Defence

For more than 40 years, Laing O’Rourke has delivered infrastructure for the Department of Defence in Australia and Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom (UK), that supports critical missions to protect the security and prosperity of each nation.

Our values-based approach, founded on care, integrity and courage, aligns with and reinforces the Australian Defence Force’s and the UK Armed Service’s values and behaviours.

A trusted partner for Defence

We combine the right people, thinking, and technology to deliver high-quality, value-for-money infrastructure and facilities for Australian and British soldiers, naval personnel, aviators, and defence civilians to live, work, and thrive. This is demonstrated through our history of delivering naval, air force, and army infrastructure across Australia and the UK - including major base upgrades, submarine infrastructure, accommodation, training, maintenance, manufacturing, counter-intelligence, and cyber security facilities.

We prioritise and respect veterans and reserve service. We have a long-standing history of supporting the armed forces community with employment and the transition to civilian life. We’re proud to be a signatory to the UK Armed Forces Covenant, recently re-affirming our pledge to uphold our principles of supporting those who have served, through the employment of veterans and support to reservists and military families.

We recognise the importance of these projects in supporting local jobs and employment, particularly in regional and remote locations. Our Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative Facilities project was delivered with more than 80 percent local participation, supporting the local economy in regional Queensland.

We have deep experience in nuclear construction, quality assurance and compliance with nuclear safety and regulatory provisions. Our nuclear portfolio includes projects ranging from our work on Hinkley Point C to the construction of the plutonium manufacturing facility in Sellafield.

Glen Billington is Laing O’Rourke’s General Manager – Defence in Australia. He has had a distinguished career with the Australian Army before transitioning to the Army Reserve. During this time, Glen completed a range of appointments relating to the planning and delivery of Defence facilities, including a secondment to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Glen’s experience in the policy, planning and delivery of capital works projects spans the UK, Middle East, Pacific Region, and Australia. Glen ensures Laing O’Rourke continues to align capacity and capability with the requirements of the Australian Defence sector.

Adam Birley is a former Royal Engineer Officer who led the Army's largest deployable regiment, 39 Engineer Regiment. The regiment’s remit was the construction and repair of critical infrastructure overseas. Prior to that, he audited British military operations as part of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff's internal audit team, focusing on the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. He served four tours of operational duty in the Middle East, earning the MBE for training Iraqi Forces.

Justice

For more than a decade, we have supported the UK Ministry of Justice to deliver complex prison and justice infrastructure that responds to rising demand, an ageing estate and the need for long‑term, sustainable reform.

Our values‑led approach - grounded in collaboration, transparency and collective accountability - aligns closely with the Ministry of Justice’s focus on building facilities that are safer, more resilient and better suited to rehabilitation and reduced re‑offending.

A trusted delivery partner for the justice sector

We bring together the right people, delivery models and modern construction capability to provide high‑quality, value‑for‑money prison capacity at pace. This is demonstrated through our role in the 20,000 Prison Places Programme, including the delivery of new large‑scale prisons and secure houseblocks on existing sites across the estate.

Operating through award‑winning Alliance models, we work as fully integrated teams alongside the MoJ and industry partners. This approach encourages openness and shared purpose, enables learning to be embedded across programmes, and drives efficiencies through standardised reference designs and Modern Methods of Construction. The result is faster delivery, reduced cost, consistent performance and clear benefits for the taxpayer.

Our work supports safer and more proportionate security environments, improved facility performance, and better outcomes for prisoners, staff and communities. We place strong emphasis on sustainability and social value - creating local jobs, apprenticeships and skills opportunities - while delivering a lower‑carbon, future‑ready estate that meets demanding environmental standards.

Together with the Ministry of Justice and our Alliance partners, we are delivering modern, secure and sustainable facilities that help transform the justice system and support long‑term rehabilitation across the UK.