CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Please note: This program is subject to change with updates made prior to the Conference. 


Thursday 27 November

9:30am
Registration opens
QT Hotel Canberra
11:00am  - 3:00pm
Next Gen Construction Techology – with working lunch

This workshop will be available for those working in contractor Member businesses to come together to consider:
  • Procurement opportunities working with Australian Governments
  • Next Gen Technology making civil construction faster, quicker, leaner
  • Focused workshop on the Level the Site Women in Construction program
  • Project management innovations road, utility, energy, water and sewerage delivery and tender success 
11:00am  - 3:00pm
Training Skills, Civil Workforce and Culture Leaders Roundtable – with working lunch

This workshop will be available for those working in contractor Member businesses to come together to consider:

  • International perspectives on skills and workforce challenges and trends
  • Barriers to creating the skills needs of the Australian civil workforce
  • Focused workshop on the Level the Site Women in Construction program
  • Supporting the development of civil workforce development strategy
11:00am  - 3:00pmIR, Employment Workshop  – with working lunch

This workshop is for those with a role navigating industrial relations issues to consider:

  • International workplace relations settings and context for Australia
  • Recent changes to industrial settings and challenges being faced
  • Strategies for creating certainty around civil worksites
  • Best practice industrial settings for the industry
11:00am  - 3:00pmFuture Leaders Workshop – with working lunch

This workshop is for those early on in their career in civil (under 35) with those registering at discounted rate provides them with the opportunity to:

  • Undertake mentoring from Australian and International Leaders
  • Workshop of challenges and barriers to young people in the industry
  • Peer to Peer sharing of perspectives from those also early in their career
  • Forming a future leader strategy to be shared with the industry
12:00pm  - 4:00pm
$226m Molonglo River Bridge – Supported by the ACT Government and BMD

  • The 200-metre-long Molonglo River Bridge will be the longest weathering steel bridge in Australia and the tallest road bridge in Canberra. It will be built above a one in 100-year flood of the Molonglo River.
  • Other Construction technology will be featured on the site tour.
  • Spots are limited to the three trips leaving at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm
12:00pm  - 4:00pm
Self Guided Walking Tour  - ACT Raising London Circuit - Light Rail Stage 2 A

  • Raising London Circuit is a major city-shaping project, connecting the city with the lake by delivering more accessible footpaths and dedicated bike lanes. It will make Canberra a more connected, sustainable and vibrant place to live and provides an important foundation for extending light rail to Woden.
  • See features from Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, Complex Co and the ACT Government.
4:00pm  - 5:00pm
AGM CCFA/CCFRO
6:00, 6:15, 6:30pmBuses leaving QT Hotel  - Edinburgh Avenue or take the 1km walk with the Raising London Circuit walking tour
6:15pm  - 8:15pm
Welcome Cocktail Reception
Post the workshops and site visits join your industry colleagues at the welcome for Civil Industry to network with industry colleagues in civil.
The Marion, Lake Burley Griffin
8:00, 8:15, 8:30pmBuses leaving The Marion, returning to QT Hotel


Friday 28 November

7:00am
Registration opens
QT Hotel Canberra
7:30am
Future of Civil Outlook Continental Breakfast is Served
The Future of Civil Outlook Continental Breakfast will be held at QT on Friday morning, arriving from 7:30am ahead of an 8.00am start to the Summit Plenary Program. 
8:00am  - 8:30am
Federal Ministerial Breakfast – The Federal Infrastructure Agenda
The Federal Government perspective presented here will focus on regional Australia.
8:35am  - 8:40am
Australian Infrastructure Summit Opening and 2033 Agenda for Civil
Opening of the 2025 Australian Infrastructure Summit by National President Mick Boyle.
8:40am  - 9:15am
Economic address – State of Infrastructure 2025 with Adrian Hart, Oxford Economics
What is the period ahead looking like for industry from an economic and activity perspective? Join one of Australia’s leading economists to consider the national outlook for Civil Construction and the future for CCF Members.
9:15am  - 10:00am
Contractor Leaders Plenary - Industry Perspective on the Road Ahead - International CEO Plenary on Civil Infrastructure featuring Speakers from New Zealand and Australia 

Focus:
What are the trends that civil contractors will be focusing on in the current period. What keeps our CEOs up at night and what are the insights to the changing priorities of civil leaders?

Featuring:
Nation leading CEOs from Civil Contractors New Zealand and Civil Contractors Federation National, to provide their thoughts on what will be the growth area in civil procurement and infrastructure delivery in the period ahead.
Scott Power  - CEO, BMD
Mark Bruzzone  - CEO, Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure
David Howard  - CEO, CCL LTD/CCNZ President
More speakers to come.
10:00amMEGT Tradeshow Opens
Trade Display Area, QT Hotel Canberra
10:00am  - 10:30am
Networking Morning Tea
Connect with your Civil Industry colleagues from across the country at the MEGT Trade Show Morning Tea
Trade Display Area, QT Hotel Canberra
10:30am - 11:10amFederal and State Agencies Snapshot Plenary - The Official View

Focus:
This Plenary will explore the evolving nature of civil work, shifting market dynamics, and the opportunities emerging for contractors across Australia. These insights will help shape a forward-looking discussion on where the industry is heading and how we can collectively strengthen its future.

Featuring: The plenary of Infrastructure Departmental Leaders will focus on the senior most national infrastructure department representatives featuring:
Jessica Hall  - Deputy Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development 
Sally Stannard  - Director General, QLD Dept of Transport and Main Roads 
Gillian Geraghty  - Director General, Infrastructure Canberra
More speakers to come.
11:15am - 12:00pm
Breakout 1.1 (Ballroom 1)  - Restoring Civility and Industrial Landscape Ahead

Focus: The industrial landscape has stabilised over the past 12 months. What steps are the Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman taking in response? This panel will provide delegates with insights into the roles of both bodies, how they support the industrial settings on which the civil workforce relies, and practical advice on how contractors can make compliance easier.

Breakout 1.2 (Ballroom 2)  - Construction Capacity and Productivity

Focus: Infrastructure Australia is releasing its next Industry Market Capacity report which provides the Federal Government with the priority areas for the civil and construction industries. Coupled with the CCF Annual Infrastructure Capacity report, delegates will consider growth areas for civil. 

Breakout 1.3 (Ballroom 3)  - Transitioning to Tomorrow's Changing Project Opportunities  - Water

Focus: State, territory and local governments are shifting priorities, with many now pouring investment into critical water assets. What does this surge in spending mean for the industry, and how will it reshape opportunities for contractors on the ground?
12:00pm  - 1:00pm Networking Lunch & MEGT Trade Show
Collaborate with your Civil Industry colleagues from across the country at the MEGT Trade Show Lunch
Trade Display Area, QT Hotel Canberra
1:00pm  - 1:40pm
Breakout 2.1 (Ballroom) - Procurement and Delivery Technology Reshaping Infrastructure Delivery 

Focus: Being on time and on budget is the make or break factor in today’s increasingly challenging construction environment. How can technology support contractors in winning work, delivering projects, and ensuring quality assurance in the period ahead?

Breakout 2.2 (Ballroom 2) - Attracting and Retaining the Changing Workforce

Focus: The 2025 CCF Annual Market Survey highlights once again the pressures contractors face in securing skilled trades to deliver major projects. Civil construction is gaining renewed recognition for the critical work it undertakes, and for the need to prioritise skills across the industry. What changes can we expect over the next 12–24 months to ensure projects are delivered?

Breakout 2.3 (Ballroom 3) - Transitioning to Tomorrow's Changing Project Opportunities – Energy

Focus: With the Climate Change Authority recommending new 2035 net zero targets for the Federal Government, one certainty is clear: the civil industry will be at the forefront of delivering renewable energy projects. This transition creates major opportunities for contractors to build the infrastructure that underpins Australia’s clean energy future, while also supporting workers moving from coal-fired generation in regional communities. This session will explore the emerging opportunities for civil contractors in the energy transition.
1:45pm - 2:30pmBreakout 3.1 (Ballroom 1)  - Embedding Productivity and Quality Assurance into Your Business

Focus: Projects are complex with risk and variations that can see the viability of the business challenged. This breakout considers the technology and expertise analysing risk that is driving productivity in civil businesses.

Breakout 3.2 (Ballroom 2)  - ESmart Diggers, Plant and AI Tools

Focus: Plant operations requires the right equipment, reliable vendors and the training that supports road, rail, subdivision, sewerage, water infrastructure. Some demonstrations of the plant and AI support with training is providing greater capacity to undertake projects

Breakout 3.3 (Ballroom 3) - Transitioning to Tomorrow's Changing Project Opportunities – Roads and Highways

Focus: The cost of delivery of a kilometre of road or highway has increased since the pandemic. Circular procurement and the government requirement for greater reuse is part of the tender process for increasing priorities and a more sustainable industry. Opportunities for contractors to deliver key projects.
2:30pm  - 3:00pm
Networking Afternoon Tea
Catch up with your colleagues from across the country at the MEGT Trade Show Afternoon Tea
Trade Display Area, QT Hotel Canberra
3:00pm  - 3:45pm National Roundup Afternoon Reflection Plenary

Featuring:
State and Territory Civil Contractors Federation Branch CEOs and Board Members.

Focus:
From the workshops, the Summit learnings and outlook, your CEOs provide a national and regional perspective on our priorities ahead of the Federal Election and the 2026 aspirations for the civil infrastructure industry. 
3:45pmClose of Summit

Post Summit meet ups
Make a date with those you have met or plan a catch up in advance to meet those from across the country to run through the key reflections of the day.

6:00pm  - 6:30pm CCF National Earth Awards Pre-Dinner Drinks
Ballroom Foyer, Level 1, QT Hotel Canberra
6:30pm  - 11:00pm
CCF National Earth Awards & Civil Industry Dinner
The CCF National Earth Awards are the most prestigious awards in civil infrastructure with the specific aim of recognising excellence in civil construction. The awards showcase a range of projects across various disciplines including roads, bridges, drainage, rail and utilities. Winners of the State and Territory CCF Earth Awards progress to the CCF National Earth Awards, so the National Earth Awards are effectively recognising the ‘best of the best’ civil construction projects around the country. 

Ballrooms 1-3, Level 1, QT Hotel Canberra
11:00pm
Informal Sidebar Catchup DrinksCapital Bar, Ground Floor, QT Hotel Canberra