Featured Speakers

Hon. David Michael MLA

David Michael grew up in Tuart Hill and is dedicated to serving the community. He has lived locally his entire life and went to Tuart Hill Primary School and Servite College. He is a life member of the Tuart Hill Cricket Club, a board member of Tuart Hill Primary School, and a patron of the Osborne Park Bowling Club.

David studied Economics at the University of Western Australia and while at University he joined both the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Republican Movement.

At 25 years old, David was voted in as the youngest Councillor the City of Stirling has ever had. He held that role for 12 years, including two years as Deputy Mayor, before being elected to State Parliament as the Member for Balcatta in March 2017.

In 2021 David was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier after previously serving as the Government Whip in the Legislative Assembly for his first term of Parliament.

In June 2023, David was appointed as Minister for Ports; Local Government; Road Safety; and Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport. In December of that year, he was handed the portfolio of Mines and Petroleum while relinquishing Local Government.

In March 2025, following the success of the incumbent Cook Labor Government at the WA State Election, David was appointed Minister for Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance and was given the role of Leader of the House. He also retained responsibility for Mines and Petroleum.

Steve Moreland

Steve has more than 30 years’ experience in the built infrastructure sector in Australia, Europe and the Middle East. More than half of this has been in the airport sector, with the last decade in senior roles at some of the world's largest international airports. Steve has led and developed multi-cultural teams in complex and high-profile environments and has a passion for people advancement. He joined Perth Airport in 2023 and leads their multi-billion dollar "One Airport" transformation which is set to deliver expanded capacity and upgraded facilities across the coming years.

Andrew Williams

Andrew Williams is the Chief Operations Officer at DevelopmentWA. He is responsible for a large team of people to drive commercial and social outcomes across a significant state-wide portfolio of projects. With more than 20 years’ experience in the property development industry, Andrew joined DevelopmentWA in January 2019 as the inaugural General Manager for the newly established Industrial Lands Authority. Previously, Andrew held leadership positions in ASX-listed companies, a state-owned enterprise, a national project management consultancy and a construction contractor. Having spent the first 10 years of his career as a consultant town planner on a range of master-planned developments and building projects, Andrew then transitioned into project delivery and development management, encompassing the full project lifecycle from feasibility through to marketing and sales. Andrew holds an MBA as well as tertiary qualifications in urban planning and project management, he is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Vince Catania

Vince Catania is the Chief Executive Officer of Hastings Technology Metals. He joined the company in early 2023 as General Manager of Corporate Affairs and was instrumental in leading negotiations for the strategic Joint Venture with Wyloo Metals for the Yangibana Rare Earths and Niobium Project before being appointed as CEO. Prior to joining Hastings, Mr Catania has a distinguished 18-year career as a Member of the Western Australian Parliament, holding senior roles in both Government and Opposition. In his final term, he represented the expansive electoral district of Northwest Central, the home of Hastings’ Yangibana Project. This extensive political background has equipped Mr Catania with a strong understanding of government agency processes and has forged exceptional relationships at both State and Federal levels. His deep experience in the region provides him with a unique insight into the needs of the community and key stakeholders, including the Traditional Owners whose agreements are critical to the project’s success. As CEO, Vince is focused on steering the Yangibana Joint Venture through development and into production, ensuring strategic objectives are achieved and value is delivered to shareholders and partners.

Michael McGowan

Michael McGowan is currently the Regional Executive Director at the Housing Industry Association in WA, appointed to the position in June 2022. Mr McGowan joined the Housing Industry Association in 2019 and has held the roles of Commercial Manager and Deputy Regional Executive Director. Previous to Michael joining HIA, he spent four years at CCIWA. Michael is an experienced business executive, having worked closely with government, industry bodies, members and stakeholders. Michael has a particular interest in training & development, and influencing young members of our industry. Michael is also Chair of the Housing Industry Forecasting Group following his appointment in October 2023.

Ray Loh

Ray Loh plays a pivotal role in connecting local suppliers with major project proponents. With a strong background in major projects and supply chain, Ray is dedicated to maximizing procurement and supply chain opportunities for local businesses. His expertise ensures that local businesses are well-positioned to participate in numerous significant projects across various industries including energy, resources, renewables, infrastructure and defence among others, fostering economic growth and development in the region. 

Andrew Ross

Upon graduation in 1994, Mr Andrew Ross worked in Australia and internationally as a lawyer and an investment banker for 10 years. He then co-founded and ran as Managing Director two international oil and gas exploration and production companies for 8 years. In 2012, Mr Ross founded URBNSURF Group, which he led for a period of 8 years as Executive Chairman. During his tenure, URBNSURF grew to become Australia’s leading surf park developer and operator. In his role at URBNSURF, Mr Ross was responsible for delivering the first man made surfing lagoon in the Southern hemisphere, ‘URBNSURF Melbourne’, which commenced operations in early 2020. Mr Ross joined Aventuur, Inc. as Chairman and Chief Development Officer in mid 2020 and is now focused on developing large scale, integrated recreation and leisure destinations globally, which feature man-made surfing lagoons. Mr Ross is considered a leading global authority with respect to the feasibility, design, construction and operation of man-made surf parks, including the creation of related brands, guest experiences, and project capital raising. Andrew is an avid surfer, skater, snowboarder, and a passionate photographer and musician.

Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson joined ECU in February 2012 as Vice-President Corporate Services. He has been the Program Executive accountable for ECU’s City Campus project from 2019, in addition to his corporate services responsibilities. Mr Henderson was on the Board of Venueswest until recently, including during the construction and delivery of Perth Stadium. His previous roles have include being the CEO of Harvey Beef, Skywest Airlines and Netball WA, where he commenced the construction of the State Netball Centre. In the late 1990s he was State Manager for United Airlines in Victoria, before being appointed Manager International Strategic Planning for United Airlines in Chicago. Scott was a commissioned officer in the Royal Australian Navy for more than a decade prior to embarking on a commercial career. Scott has served on the Boards of Tourism Council WA as Chairman, Skywest Ltd, Higher Education Services Pty Ltd, Edith Cowan College Pty Ltd, Sapien Cyber Ltd, Willetton Senior High School and Perth Modern School. Mr Henderson is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds the degree of Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW and Diploma of Applied Science in Military Studies from the Royal Australian Naval College.

Dr Richard Hughes

Richard Hughes has more than two decades of experience managing and advising on major government and infrastructure projects in both Australia and the UK. Now based at Edith Cowan University (ECU), he brings this practical expertise into his research, exploring how large public projects, particularly in infrastructure and construction, can deliver lasting value for organisations and society. As a seasoned program and project manager, Richard has worked on local and national initiatives ranging from urban development to public service delivery. His insights draw on years of leading projects on the ground, combined with recent studies into how government can better align project benefits with long-term sustainability. At ECU, Richard plays a leading role in shaping postgraduate project management programs, preparing the next generation of project leaders to manage complexity and risk in high-stakes environments. He is also a regular contributor to industry publications and forums, where he writes and speaks on the challenges of delivering efficient, sustainable, and community-focused outcomes. Recognised with multiple university awards for leadership, mentoring, and inclusion, Richard continues to bridge industry and academia through advisory boards, industry networks, and collaborative research.

Tanya Steinbeck

A strategic leader and passionate advocate with over 25 years of experience driving change in property development, housing policy, and public administration. Leading the development and execution of purpose-driven strategy for maximum impact & influence is my signature strength. As CEO of UDIA WA, I champion evidence-based policy reform and sustainable urban development while leading a high-performing team unified by clear purpose and vision. Appointed to the BankWest Curtin Economics Centre Advisory Board in 2024 and to the Board of the Western Australian Association for Mental Health in 2022, I am passionate about driving systemic change in mental health, housing and organisational culture. Recognized in the Business News Power 500, I leverage extensive networks across property, infrastructure, and government sectors to create meaningful impact. Collaboratively driving significant reforms in planning, environmental assessment and housing policy have been a core focus over the past decade. A qualified coach, NLP practitioner and social & emotional intelligence trainer, I'm deeply committed to developing others and creating positive workplace cultures. This is evidenced by UDIA WA's certification as a Great Place to Work, with 100% staff engagement and results exceeding international benchmarks across 60 cultural factors. Regularly providing media commentary across print, radio and TV together with facilitating and speaking at many UDIA and other industry events each year is a part of my role that I very much enjoy. Whether leading strategic initiatives, mentoring teams, or advocating for policy reform, I bring a collaborative, solutions-focused approach that delivers results while building lasting relationships.

Gus Purusha

Design and Digital Engineering leader with over 20 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure, transport, health, and commercial projects across both design and construction phases. Proven capability in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, aligning stakeholder expectations, and translating technical design requirements into practical and constructible outcomes. A passionate advocate for DE innovation, Gus actively seeks and implements cutting-edge DE solutions to enhance project safety and environmental critical aspects. His contributions promote a safer, more sustainable construction environment. Combines strong architectural foundations with extensive construction-phase involvement and advanced digital engineering expertise to improve design quality, reduce rework, and enhance delivery certainty. Recognised for driving collaboration between consultants, contractors, asset owners, and site teams, ensuring smooth transition from concept design through construction and asset handover.

Claire Tyrrell

Claire Tyrrell has covered property for Business News since joining the publication in 2021. Claire began her career with Seven West Media in 2009, working at regional publications before moving to The West Australian in 2013. She has also worked in London as a journalist covering the finance sector. Claire is heavily involved in Perth’s business sector, as a regular MC and moderator across a range of events. 

Prof. Peter Newman

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman is a part time Professor of Sustainability at CUSP. He has written 25 books and over 420 papers on sustainable cities with a global reputation and his 2025 book is Net Zero Cities with Sustainability: A Practitioners Approach from Edward Elgar. He has worked to deliver his ideas in the three levels of government in Australia, including as a councillor in the City of Fremantle, seconded to work with three Premiers in WA and the NSW Sustainability Commissioner, and at Federal level on the Board of Infrastructure Australia. Peter has worked for the UN’s IPCC from 2010-25; he was the Co-ordinating Lead Author on Transport in the 2022 Mitigation Report and was a Lead Author in the Cities chapter. In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to urban design and sustainable transport particularly for his work in saving and rebuilding Perth’s rail system. In 2018 he was the WA Scientist of the Year.

Shohan Seneviratne

With 25 years' experience across the Oil & Gas, Power Generation and Mining industries, Shohan has extensive experience leading global businesses, both in Australia and overseas. Shohan is adept at deploying his expertise to develop and deliver projects, optimise assets and drive safety and commercial performance. As a proud West Australian, Shohan is excited to leverage Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) renewable energy expertise to deliver the Murchison Green Hydrogen project; one of the largest PtX projects globally.

James Jiang

James is an experienced and qualified digital engineering professional having worked in various sized projects and contract delivery mode. He has sound field-knowledge in construction interface with digital design and engineering management, and has worked both as client DE and delivery team DE consultant and lead for major projects. He is passionate in BIM/digital engineering innovation and solutions to deliver projects in various sectors and scales; believes in value adding practical BIM/DE implementation through out early design and design development, onsite construction & project hand-over. His proven successes in projects cover broadly Design/Construction Coordination & Documentation, Project & Digital Engineering management, implementing 4D, 5D and 6D ; site multidisciplinary construction coordination , Urban Design & Planning and FIFO Iron Ore Mining & Plant. James also advocates and lectures for the Master of Building Information Modelling at University of Western Australia.

Bryan Tay

Prof. David Shirley

David Shirley is a professor and the Executive Dean of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Previously, holding posts as the Director of the Manchester School of Theatre, and the Head of the School of Theatre at Rose Bruford College in Kent, David has extensive experience of performer/director training at both UK and international levels. The founding Chair of the Conference of Drama Schools Research Forum and an Associate Editor of Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, he is actively engaged in promoting research initiatives across the performer training sector. His own research includes a range of articles and book chapters reflecting on the work of Konstantin Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Samuel Beckett, Uta Hagen, Declan Donnellan and Katie Mitchell. Formerly the Chair of the UK’s Federation of Drama Schools (FDS), David is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA), and serves on the Advisory Board of the Stanislavsky Research Centre at the University of Leeds.

Keith Wilks

Keith Wilks oversees the management of Western Australia’s three southern regional ports at Albany, Bunbury and Esperance. With a career spanning 30 years in ports and maritime, Keith has deep operational experience in leading complex port operations, coupled with strategic expertise in port development, capital renewal and infrastructure planning to support global trade. Under his leadership, the regional port authority is delivering a record capital works program with major infrastructure upgrades across southern Western Australia.

Dr. Shirley Bowen

WA Health Director General Dr Shirley Bowen is a skilled physician with extensive experience across all aspects of health service delivery. Shirley is passionate about person centred care and delivering excellent health care to the people of Western Australia. Prior to her appointment as Director General in May 2024, she served as North Metropolitan Health Service Chief Executive and CEO of St John of God Subiaco Hospital. Throughout her career, Dr Bowen has demonstrated leadership across public and private health sectors, holding notable positions, including Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Capital Territory, Executive Director of Fremantle Hospital and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia. In these roles, she advanced healthcare standards, fostered medical education and led innovative research and community services.

Dr. Nicholas Fearnley

Dr. Nicholas Fearnley is Head of Global Construction Forecasting at Oxford Economics. Nicholas oversees the teams that produce the various global construction services, and also the Australian mining and maintenance outlooks. He works over the full construction spectrum, and has experience forecasting cost escalation and material demand. Nicholas has a PhD in economics from the University of Sydney, and regularly presents and provides commentary for the construction industry.

Warren Harris

Warren Harris is a long-standing senior leader at Fortescue, currently serving as Director of Decarbonisation and Green Product Delivery. In this role, he is helping to drive Fortescue’s transition to green mining through the development and delivery of the company’s decarbonisation strategy.

Since joining Fortescue in 2014, Warren has held a range of senior project leadership roles, overseeing the successful execution of major and complex infrastructure developments. These include the 30-million-tonne-per-annum dry ore processing facility at Eliwana, as well as the ore processing facility and associated infrastructure at Iron Bridge.

Bringing together 17 years of project delivery experience with a strong strategic focus, Warren now applies this expertise to accelerating Fortescue’s decarbonisation plan, leading the delivery of zero-emission solutions including battery electric mining equipment, renewable energy, charging infrastructure and battery energy storage.

Tim Bray

In his role as Deputy Director General, Tim leads PoweringWA to drive the State’s renewable energy transition and coordinate the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. Tim has extensive experience in the energy sector across both the public and private sectors, with expertise in economic regulation, market design, network service delivery, and the rapidly evolving distributed energy space. Prior to holding the position of Deputy Director General, Tim served as Assistant Coordinator - Strategic and Consumer Energy Policy within Energy Policy WA, overseeing customer and retail policy, the regulation of emerging energy service models, and the group's contributions to national energy policy and whole-of-Government energy initiatives. Additionally, Tim led the Pilbara energy transition team, working to facilitate regional decarbonisation through the implementation of the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan. This work involves coordinating across Government and collaborating closely with Traditional Owners and industry stakeholders to develop common-use transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara, unlocking the region's best renewable resources.

Cam Dumesny

Cam Dumesny has been the CEO of WA’s transport and logistics peak industry body, Western Roads Federation since Nov 2017. Graduating from Royal Military College Duntroon in 1984, Cam spent several postings as a Logistics Officer before attending the Royal Military College of Science in the UK. Following RMCS, he was posted to military research and development facilities in the UK, USA and Australia. Since leaving the Army, Cam has held senior executive roles in logistics, technology and manufacturing companies. Academically, in addition to a BA(Mil) Cam holds post-graduate qualifications in Logistics Management, Technology Management, and a conferred Masters in Blast Wave Predictive Modelling. In addition to WRF, Cam is a Trustee Director of a multi-billion-dollar industry super fund, is listed by Business News in WA’s most influential 500 people, an Editorial Advisor to WA Defence Review and is the Director of TraumaSim, a WA manufacturer exporting to 25 countries.

Mike Buttery

In his current role as Emerging Technologies Lead at GHD, Mike is evaluating and developing tools using machine learning, computer vision and AI agents to automate workflows, provide insights and leverage the potential of new technologies. Having worked with computers for over four decades, Mike brings his natural ability with digital technologies to the delivery of projects and understanding of strategic initiatives. Previously, as an architect, Mike lead project teams for large scale buildings and infrastructure projects in Western Australia and around the world in the industrial, defence, residential and hospitality sectors.

Jop van Hattum

Jop van Hattum is the Chief Executive Officer of Gingerah Energy, developer of Project Meridien; a proposed gigawatt-scale, grid-independent renewable energy and hyperscale AI infrastructure precinct in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Project Meridien integrates utility-scale solar and wind generation, long-duration storage and firming gas to deliver reliable, industrial-grade power for AI training and inference data centres. The project aims to position Western Australia as a sovereign AI energy hub serving domestic and Indo-Pacific demand. Gingerah Energy is a partnership between the Karajarri People, Fugro and Longreach Capital Investment, embedding Indigenous participation alongside disciplined capital structuring and phased multi-gigawatt expansion. Jop brings over 25 years of global experience in energy and infrastructure development, spanning engineering, commercial structuring, capital formation and governance. He is President of Energy Club WA and a Fellow and Chartered Professional Engineer of Engineers Australia.

Jason Kuchel

Jason Kuchel joined Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia in early 2019, the peak body representing the heavy construction materials sector in Australia, as State Director NSW & SA. His current roles are State Director SA, WA & NT and National Director Technical Policy. Jason brings extensive private sector and Government experience to the role, including serving as an Elected Member to the District Council of Mount Barker. Prior to CCAA, Jason was the CEO of Wakefield Regional Council, addressing numerous legacy issues including obtaining $90 million in funding to upgrade a section of Highway One through Port Wakefield, which had been at a stalemate for over 40 years. Jason has extensive advocacy leadership experience having held the roles of Chief Executive of the South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME) for almost 10 years, the Executive Director of the Electronics Industry Association from its infancy to a substantive organization where revenues were increased by 300% over a 5 year period, and he was also the President of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) SA division at 26 years of age. Jason holds graduate and post graduate degrees in engineering with his most substantial engineering role being that of Director of Infrastructure & Technical Services for the City of Prospect. The role also included responsibility as City Engineer from the age of 24, making him the youngest ever City Engineer in South Australia. Jason’s recent board level responsibilities include the Mining and Energy Advisory Council to the Minister for Mineral Resources & Energy (MEAC) and the SA State Governments Mining Industry Participation Office (MIPO). Jason was also Chair of the International Associations Forum for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and Chair of the Australian Resources Associations Forum. Previous board level roles range from Ministerial Appointments to the Adelaide Mount lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management (AMLR NRM) Board and the Torrens Catchment Water Management Board (TCWMB), a board member of the University of South Australia’s Centre for Asian Business (ACAB) and Urban Water Resources Centre (UWRC).

Stephen Land

Stephen Land is a banking and finance specialist with more than 20 years of experience, gained working both in Australia and internationally. Stephen previously worked for major banks as an advisor and arranger to raise project and corporate financing across diverse industries and markets, as well as active portfolio and risk management. His transaction experience covers financial advisory, structuring, and execution of project finance facilities, along with extensive business development across geographies, the development of customised structures to meet specific client needs, plus restructuring and distribution of assets. Based in Sydney, Stephen commenced the role in May 2021.

Jason Mennell

Jason Mennell is the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA’s (CME) Manager – Regional WA. Leading CME’s on-the-ground team across the North West, Goldfields and South West, Jason provides ongoing advocacy and support to a diverse portfolio of member companies spanning a range of commodities. A passionate regional advocate, Jason is a key relationship builder between industry and stakeholders, ensuring the resources sector has opportunities to grow and develop alongside its host communities. Jason’s role is central to progressing local stakeholder engagement that informs CME’s policy and advocacy positions, helping shape positive outcomes through local, state and federal governments and the broader community. A former journalist, Jason was previously Deputy Editor at the Kalgoorlie Miner where he spearheaded the daily masthead’s mining and political coverage. Jason holds a first-class honours degree in journalism from the University of Brighton.

Mike Kain

Mike Kain is the Lead Technical Consultant for Autodesk Construction Cloud in ARKANCE covering Australia and New Zealand. With extensive experience in the industry, he works closely with a diverse range of clients to explore, implement, and optimise the Autodesk Construction Cloud platform. His expertise spans the entire project lifecycle, from discovery and consultation to hands-on implementation and training. Mike collaborates works with government agencies, asset owners, tier-one construction firms, subcontractors, engineers, and architects, helping them leverage technology to improve efficiency, collaboration, and project outcomes. His deep understanding of digital construction workflows enables him to tailor solutions that drive innovation and enhance productivity across the sector.

Cr. Daniel Kingston

Elected Mayor in October 2025, Daniel Kingston leads the City of Joondalup with a focus on sustainability, community engagement, and transparent governance. First elected to Council in 2021 Daniel holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors As past Secretary of the Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park, and working closely with Friends of Craigie Bushland, and Hepburn Heights Daniel is passionate about restoring bushland, boosting biodiversity, and promoting urban greening.  Daniel has also advocated for residents on major developments ensuring growth respects local character and amenity.  Passionate about Joondalup’s future, Daniel is committed to making the City an exceptional place to live, work, and visit.

Aaron Walker

Aaron is a Policy Manager and Head of Economics at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, with over a decade of experience across macroeconomic, financial and policy roles. He oversees the Industry Competitiveness and Economics (ICE) portfolio which is responsible for advocating for policy settings that make WA an attractive and competitive jurisdiction for resources investment and operations. Prior to CME, Aaron was a Senior Economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia where he led the RBA’s Perth Office for 5 years. He holds a double degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of Western Australia, along with First Class Honours in Economics.

Rick Brooks

Rick joined AusIndustry in July 2024, bringing over 30 years of experience across various sectors including resources, energy, construction, manufacturing, government, community, and defence. He has a proven track record in delivering transformative initiatives in People, Process, and Systems management both in Australia and Europe. Rick brings experience in industry engagement, strategy and business development, business improvement, and organisational effectiveness as well as to people and culture. Rick holds qualifications in Information Systems, Electronic Engineering, Human Resources, and Corporate Governance. He is passionate about supporting businesses and their leaders, including founders, owners, boards, executives, and professionals. In July 2025 he rejoined the Derbarl Yerrigan Aboriginal Medical Health Service as an Independent Director and in late 2025 retired after 10 years as a Director with Sexual Health Quarters, being the Chair for the past six years.

Sarah Lambert

Sarah Lambert is the State Manager for Western Australia at Mott MacDonald. She is a Chartered Civil Engineer with international experience in Tier 1 engineering consultancies, specialising in water resources, transport infrastructure, land development, and project governance. Sarah is recognised for her collaborative leadership and has overseen major infrastructure programmes in Western Australia. She is proud to call Perth home and is passionate about the future of our great city.

Matt Moran

Matt Moran is the Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders Western Australia and serves on the boards of RSL WA, Reddifund and the FutureBuild Academy. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Practice at the UWA Defence and Security Institute. Previously, Matt was Head of Strategy and Government Relations at Luerssen Australia and the inaugural Executive Director of Defence West, where he played a key role in strengthening Western Australia’s defence industry and government engagement. An Australian Army veteran, Matt served as a public affairs officer on operational deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan. From 2011 to 2015, Matt was a federal political reporter with Network Ten, earning national recognition for his journalism. His accolades include a Walkley Award, the Paul Lyneham Award and two United Nations Association of Australia Media Awards. He was shortlisted for the 2011 Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award and was also a Logie finalist. In 2015, Matt joined the office of the Prime Minister as a media adviser. Following the 2016 federal election, he moved to the office of the Minister for Defence Industry as a policy adviser and was promoted to senior adviser in 2017, working on some of Defence’s most complex and strategically significant projects. In 2018, he was appointed senior adviser to the Minister for Defence. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts from Curtin University and is completing an MBA at the University of Western Australia.

Matt Jenkins

Matt Jenkins is a Master Principal Sales Consultant in Oracle’s Construction and Engineering Industry Unit, with over 25 years’ experience supporting, implementing, and architecting enterprise and cloud software across multiple industries. At Oracle, he has helped lead some of the largest enterprise project management outcomes across Australia and New Zealand, drawing on deep expertise in ERP and Primavera solutions (including P6 EPPM, Primavera Unifier, Primavera Cloud and Aconex) to deliver value to customers.

Neil Appleton

Neil Appleton is a Director at Lyons and one of Australia’s leading architects in the design and delivery of major civic, cultural and educational projects, with over 30 years’ experience. He has played a significant role in shaping contemporary public architecture in Australia, with a strong focus on sustainable, culturally informed and place-responsive design. Neil was most recently Project Director and Co-Design Lead for Edith Cowan University’s City Campus in Perth’s CBD (in collaboration with London based Haworth Tompkins and Perth based Silver Thomas Hanley), with the design integrating the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with a diverse range of academic faculties in a vertical urban campus. Shaped through sustained stakeholder engagement, and built by Multiplex, ECU City sets an international benchmark for the contemporary urban educational campus. In WA, Neil has also led the design of Yagan Square, a major civic place grounded in Noongar stories and cultural landscapes, and was Co-Design Lead for Murdoch University’s Boola Katitjin, a 6 Star Green Star, award-winning mass timber teaching and learning building. He also led the design of a major new ‘all Australian’ mass timber building project for the Victorian State Government, the Galkangu GovHub, a regional government headquarters for over 1000 staff in the City of Bendigo. Neil is recognised for his leadership in complex public projects that embed cultural narratives, sustainability and community identity into architecture. He teaches design at RMIT and lectures on building ideas which bring cultural and environmental value to the contemporary city.

Elaine Jin

Elaine Jin is the COO of EACON Australia, responsible for international business development, project delivery, and product localisation. She believes the convergence of AI, autonomous driving, and green energy will be central to the future of the industrial and resources sectors. With extensive experience in AI and autonomous systems, Elaine has worked at the intersection of technology, products, and commercial strategy since 2016. She supports technology companies in translating advanced technologies into viable products and scalable business models through close collaboration with customers and industry partners.