Brian Seidler: A master builder with a reputation for making things better

Brian Seidler 1958-2025

Brian Seidler joined the Master Builders Association at a time when the construction industry needed a champion. Starting in 1984 as a trainee industrial safety officer with the MBA in NSW, he rose to become its long-serving executive director for 25 years.

His death on Saturday shocked the industry. Nearly a thousand people from Australia’s building and construction industry including builders, architects, mayors of local councils, chief executives, tradies and bureaucrats paid tribute to him on the MBA NSW LinkedIn page.

MBA’s NSW executive director Brian Seidler kept the lights on for construction workers during the pandemic. Credit: Louie Douvis

They remembered Seidler as a “truly good man”, someone who was loyal to a fault, and a great leader who was strong on industrial relations. His colleagues and friends recalled his kindness, passion, “goofy humour” and mentorship, and his commitment to “making things better”.

In Australia, the Seidler name has become synonymous with architecture, design, quality construction and modernism.

Seidler grew up in the thick of it. He was the much younger cousin of architect Harry Seidler, the “father of Australian modernism” who came to Australia in 1948. The extended Seidler family had settled in Australia after fleeing the Nazis in Austria. Seidler grew up in one of three modern homes designed by his cousin Harry in the 1950s. With its butterfly roof, it was regarded as revolutionary.

These homes were to launch his cousin’s Harry’s architecture career in Australia, and sparked a lifelong interest for Seidler in mid-century design, too.

But as a child, it was never anything but home, Seidler told the Herald’s Judy Barouch in 2008.

“Much of the furniture was purpose-designed by Harry and other pieces were chosen by him. My brother and I jumped on original Eames chairs and we certainly didn’t pay any special attention to the [Saarinen] Grasshopper chairs,” Seidler said.

Seidler started working in the MBA when the industry was in a degree of chaos, with building unions running amok and huge, complex issues not fully addressed.

During his 40 years with the association, including 25 years at the top, Seidler showed himself to be calm, forthright and compassionate, recognising from the outset that building workers had genuine matters of concern.

MBA president Michael O’Donnell said the building and construction industry had lost one of its finest leaders. “When Brian was appointed executive director of the MBA, the organisation was at one of the lowest ebbs in its 150-year history,” O’Donnell said. “Through his stewardship, the association’s finances were rebuilt so services and support for members continued.”

The construction industry is now the state’s fourth-largest industry, worth $89.5 billion and employing 413,000 people.

O’Donnell said Seidler thrived in this environment, never backing down from representing employers’ interests. “He earned the respect of union officials. This era of industrial relations was also the era when Enterprise Agreements were coming into vogue as a way of pursuing industrial peace and hopefully more productive construction sites,” he said.

“Brian was a pioneer in these days of industrial relations innovations … including the construction industry superfund CBUS Super.

Brian Seidler in 2020 during the restoration of Julian Rose House designed by his cousin Harry Seidler.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

“Compulsory employer superannuation contributions were being brought into effect by the Hawke-Keating government and there were plenty of negotiations underway as to how this would work. Brian was deeply involved in this process.

“He was always passionate about achieving a stronger and better construction industry that rewarded builders and the public in delivering a high-quality built environment.”

In recent years, Seidler became a strong advocate for a Building Commissioner to ensure high industry standards, particularly after “serious defects” were discovered at Sydney’s Opal Tower.

“Under Brian’s leadership the industry embraced and supported the first Building Commissioner David Chandler in his reforms,” O’Donnell said.

Brian Seidler was born in Sydney on February 25, 1958.

He was the second son of Marcus Seidler, a Jewish clothing manufacturer who fled Austria in 1939 after the Nazis came to power. His mother Edith (nee Heymann) was a German dentist who had been active in the resistance.

Brian’s father Marcus sponsored Harry Seidler’s parents Max and Rose Seidler with son Marcell to come to Australia in 1946.

Brian Seidler attended Wahroonga Public School. At age 13, he was written up in the Herald for winning a billycart race with the 1st East Wahroonga Scout Group. He gained his HSC at North Sydney Boys’ High, completed a bachelor’s of building degree at NSW University and studied languages at the University of Vienna.

While elder brother Steven became a lawyer, Brian joined Civil & Civic in 1981 as a building cadet. A year later, he became a trainee project manager with Progress & Properties.

In 1984, after showing an early interest in industrial relations, he joined the MBA as a trainee industrial officer where he completed courses with the National Safety Council of Australia, the University of Technology and University of Sydney. Some of his on-site projects were at Australia’s Wonderland for Leighton Project Management Services and for White Industries Ltd at North Sydney’s Victoria Square Project.

Seidler was never “the boss’s man”. He represented the industry and MBA on committees and boards, including Mates in Construction, a charity established in 2008 to reduce the high level of suicide among construction workers.

He belonged to the NSW Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Committee and the NSW Council for Women. He was also on numerous boards, committees and council including National Labour Consultative Council, NSW Government Construction Industry Advisory Group, TAFE – South Western Sydney Institute Advisory Council, a guest lecturer at NSW University’s School of the Built Environment.

Seidler took directorships with the Construction Employees Redundancy Trust, the Australian Construction Industry Redundancy Fund and CBUS Superannuation.

He later became a Committee of Management member of the Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation and took up a ministerial appointment on the NSW Council for Women and Economic Opportunity.

O’Donnell said beyond his achievements, Seidler would be remembered for his kindness and his care. “He was someone who unreservedly gave of himself to support and mentor others.”

Seidler had an impish sense of humour. On one occasion, during his daughter Mila’s date with a boyfriend, he arranged with the restaurant to be the waiter and approached the table with a pizza held aloft.

In 1998, Seidler met an MBA employee, Donna King, whom he married in the garden of the Wahroonga home in 2002. They had three children, Amelia, Mila and Marcus.

He went on to raise his own family in the home where he grew up, asking his cousin Harry to design its extension. It is now known as Donna and Brian Seidler house.

The restoration of his home ignited a deep interest and admiration for mid-century modern houses, said Harry’s widow, Penelope Seidler, an architect and director of Harry Seidler & Associates.

Brian Seidler outside Julian Rose House which he restored in 2020. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Seidler later purchased and lovingly restored the Julian Rose house, the second of the three homes in Wahroonga. He “faithfully reconstructed all the details of the original design,” said Penelope.

Seidler enjoyed leading tours of his restoration work at events organised by the Museums of History NSW and he became a great friend of many of the owners of Harry Seidler’s early houses.

“His knowledge of the construction and details of their homes was valued and his enthusiasm infectious,” Penelope said.

In 2008, he became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building and in 2019, a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for his significant service to the building and construction industry through professional organisation”.

Seidler stepped up during the COVID pandemic, working “tirelessly” to keep the industry open and operating.

O’Donnell said, “When most other industries were suffering from lockdowns, Brian was successful in working with the NSW government and construction unions to prevent the industry from being shut down or construction sites being closed.”

In September, Seidler was presented with the industry’s Florence Taylor Award, for his “outstanding service to the building industry”.

Brian Seidler died on March 1 after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised. He is survived by his wife, Donna, and children Amelia, Mila and Marcus. He was predeceased by his brother, Steven, and a half-sister, Ruth Freedman.

With Julie Power