Conference Agenda

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.

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,

Developing New South Wales’ future: NSW State Infrastructure Major Projects

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

David Harding, Executive Director, Business NSW

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

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 A Heavy Construction Materials 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.
• 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

Shaping the City of Parramatta

• Looking at Parramatta CBD redevelopment

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

Building NSW Healthcare Infrastructure 

• The Essential Infrastructure Plan includes a significant investment of $13.8 billion in health facilities, including 600 new hospital beds across Western Sydney.
• Upgrading and expansion of the health facilities

Lizzie Cox, Project Director | Health Specialist, John Holland

Hard Rock TBM Performance Prediction in Major Projects

• Hard rock TBM performance prediction is of great interest to the tunneling community on account of its importance in time and cost risk management of underground projects.
• Review of empirical models used in tunneling projects.

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

Sydney Airport Gateway 

• The major works are part of Transport NSW’s ambitious $2.6bn 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 kilometers of toll-free new roads.
• Project update and measures to mitigate congestion.

Andrew Deck, Project Director, Seymour Whyte Group

Designing NSW Infrastructure Major Projects

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

Chris Fox, ARTIST + DIRECTOR, Studio Chris Fox

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

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

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

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, Associate Director, Infrastructure NSW

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.

Austen Shoebotham, Business Leader - Civil Infrastructure NSW, Arcadis
Emily Low, Sustainability and Climate Change Advisory Leader, Mott MacDonald
Hayley Jarick, Chief Executive Officer, Supply Chain Sustainability School
Maryia Haworth, Associate Director, Infrastructure NSW

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.

Schools Infrastructure Projects

• The NSW Government is increasing investment in schools, TAFE, and public preschools with $9.8 billion over the next four years to support the public education system and growing communities.
• In Western Sydney, 24 new and 51 upgraded primary and high schools at a cost of $3.5 billion over four years and in regional New South Wales, 19 new and 35 upgraded schools at a cost of $1.4 billion over four years.

Western Sydney Aerotropolis (vision for Western Sydney)

• Western Sydney is home to a large and diverse population of about 2.2 million people—more than a quarter of the NSW population.
• Western Sydney Aerotropolis Precinct plan
• Ongoing projects at the Precinct and cut in federal infrastructure funding and the risk it imposes on the State infrastructure Projects.

Charles Casuscelli, Chief Executive Officer, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)

Presentation by Conference Gold Sponsor Oracle Construction and Engineering

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

Bringing Collaboration to Infrastructure Finance

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

The use of AI technology: Revolutionising Construction with Artificial Intelligence Presentation

• New trends and updates

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

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.

Dimas Menelau de Novais, Digital Engineering Lead, ACCIONA
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

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

• An exciting world class, $400 million indoor snow resort planned for Western Sydney. Creating 2,700 new jobs & an additional $222m Injection into the economy p.a.
• A tourist attraction with forecast patronage of over 1m visitors p.a. 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

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 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

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

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