Conference Agenda

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.

Ministerial Address

Development WA’s Pipeline of Projects

• Looking at Development WA’s pipeline projects

Andrew Williams, Chief Operations Officer, Development WA

Key Projects around the Kimberley Region

• The Kimberley is the northernmost of the nine regions of Western Australia
• The session will look at the Major Projects in the Region Mainly:
• The Speewah Fluorite Project and Speewah Vanadium Project
• The Great Northern Highway Ord River North: A $118 million project focused on improving transport infrastructure
• Housing and Schools Projects within the Region

FIRESIDE CHAT
Edith Cown University City Campus Project – Perth 

• The $853 million Edith Cowan University (ECU) City Campus project is a key part of the Perth City Deal, aiming to relocate ECU's law and business schools, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts into the Perth CBD.
• The project is a collaboration between the Australian Government, Western Australian Government, and ECU. 
• The campus is expected to host over 10,000 students and staff from 2026, transforming the city with its presence

Claire Tyrrell, Property Journalist, Business News
Dr Richard Hughes, Researcher and Lecturer in Project Management, Edith Cowan University
Scott Henderson, Vice President (Corporate Services), Edith Cowan University

Westport Program Stage 3

• Westport is the State Government’s planning program to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana. 
• Westport Stage 3 is focused on developing a business case and detailed design for a new port in Kwinana, Western Australia, with associated freight and logistics network upgrades. 
• This stage builds previous work to determine the best way to deliver the port, including the optimal timing and approach, while addressing existing system barriers. 
• The project also involves detailed design, delivery, and transition planning.

Delivering New and Upgraded Schools for Western Australia

• The Australian Government will continue to deliver for Western Australia's growing population, with $1.7 billion to be invested over the next four years in the delivery of new public schools and improved infrastructure.
• This session will look into new schools to be built in Western Australia in the next 4 years

Building WA’s Health Infrastructure: Major Projects Shaping the Future of Care

• Western Australia is investing heavily in health infrastructure to support a growing and ageing population, deliver modern models of care, and enhance regional health equity
• New Women and Babies Hospital in Perth to replace King Edward Memorial Hospital, co-located at QEII Medical Centre,
• Bunbury Regional Hospital Redevelopment, Joondalup Health Campus Expansion 
• Royal Perth Hospital Mental Health Observation 
• WA Country Health Service projects
• Including significant upgrades to regional hospitals and health campuses

WA Housing Initiatives

• $1.4 billion to boost housing supply and affordability including growing the construction workforce, investing in housing enabling infrastructure to unlock a further 33,000 homes, providing stamp duty relief for first home buyers, access to shared equity loans and new modular loan products through Keystart, and boosting regional housing supply.

Michael McGowan, Executive Director, Housing Industry Association (HIA)

Asian Renewable Energy Hub Phase 1 

• Phase 1 of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara marks the beginning of one of the world’s largest renewable energy and green hydrogen projects, aiming to deploy approximately 5 GW of wind and solar to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for domestic and export markets.
• The Project has a projected capital expenditure of $30 billion and would create about 3,000 ongoing jobs per annum.

Promoting Successful Urban Growth and Development in Our Cities and Regions

• Identifying projects that will provide a better quality of life for commuters and delivering a stronger economy through more efficient freight and transport links.
• How to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making and planning of major infrastructure projects.
• Planning for WA’s growing population: with the increase in investment within the State, there is a large focus on creating a longer-lasting, livable and sustainable environment.

Matthew Pollock, Chief Executive Officer, Masters Builders
Prof. Peter Newman, Curtin Distinguished Professor, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute
Tanya Steinbeck, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Development Institute of Australia WA

Hope Downs 2 Project

• The newly approved Hope Downs 2 project marks a significant investment in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, with Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting committing over A$2.4 billion to develop the next phase of this iconic iron ore venture. 
• This session will unpack the strategic importance of Hope Downs 2, including its projected 31 million tonnes per annum capacity, new pit developments at Hope Downs 2 and Bedded Hilltop, and infrastructure synergies with existing operations. 
• Learn how the project is creating nearly 1,000 construction jobs, supporting long-term export growth, and delivering economic benefits to local communities.

WA’s Kwinana Freeway Upgrade

• The Kwinana Freeway is a critical north-south arterial route for Perth and the broader WA economy. 
• A $700 million investment will widen and upgrade key sections to reduce congestion, improve safety, and enhance freight efficiency for commuters and industry alike.

The Yangibana Project

• The Yangibana project occupies 650 square kilometres and is located approximately 250 kilometres northeast of Carnarvon in Western Australia. The projected is located on Gifford Creek Station, which covers Thiin-Mah, Warriyangka, Tharrkari and Jiwarli country.
• The Yangibana Project will be developed in two stages, with Stage 1 focused on the mine and beneficiation plant to produce a rare earth concentrate.
• The mining operations at Yangibana will comprise open pit mining, including conventional drill, blast, load and haul, with an estimated ore feed of 1.1 million tonnes per annum into the processing plant. The mined ore will be processed through a circuit of crushing, grinding, floatation, tailings and handling, with an output of up to 37,000 tonnes per annum of rare earth concentrate at 27% TREO.
• In Stage 2, a hydrometallurgical plant will be constructed which will process the concentrate from Yangibana into an intermediate product called a mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC), through a process of cracking, leaching, precipitation and drying.
• Once completed, the plant will have an output of up to 15,000 tonnes per annum of MREC at 59% TREO, to be shipped to our customers for further downstream processing into NdPr oxides, which are then metallised and alloyed before being made into a permanent magnet

Vince Catania, Chief Executive Officer, Hastings Technology Metals Ltd

The Murchison Green Hydrogen Project

• The Murchison Green Hydrogen project in WA is a $15 billion (UAD) project and Green Ammonia production facility located in Western Australia's Mid-West Region
• Murchison Green Hydrogen (MGH) is developing an alternative energy source to fight climate change. Green hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia, have been identified as an ‘energy of the future’ and will play a critical role in our transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

Shohan Seneviratne, Chief Executive Officer, Murchison Green Hydrogen

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.

Strategic Infrastructure Delivery for a Growing WA: Insights from Infrastructure WA 

• This session will feature a high-level overview from Infrastructure WA on the Planning, Prioritization, and Delivery of Major Projects critical to Western Australia’s Economic and Social Future. 
• Infrastructure WA’s strategic vision and implementation Roadmap.
• Regional infrastructure priorities and funding pipelines.

Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) Project

• WGEH will assist Australia to be a major global player in a zero-emissions future
• The project is designed to generate 70 GW of renewable energy (wind and solar) and produce 3.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually
• The project is expected to create numerous jobs and boost the local economy

Henderson Defence Precinct

• The Australian government is establishing a consolidated Defence Precinct at Henderson, south of Perth. 
• This initiative includes continuous naval shipbuilding, such as the construction of Army landing craft and general-purpose frigates. 
• An initial investment of $127 million over three years has been committed for planning and preliminary works, with the precinct expected to support around 10,000 high-skilled local jobs over the next two decades.

Perth Airport’s $5 Billion Redevelopment

• Perth Airport is undergoing a massive $5 billion redevelopment to consolidate all commercial air services into the Airport Central precinct, including a new parallel runway, new terminal facilities, and two multi-storey car parks. 
• The project aims to create a "one airport" experience for travelers, with the new terminal designed to reflect a modern and dynamic Western Australia.

Jason Waters, Chief Executive Officer, Perth Airport

The South Flank Project

• The South Flank Project is a BHP iron ore mine and infrastructure expansion in the Pilbara region of WA, creating the world's largest iron ore hub by combining Mining Area C
• Launched to replace the aging Yandi mine, the US$3.6 billion project features a 80 million tonne per year crushing and screening plant, an overland conveyor system, and advanced autonomous technology, with production set to supply global steel markets for decades.

PANEL DISCUSSION
Shaping the Future of WA’s Construction Industry through Technology

• Exploring BIM and AI in Construction Projects
• Integration of Product Information Management System (PIM) with BIM for seamless flow of product information throughout the construction supply chain
• Digitization – the Key to Economic and Sustainable Ambitions of the Construction Industry

Bryan Tay, Principal Digital Engineer | WA Digital Engineering Lead, Arcadis
Dale Harrison, Design & Construction Coordinator, DT Infrastructure
James Jiang, Digital Engineering Manager, McConnell Dowell

Goldfields & Esperance: Pipelines, Housing and Industry Growth

• Major water pipeline upgrades, housing in Kalgoorlie, mineral development incentives and infrastructure for a thriving Goldfields economy.
• Overview of Major Projects within the region across all sectors

Perth Surf Park- an Experiential Leisure Project

• The Perth Surf Park is the name of the Wavegarden-powered pool project in Western Australia, located in Cockburn Central. Construction began in 2025, with the park slated to open in late 2027. 
• The development features a 2.2-hectare Wavegarden Cove lagoon, the latest design from Wavegarden, capable of generating over 30 types of waves for all skill levels

Andrew Ross, Chairman & Chief Development Officer, Aventuur

Protecting WA's Water Infrastructure

• Government-led water resource management, regulation of land use in drinking water source areas, specific protection plans for drinking water reserves, and management of infrastructure corridors to minimize impacts on water resources.

Building Local Capability: Connecting WA Suppliers to Major Projects

Ray Loh, Manager, ICN WA