Conference Agenda

09:00 - 09:30

Speed Networking

Introduce yourself, swap business cards, and form new and lasting business connections during a series of one-on-one exchanges with fellow conference delegates.

09:30 - 10:00

Fireside Chat: Gurrowa Place at Queen Victoria Market

• At approximately 3.2 hectares, the circa $1.7bn redevelopment is the largest urban renewal project undertaken by the City of Melbourne, set to transform the southern site of the iconic Queen Victoria Market precinct as part of the Council’s Renewal Program.
• Hear from development partner, Lendlease and NH Architecture on how Gurrowa Place will revitalise Melbourne’s famous market while preserving the heritage and design fabric of the iconic landmark.

Adam Williams, Project Director, Lendlease
Nick Bourns, Director, NH Architecture

10:00 - 10:20

Updates and Priorties: Infrastructure Victoria

• Key updates and priorities for Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy, 2021-2051
• The 30-year strategy provides a practical plan for such public policy areas as housing, energy, transport, and social infrastructure.

Jonathan Spear, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Victoria

10:20 - 10:40

Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation 

Katrina Sedgwick OAM, Director & CEO, Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co)

10:40 - 11:00

Overview of Major Projects at Development Victoria

• Development Victoria partners with communities and industries to create places that are sustainable, liveable and people-focused.
• Hear from Development Victoria’s Hannah Clement on major projects at Development Victoria.

Hannah Clement, Group Head, Civic Infrastructure, Development Victoria

11:30 - 11:50

• Key developments and delivery outcomes of the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital Project.
• Hear from the entity delivering Victoria’s largest health infrastructure development to date.
• How staff, users and the community have been involved in every step of the project.

Clare Shiell, Executive Director of Portfolio Delivery, Plenary

11:50 - 12:10

F1 technology to drive the success of your infrastructure projects

Formula 1 is a sport often described as being driven by data; teams are obsessed with analysis and minute details that could give them a competitive advantage on the track. It’s commonly accepted that technology already has or will have a significant role to play in supporting Victoria's growth and infrastructure needs. Making construction industries more and more data-driven will ensure that decisions for major infrastructure projects can be made using the latest data and technology. So, what can you learn from Formula 1 that accelerates performance in project execution? Formula 1, where races are won or lost on the smallest of margins, where every tenth of a second counts with a high reliance on data and technology. In this session, learn how you can discern the value and benefits of data and information in project controls, and how to apply these learnings to your own project controls practices and make improvements to drive successful infrastructure projects.

Rogier Roelvink, Customer and Industry Value Engagement Director, Oracle Construction and Engineering

12:10 - 12:30

Melbourne Square Skyscraper

• Work has begun on Melbourne Square BLVD Skyscraper, which is set to deliver 602 apartments and several modern amenities.
• The $3bn project is expected to be completed by early 2028.

Paul Curry, Director, Cox Architecture

12:30 - 12:50

Supply Chains and Delivery

• How to manage supply chains for successful major project delivery in a constrained environment.
• This presentation will cover infrastructure, energy, and civil major project delivery.

Zac Kerr, Partner, Gilbert & Tobin

12:50 - 13:00

Comprehensive Approach to Construction Vehicle Safety

Karyn Welsh, CEO, The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Australia

14:00 - 14:20

Victoria's Big Housing Build

• The Victorian Government has committed to building thousands of new homes across Victoria, creating new jobs and providing 12,000 social housing properties.
• The project includes replacing and upgrading over 1000 existing public housing properties.

Simon Newport, Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria

14:20 - 14:40

It's People Who Build Our Infrastructure; Not Good Intentions

• There are industry skill gaps which could be filled by cohorts that businesses often don’t consider. But good intentions alone won’t cut it – industry needs to prepare to welcome these people into their workforces. And it’s actually not that hard.

Dr Karina Davis, CEO, Jobsbank
Marion Olen, Client Solutions Manager, Jobsbank

14:40 - 15:20

Panel Discussion: Creating Urban Health Through Architecture and Placemaking

• Hear from a panel of experts who will discuss the relationship between architecture, placemaking and urban health.

Emily Kilvington, Director, NH Architecture
Gilbert Rochecouste, Founder and Director, Village Well
Stephen Burton, Design Director, POMO

15:50 - 16:15

Adaptive Reuse: Younghusband Woolstore Redevelopment

• A presentation by internationally acclaimed architectural and consulting practice, Woods Bagot.
• Hear about major projects at Woods Bagot that utilise adaptive reuse.

Lisa Jennings, Principal, Woods Bagot

16:15 - 16:35

Suburban Rail Loop

• Updates on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), the largest infrastructure project in Victoria’s history.
• The SRL will deliver a 90km rail line via Melbourne Airport to key locations around Melbourne.

Megan Bourke-O'Neil, Chief Operating Officer, Suburban Rail Loop Authority

16:35 - 16:55

Seven-Tower Precinct at Box Hill

• A new seven-tower precinct at Box Hill has been approved by the Victorian Government.
• The $1.57 billion project will deliver 1,700 homes, including a 10 per cent affordable housing contribution.

Karen Wong, Director, Bates Smart.

09:00 - 09:25

Speed Networking

Introduce yourself, swap business cards, and form new and lasting business connections during a series of one-on-one exchanges with fellow conference delegates.

09:25 - 09:45

AI-Powered Bid Writing: Transforming the Infrastructure Industry

• Hear about the evolution of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM's)​ and how it’s impacting organisations today.
• Unpack the AI 'Hype Cycle'​. What is it and where are we at now?
• Deep dive into the infrastructure sector and how AI is playing a pivotal part in it’s future.

Emma Crichton, APAC CEO, AutogenAI

09:45 - 10:15

Ministerial Address

The Hon. Danny Pearson, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Member for State District of Essendon

10:15 - 10:40

The Heavy Construction Materials Industry and Australia's Transition to a Low-Carbon Future

• Hear about the pivotal role of the heavy construction materials industry in Australia's transition to a low-carbon future.
• Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) aims to contribute to Australia's net zero goals by implementing such measures as Material Efficiency, Supplementary Cementitious Materials, and a Whole-of-Life Carbon Approach.

Michael Kilgariff, Chief Executive Officer, Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA)

11:10 - 11:30

Reimagining Arts Centre Melbourne

• Arts Centre Melbourne is undergoing major upgrades for the first time since its opening in 1984.
• Upgrades include improvement to accessibility, back-of-house amenities, and visitor experience.
• Key updates on the project. 

Emily von Moger, Principal, NH Architecture

11:30 - 11:50

Building Critical Transmission Projects to Enable Australia’s Clean Energy Transition

• How are we progressing with delivering Australia’s critical transmission projects?

Theresa Ashford, Major Project Delivery Director, Transgrid

11:50 - 12:30

Panel Discussion: Utilising Technology in Construction

• Hear from a panel of experts on how to utilise technology to a project’s advantage.

Ashley Hastings, Studio Design Technology Leader, Woods Bagot
Jeremy Graham, Computational Design Director, HDR
Tony Joseph, Head of BIM Project Systems and Digital Engineering, Gamuda

12:30 - 13:00

Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Sector

• Hear from Executive Director at Mind Medicine Australia, which exists to help alleviate mental suffering and prevent suicides as a result of mental illness.
• Mind Medicine Australia seeks to expand the treatment options available for those experiencing mental illness in Australia, focusing on the clinical application medicinal psilocybin and medicinal MDMA for the treatment of such mental illness.

Tania de Jong AM, Executive Director, Mind Medicine Australia

14:00 - 14:20

Importance of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Drive Growth and Delivery

• Benefits and challenges of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in relation to risk sharing, long term contracts, performance-based payments and accountability.
• A look at how PPPs compare and differ from other models such as IPD (Integrated project delivery) and Alliance Contracting.

Kanchana Perera, General Manager – Energy & Renewables, The APP Group

14:20 - 14:40

Unlocking the full potential of offshore wind for Australia

• Offshore wind is a key part of the transition to renewable energy.
• Star of the South is the most advanced offshore wind project in Australia, proposed to be located off the south coast of Gippsland. 

Charles Rattray, CEO, Southerly Ten

14:40 - 15:00

Overcoming Cost Challenges to Deliver the Victorian Infrastructure Pipeline

• Escalation is forecast to remain relatively elevated in Victoria with increased likelihood of recurring escalation spikes as sector activity bumps into capability constraints and other factors unique to the state.
• Sam will discuss Victorian escalation forecast from WT’s upcoming Construction Market Conditions Report and broader issues affecting the infrastructure sector in Victoria, and offer insights to help overcome cost escalation.

Sam Mendoza, National Infrastructure Lead, WT Partnership