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

Ministerial Address

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

New Footscray Hospital

• Key developments for the $1.5 billion new Footscray Hospital project.
• The project is one of the state’s largest ever health infrastructure investments.

11:50 - 12:10

Presentation from Gold Sponsor

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.

12:30 - 13:00

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.

14:00 - 14:30

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

14:30 - 15:15

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.

Gilbert Rochecouste, Founder and Director, Village Well
Stephen Burton, Design Director, POMO

15:45 - 16:10

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

16:10 - 16:30

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.

TBA, TBA, Suburban Rail Loop Authority

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 - 09:50

Presentation from Gold Sponsor

09:50 - 10:10

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)

10:10 - 10:40

Queen Victoria Market Restoration

• Hear from the Lead Project Architect on the Queen Victoria Market Renewal Infrastructure Works.
• The $268 million project will revitalise and restore the Queen Victoria Market, while preserving the heritage and deign fabric of the iconic landmark.

Tiffany Tan, Principal, NH Architecture

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?
• Opportunities and challenges when building social license across regional communities.

Gordon Taylor, Executive General Manager – Major Projects, 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.

Jeremy Graham, Computational Design Director, HDR
Kimberley Whitehead, Area Manager, DT Infrastructure

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

Victoria Gardens Redevelopment

• Richmond’s popular retail centre will be redeveloped into a mixed-use precinct, with the addition of six apartment buildings.
• The $780 million project will create 680 construction jobs annually, as well as over 300 ongoing jobs at the precinct.  

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