20 August 2026: The Program

8.30am

FF26 Opening

Welcome to Country

Adam Spencer, MC
Binowee Bayles, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council

8.40am

ACA Welcome

The case for change is clear and widely accepted. Now the focus shifts: from identifying challenges to showcasing what works and how we scale it.

Annabel Crookes, President, Australian Constructors Association

8.45am

Ministerial Keynote

How government and industry can work together to improve productivity, accelerate project delivery and build a stronger construction sector.

Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland and Minister for Roads, Minister for Regional Transport

8.55am

DEEP DIVE: Pockets of Potential – government, private and international

A deep dive into major projects where collaboration unlocked strengths across all parties. What becomes possible when everyone focuses on what they do best? And how is the private sector doing things differently to government? Hear the untold stories from the people at the centre of three landmark projects.

New Bridgewater Bridge
Peter Fraser, Project Director, McConnell Dowell;
Ed McPhilips, Chief Operating Officer, Hazell Bros;
Ben Moloney, Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure Delivery, Building Tasmania

Western Sydney Airport
Manos Sartzetakis, Project Director, Multiplex;
Christian Byrne, Construction Director, CPB Contractors;
Emma Peters, Project Director, Acciona;
Jessica Hall, Deputy Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Atlassian Central
Jahaan Rowdah, Construction Manager, Built (in joint venture with Obayashi);
Peter Morley, Project Director, Dexus;
Markus Eisenmann, Sales Director APAC & South Korea, WIEHAG

9:55am

INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Grange University Hospital – Designed to enable performance

An international benchmark in delivering complex public infrastructure, this session unpacks what drove the success of the Grange University Hospital and other major projects across the UK.

Mike Lewis, Operations Director, Office of the Managing Director, Laing O’Rouke

11.35am

Crystal Wall – Stronger, smarter

A fast-paced, interactive session designed to capture the collective intelligence of the room. Participants will be invited to share their perspectives on the key shifts shaping the future of construction, with insights captured live on the Crystal Wall.

Interactive with insight commentator: Peter George, Operations Director, Bouygues

11.40am

DEEP DIVE: Redesigning Design

The Construction Industry Leadership Forum tackled a big question: how can the design process become more efficient? Building on new design principles, this session brings to life a real example of good practice in delivering an efficient, disciplined design process that supports high-quality outcomes.

Cathy Hayes, Head of Client Strategy NSW & ACT, CPB Contractors;
Colin Craney, General Manager, Design and Engineering Management, John Holland;
Anthony Hart, Director, Engineering, Design & Assurance, Suburban Rail Loop Authority;
Simon Hoarebury, Design Manager – SRL Linewide Alliance

12:00pm

INTERACTIVE: Construction Great Debate

Is MMC dead before it even gets started? This Oxford-style debate will see participants argue for or against MMC – regardless of their personal views.

Proposition: The concept of ‘Modern methods of construction’ is unclear, unhelpful and should be consigned to history along with BIM and Lean. We don’t need a label for common sense; we just need more of it.

Affirmative Team
Neville Abbott, Executive Director, Delivery North, School Infrastructure, NSW Department of Education;
Andrew Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority;
Natalie Muir, Regional Director Water, Stantec & President, Consult Australia;
Meg Redwin, Executive Director, General Counsel – Global, Multiplex

Negative Team
Graham Babcock, Buildings Market Lead – Australia, Mott MacDonald;
Damien Crough, Executive Chairman, PrefabAUS;
Gillian Geraghty, Director General & ACT Chief Engineer, Infrastructure Canberra;
Dale Connor, Chief Executive Officer, Built Living

1.45pm

INTERACTIVE: Panel of experts

This session puts the industry’s questions on the table and answers them from every angle: government, contractors and the supply chain. What is holding performance back?

Raquel Rubalcaba, A/Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure, Projects & Engineering, Transport for NSW;
Sean Mannering, Executive General Manager, Distribution and Planning, Infrabuild;
Liam O’Donohue, ANZ Managing Director, Arup;
Rowenna Walker, Managing Director, Egis;
Steve Lambert, CEO, Seymour Whyte;
Jemma Stewart, Executive Vice President Contract Management, Webuild

2.15pm

DEEP DIVE: Foundations – Leader’s Exchange

Described as the industry’s own COP, the FF26 Leaders’ Exchange brought senior leaders together to discuss what’s working and how to scale it. This session responds directly to the issues government is focused on, drawing on insights from ACA’s sentiment surveys to highlight where change is needed most and the projects addressing known challenges.

Peter Colacino, CEO, Australian Constructors Association;
Richard Frisina, Managing Director, Kane Constructions
Tim Parker, CEO, High Speed Rail Authority;
Janice Lee, National Lead Strategic Advisory, ConnellGriffin

2.35pm

Frontiers – NextGen Exchange

Emerging leaders respond to the Leaders’ Exchange discussion—offering fresh perspectives on what must shift next.

Gabi Greedy, Senior Project Manager, Colliers
Melissa Foong, A/Senior Project Director, Health Infrastructure;
Rumbi Banda, Senior Project Engineer, Lendlease

2.50pm

INTERACTIVE: Crystal Wall – Together

If the construction industry could adopt one habit to improve collaboration, what would it be?

Interactive with insight commentator: Marco Fontana, Managing Director, Ghella

2.55pm

DEEP DIVE: Locking in the gains

Significant changes in the construction industry have been driven through the role of the CFMEU administrator. This session explores how these gains can be embedded and sustained.

Natasha Platts, Assistant Secretary – Construction and Policy Reform, Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations;
Said Hirsh, Head of Strategy, Planning and Innovation, Infrastructure NSW;
Michael Crosby, CFMEU Administrator;
Nick Miller, CEO, John Holland