complex project, it’s not really the organisation that you’re hiring, but the people within it.


At Varity, we believe trust is one of the most important aspects of any project and the way you build trust in any relationship is by getting to know one another better.


That’s why we’ve put together the following get-to-know-you Q&A with Paul and Brendan.


"At Varity, we believe trust is one of the most important aspects of any project and the way you build trust in any relationship is by getting to know one another better.

Paul Young, Director, Varity Project Services


1. Who inspires you?

My family.

2. What was the best concert you ever attended?

Two come to mind. The first one and probably the best was the Foo Fighters at Maddison Square Garden. They are such an awesome band live and Dave Grohl is a great front man, plus seeing it with my family at such an iconic venue made it so memorable.

Then there’s the second one, which to this day I am not sure if it was the best or the worst. I saw Bob Dylan at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Market Street. He came on stage, mumbled something (I think it was good evening), then played his tunes, which you could mostly tell by the music, not the vocals. He then finished, said what I think was goodnight and walked off. I’m not sure whether I should be hugely disappointed or whether that was so iconic Dylan, I should.

3. Where’s your favourite place in the world?

I love Sydney. I remember when I was working in Perth I used to get off the plane after arriving in Sydney and feel this energy. I’ve also worked a lot in Melbourne and love the vibe down there.

Having said that, if I ultimately had to choose one place to spend a month or two it would be London. So much history, so much to see and do and so many museums and interesting places. Everywhere you turn it feels on one hand familiar because of its history, yet it’s not. I also love the British pubs. Every time I go to London, I say the next time I will spend more time there. Close second is New York, probably for similar reasons.

4. What’s the last book you read?

The Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly. He’s an Australian author whose hero is an Australian former SAS Soldier. It’s the second book in a series of books. I had a change of scene for the book that I’m currently reading which is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. It’s about a Russian Aristocrat in post WW1 Moscow who is confined to living in Moscow’s most exclusive hotel. I’ve only just started it, but it is ironically apt in some ways with what is going on. Two very different books, but I like reading and think different books broaden the imagination and a little variety doesn’t hurt.


5. What are you currently watching on Netflix?

The Witcher. It’s not Game of Thrones, but it’s not bad either.


6. What’s the most interesting thing you’re working on right now?

The Stadium Australia redevelopment bid. Such an iconic Australian venue and a very challenging project given the current climate.


7. Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?

My dog. Living with my family, she genuinely has a very good life. Plus, I’d be fascinated to know what goes through her head all day.

8. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?

I was lucky enough to go to Europe with my youngest son over the holidays to explore the WW1 Battlefields and we went to Paris as part of the trip. While there, we went to a Bistro called Robert et Louise. I love a good steak and it was excellent, but the best part was the ambience of the place. They still cooked the steak on an open fire in the restaurant right in front of you and we got seated right next to where they were cooking. Great steak, great experience with my son and such a unique restaurant.


9. What’s the most challenging issue in construction at the moment?

Coronavirus. Although I think the real challenges are still to come. In construction, we have been lucky to date, that it's been deemed a critical service so we have been able to plough on (to some extent) and keep working. A fact we should all be extremely grateful for given the numbers who have sadly lost jobs. I still however think that even if we can keep working to some degree, we need to be careful about ongoing issues such as liquidity, pipeline, international supply chains, market sentiment and pick up.


10. What is your favourite family tradition?

We don’t have any real family traditions as such. Although every year or two we try and get away for a couple of weeks to either the Gold Coast or Fiji with my brother, his family and my parents. It’s always a great time for my kids and my nieces to hang-out and for me to escape work and spend some quality time with my family.


Brendan McGrorey, Director, Varity Project Services


1. Who inspires you?

I really enjoy reading the biographies of famous historical figures. Learning more about these people reminds you that they were human like the rest of us, what separated them was their drive and dedication to achieving something outside the norm, which is inspiring. Some of my favourites include Marcus Aurelius and Winston Churchill.

2. What was the best concert you ever attended?

Daft Punk at the Wireless Festival in London in 2007 is hard to go past.

3. Where’s your favourite place in the world?

Wherever my family are, but if I can choose the location, it would probably be Paris. Such a beautiful place to wander, lots of history and of course great food.

4. What’s the last book you read?

Churchill: Walking with Destiny’ by Andrew Roberts. I enjoy historical biographies, and this one is excellent.


5. What are you currently watching on Netflix?

Formula 1 – Drive to Survive: Season 2’. I’ve actually never been a car racing fan, but this docuseries does a great job of showing the human drama of the sport. I’ve become a fan of F1 after watching the first season of this show.

6. What’s the most interesting thing you’re working on right now?

Starting a business of course!

7. Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?

Shane Warne. One of the greatest Australian sportsmen of all time, plus his life after cricket seems almost just as interesting.

8. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?

Dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Casino on the Las Vegas strip. Great food, amazing views of the strip and beautiful company (my lovely wife).

9. What’s the most challenging issue in construction at the moment?

It’s hard not to say the impacts of COVID-19, though in my opinion, it’s the uncertainty that is causing more issues than any actual impacts at the moment. More generally, I think the industry has been slow to keep up with new technology and how this may change the way we work. One positive of the current environment is that it may actually accelerate innovation in this space.

10. What is your favourite family tradition?

Cooking pancakes for my kids on Sundays.



We hope that gives you a little more insight into the team at Varity Project Services, but if you'd like to learn more visit our team page or get in touch here.

197 views0 comments

コメント


bottom of page