Conference Agenda

09:00 - 09:30

Speed Networking
This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with those they are seated with and other conference attendees.

09:30 - 10:00

Keynote Address

The Honourable Natalie Ward MLC, Deputy Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister for Transport & Roads, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Shadow Minister for the Illawarra & South Coast & Member of the Legislative Council,

10:00 - 10:20

Developing New South Wales' future: NSW Major Projects

• NSW Government’s infrastructure vision for the state over the next 20 years, across all sectors.

David Harding, Executive Director, Business NSW

10:20 - 10:40

Sydney Metro West Update

• Update on how tunnelling activities are progressing, including key milestones and breakthroughs.
• Find out how Sydney Metro is working with industry and information on upcoming tender opportunities.
• What are the benefits of this city-shaping project and what does it mean for the future of Sydney?

Daniel Powrie, Project Director, Sydney Metro

10:40 - 11:00

Keeping Infrastructure Sustainable and Affordable

• Summary of CCAA strategy, policy focus and NSW policy issues.
• The IA 2023 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report identified risks and issues with the supply chain of heavy construction materials.
• Outline of CCAA's policy on the Heavy Construction Materials Supply Plan to ensure that supply of these materials is readily accessible, affordable and sustainable.
• Sustainable procurement policies need to consider the whole-of-life carbon approach..
• Collaboration is key to decarbonising the built environment and achieving our Industry's Climate Ambition, as outlined in our report, Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector.

Michael Kilgariff, Chief Executive Officer, Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia

11:30 - 11:50

Shaping the City of Parramatta

• Looking at Parramatta CBD redevelopment

Councillor Sameer Pandey, Councillor Parramatta Ward, City of Parramatta Council

11:50 - 12:10

Communications and Negotiation Structures – Infrastructure Projects

• Benefits of effective communications and negotiation structures between agencies involved in infrastructure projects. Using current examples involving road, tunnel and rail projects in North Sydney.
• Illustration of the power of holistic engagement in improving transparency, legal compliance.

Gavin McConnell, Urban Planner, Educator, Negotiator & Mediator, Independent Consultant

12:10 - 12:30

Transforming Major Infrastructure Projects with Autodesk Construction Cloud: Insights from a Global ACC Lead

• Discover how Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) revolutionises major infrastructure projects by enhancing efficiency, collaboration, and data management, through the lens of an experienced Global ACC Lead.

Trent Field, ANZ Technical Consultant – ACC, ARKANCE ANZ

12:30 - 13:00

Overview of the Inland Rail Project

• The Australian Government has committed up to $14.5 billion in equity to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to support the delivery of Inland Rail.
• Independent review to assess the governance and delivery of the Inland Rail Program.

Mike Cush, Head of State Agency Relationships, Inland Rail

14:00 - 14:20

Sydney Airport Gateway 

• The major works are part of Transport NSW’s ambitious $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway Project to improve key access points in the airport precinct and connections to the St Peters Interchange, M5 and Eastern Distributor across five kilometres of toll-free new roads.
• Project update and measures to mitigate congestion.

Andrew Deck, Project Director, Seymour Whyte Group

14:20 - 14:40

Designing NSW Major Projects

• Hear from NSW’s artist behind Sydney's biggest Construction Projects

Chris Fox, ARTIST + DIRECTOR, Studio Chris Fox

14:40 - 15:00

Building Major Projects that will deliver NSW Clean Energy in the Future

• An update on Clean Energy Projects for NSW.

Gordon Taylor, Executive General Manager Major Projects, Transgrid

15:30 - 15:50

Women in Construction – Attracting the Next Generation of Women to Construction  

• This session will delve deep into key challenges and solutions towards attracting more women to construction.

Jennifer Gillett, National Chairperson, NAWIC

15:50 - 16:10

Addressing Skills Shortages in the Construction and Infrastructure Sector across NSW

• How do we attract and retain the right people to build the major large-scale projects over the coming years across Sydney and NSW?

Nik Ruparel, Director, ProNEXUS Careers

16:10 - 16:30

Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Program

• Key initiatives from 2023-2025 towards decarbonising infrastructure delivery and the collaborative relationship between INSW and TfNSW
• NSW Government's efforts to uplift the capability and capacity of agencies and infrastructure industry partners to transition to a net zero future.

Maryia Haworth, A/ Director, Strategy, Planning and Innovation, Infrastructure NSW

16:30 - 17:10

Panel Discussion
Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery

• Initial policy implementation and refinements.
• Research and innovation targeting key barriers and opportunities.
• Developing the Protection of Environment Policy (PEP).
• Net Zero and Climate Change Policy including cluster-wide targets for infrastructure delivery.

Hayley Jarick, Chief Executive Officer, Supply Chain Sustainability School
Maryia Haworth, A/ Director, Strategy, Planning and Innovation, Infrastructure NSW
Mike Matthews-Stuart, Technical Director – Project Strategy, Mott MacDonald
Philippe Vienot, echnical Director | Highways and Transport Infrastructure, Arcadis

09:00 - 09:30

Speed Networking
This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with those they are seated with and other conference attendees.

09:30 - 10:00

Investment into Sydney’s Ferry Fleet 

• Emerald Class Gen II.
• Refurbishment of the Freshwater Class.
• New Parramatta River Class.

Gary Iddon, Managing Director, Transdev Sydney Ferries

10:00 - 10:30

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 NSW’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

10:30 - 10:50

The Western Sydney Pumped Hydro Project

• Western Sydney Pumped Hydro will significantly contribute to the security and reliability of Sydney’s and NSW’s energy supply.

Finlay Adamson, Major Projects Lead, ZEN

10:50 - 11:10

Bringing Collaboration to Infrastructure Finance

Peter Colacino, NSW Project Strategy and Delivery Portfolio Lead – Mott MacDonald, NEC Contract Ambassador – ANZ – Thomas Telford, Mott MacDonald

11:40 - 12:00

The use of AI technology: Revolutionising Construction with Artificial Intelligence

• New trends and updates

Prof. Fang Chen, Leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science, University of Technology, Sydney

12:00 - 12:40

Panel Discussion
The use of AI technology: Revolutionising Construction with Artificial Intelligence

• Impact of AI on construction, from its remarkable predictive abilities to automation prowess.
• Minimising waste and environmental impact.
• AI applications, their benefits, and the challenges requiring strategic solutions for seamless integration.
• Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic realm, paving the way for an AI-driven construction future.

Elouise Robinson, Regional Digital Engineering Lead, WSP Australia
Mike Taherian, Senior Manager Digital Engineering, NSW Public Works
Prof. Fang Chen, Leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science, University of Technology, Sydney
Toby Venables, Sales and Marketing Manager, BuildAI

12:40 - 13:00

Winter Sports World (WSW): Australia’s First Year-Round Indoor Ski Resort

• An exciting world class, $400 million indoor snow resort is planned for Western Sydney, creating 2,700 new jobs and an additional $222 million injection into the economy per year.
• A tourist attraction with forecast patronage of over one million visitors per year set to make Western Sydney the undisputed Adventure Capital of Australia.
• A training facility from beginner through to elite Olympic level training
• Strategically located in Penrith at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, next to the M4 Freeway and 9km from the new WSI Airport
• Project Updates

Peter Magnisalis, Managing Director, Winter Sports World

14:00 - 14:30

Where to from here for the Australian Construction Market?

• 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.
• WT's latest Construction Market Conditions Report highlights that escalation forecast remains stubbornly elevated with increased likelihood of recurring escalation spikes as sector activity bumps into capability constraints. Sam Mendoza will explore the causes for this unprecedent period in the industry, offer insights to help overcome construction cost escalation, and discuss broader issues affecting the infrastructure sector in NSW.

Dr. Nicholas Fearnley, Head of Global Construction Forecasting, Oxford Economics
Sam Mendoza, National Infrastructure Lead, WT Partnership

14:30 - 14:50

Transitioning Ports towards Clean Energy

• The Clean Energy Precinct has received backing from 30 partners, including domestic and multinational organisations, along with a $100 million funding grant from the Australian Government
• The Clean Energy Precinct is expected to create around 5,800 jobs in the area.

Trent Morosin, Group Executive, Infrastructure, Assets and Development, Port Authority of New South Wales

14:50 - 15:10

Innovation and Options for Social and Affordable Housing

Stuart Ayres, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW