Conference Agenda

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.

Major Projects by Development WA

• Residential housing within the State.
• Redevelopment Areas.
• Industrial Land Authority Projects.

Lorissa Kelly, Executive GM Strategy, Engagement and Business Development, DevelopmentWA

Building WA’s Health Infrastructure Projects and Programs

• Hear about major Healthcare Projects in WA, which include the Critical Health ICT Infrastructure and the Program and the Redevelopment of the Bunbury Regional Hospital.

Dr. Michael Page, President, Australian Medical Association (WA)

• Overview of major projects in and around the city of Perth
• Russell Square Revitalisation, East Perth community sport and recreation hub
• Securing Perth's future as a world-class city

Michelle Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer, City of Perth

Westport Program

• Westport is the State Government’s planning program to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana. This includes planning new port facilities, a connected road and rail freight system, and logistics operations.
• Westport is collaborating with industry and drawing on their experience and knowledge to ensure the new port facilities are fit for purpose and can adapt to future growth.

Patrick Seares, Managing Director, Westport

Overview of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries' new Strategic Plan 2024-2029

• Objectives and commitments for fostering a cohesive, prosperous, vibrant and healthy Western Australian community
• Delivering major arts, culture, sporting and recreation infrastructure projects

Lanie Chopping, Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries - WA

Presentation by Gold Sponsor Autogen AI

Rick Brooks, Regional Manager – Southern Perth, Goldfields and Esperance, AusIndustry Division, Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Spatial WA: A Major Digital Project to accelerate land development approvals and streamline delivery of key infrastructure projects

• The Spatial WA digital platform will maximise the value of the State's data by creating a spatially accurate 4D virtual representation of the built and natural environment, supporting key Government priorities around infrastructure delivery, planning reforms and emergency preparedness

Darren Mottolini, Director, Spatial WA

The WA Resources Sector – Opportunities in the Pipeline

• The sector in WA and its contributions

Rebecca Tomkinson, CEO, The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia

PANEL DISCUSSION
Accelerating Project Delivery with Disruptive Technologies

• Significance of AR/VR technology in the construction industry.
• The construction industry is being disrupted by technology. Designers, builders, and construction stakeholders are more global than ever in their collaboration requirements.
• Stakeholders that are adopting technologies are also reaping the benefits of better decision-making, mitigation of risks, costs, and time overruns.

The discussion focus:

• The use of innovative cloud tech (global and regional best practices).
• Streamlined collaboration with construction stakeholders.
• Better safety through AI.
• Achieving sustainable outcomes through digital tools.

Prof. Kate Brooks, Head of School School, Elec Eng, Comp and Maths Science(EECMS), Curtin University, Perth
Sarah Hussein, Co-Founder, Industrial Metaverse

Women in Green Hydrogen

• Women in Green Hydrogen is a network of passionate women working in the green hydrogen sector. Their vision is to increase the visibility and amplify the voices of women working in green hydrogen.
• Learn about their impact to empower change in the industry.

Leanne Halliday, Territory Manager, Oceania and Hydrogen SME, LRQA

How NAIF can enable major projects in Western Australia

• An overview of NAIF
• An overview of projects NAIF is supporting in Western Australia
• The need for an innovative investment approach to infrastructure planning and execution

Craig Doyle, CEO, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)

Is the construction sector headed for a hard landing?

• The construction industry is facing a difficult period as costs and capacity constraints limit activity levels. With governments and households under pressure to reduce spending, how much further can construction activity grow?
• In this presentation Dr Nicholas Fearnley will take stock of the construction market and discuss the broader issues facing the industry including sustainability, capacity and capability, costs and funding.

Dr Nicholas Fearnley, Head of Global Construction, Oxford Economics

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.

Ministerial Address

Delivering the Sustainable Supply of Heavy Construction Materials

• CCAA 2025 Western Australia Election Priorities

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

• Spoilbank Marina
• Lumsden Point

Nick Dawe, Executive General Manager - Major Projects and Engineering, Pilbara Ports Authority

Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Sector

• Unfortunately, two workers take their own lives every working day in the industry. With large workloads and long working hours on top of financial precarity in the cost-of-living crisis, stress at work can result in many construction workers struggling with their mental health.
• Not only this, but engineers and architects struggle with similar concerns – faced with pressure to work on 'impossible' projects, unhealthy work-life balances, and resource cuts that can result in mental health problems across careers.
• The session will focus on areas to improve and prevent mental health crises, including how managers can identify and support those in need.

Liam Cubbage, Chief Executive Officer, MATES in Construction, WA

Investing in Housing and Homelessness Initiatives

• The WA government has invested $1.1 billion for housing and homelessness, bringing total new investment since 2021-22 to $3.2 billion.
• This includes funding for social and affordable housing, and for homelessness services, expanding the capacity of the residential construction workforce, and boosting regional land supply.
• This session will explore innovative options for social and affordable housing.

Nicola Brischetto, Executive Director, WA Property Council of Australia

PANEL DISCUSSION
Positioning WA as a Global Clean Energy Powerhouse

• The Government of Western Australia has committed half a billion in funding to fast-track clean energy and major industrial projects in a bid to establish the state as a “global clean energy powerhouse.
• The panel will delve into the impact of clean energy and how the WA government can fast-track key infrastructure projects.

Tim Bray, Assistant Coordinator, Strategic and Consumer Policy, Energy Policy WA, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety

Major Projects at Shire of East Pilbara

• Overview of current major projects and future plans and priorities for the Shire of East Pilbara

Steven Harding, Chief Executive Officer, Shire of East Pilbara

METRONET: Building a Greater Perth

• METRONET accounts for $5.9 billion of the four-year infrastructure investment, delivering on the Government’s key commitment of sharing the future of Perth.
• With approximately 72 kilometres of new passenger rail and 23 new stations, METRONET is the single largest investment in public transport Perth has seen.

Moving to Electric Power – WA Electric Bus Fleet

• The Government is charging ahead with expanding Western Australia's electric bus fleet, with the 2023-24 State Budget to confirm a $125 million allocation to the program from the State.
• Combined with a $125 million commitment from the Albanese Labor Government, the $250 million program will deliver 130 new locally built electric buses and charging infrastructure at key depots. 

Dr. Chris Jones, President, Australian Electric Vehicle Association, WA

Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) Project

• AREH involves a green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. The project includes a 26-gigawatt hybrid wind and solar power plant that aims to produce at export scale while supplying industries in the Pilbara and Broome Region.
• The Project has a projected capital expenditure of $30 billion and would create about 3,000 ongoing jobs per annum.