Meet Stephen McGrath
Stephen has 50+ years working experience. His project management framework has been used in delivery of $50 billion of Projects over the last 25+ years.
He is a Civil Engineer with five decades of experience in delivery and public administration of transport infrastructure in Australia. From roads and rail to aviation and marine projects, he has spent his career planning and delivering projects and systems that contribute to keeping the country moving.
The ‘OnQ’ Legacy: In 1999, Stephen authored the ‘OnQ’ project management framework for the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Over the last 25+ years that framework has been the backbone for delivering an estimated $50 billion in transport infrastructure, IT and business development projects across the state.
From Engineering to Governance: His passion for understanding how systems work led him to complete a master’s degree in systems engineering in 1977 and, more recently, a PhD in governance in 2019. He has now published 11 international journal papers on project management and governance, focusing on removing misunderstanding and confusion.
Cutting Through the Noise: In 2022, Stephen published Speaking Management: How to spot language traps and resolve contested management terms. It is a guide for anyone wanting to see through corporate management jargon, dissolve conflict, remove confusion and determine truth. It was written without any notion of it having any political impact. He was then unaware of the (predominantly unethical) market value of confusion in selling product, services and ideology.
His Research: To December 2025, Stephen’s work had reached over 150,000 readers worldwide and been cited in 700 peer reviewed journal papers. He now posts his research and insights on this website.
Politics: Stephen was a candidate in the 2022 Australian Federal election for the Informed Medical Options Party in the seat of Lilley.