Conference Program

Program


View Day 1 Program

Thursday, 22 October


View Day 2 Program

Friday, 23 October

Day 1 Thursday, 22 October 2026

8:00am 9:00am

Networking Breakfast

Meeting Place Foyer

10:30am 11:00am

Morning Tea

Exhibition Hall

12:30pm 1:30pm

Lunch

Exhibition Hall

Concurrent Stream Session #1 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #2 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #3 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #1 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

3:00pm 3:30pm

Afternoon Tea

Exhibition Hall

Concurrent Stream Session #5 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #6 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #7 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #8 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

5:00pm 8:00pm

Rooftop Drinks sponsored by Modelve

Bossley Rooftop

Networking Breakfast

Thu Oct 22, 8:00am – 9:00am Meeting Place Foyer
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Overview

Join us from 8:00am for a relaxed Networking Breakfast. Collect your name badge at the registration desk, grab a pastry, and enjoy fresh coffee from the coffee cart before the Opening Plenary Keynote at 9:00am.

Opening Plenary Keynote

Thu Oct 22, 9:00am – 10:30am | Meeting Place
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Costa Georgiadis
Costa Georgiadis
Strategic Advisor, Ministry of Infrastructure
Keynote Speaker
Biography
Biography
A respected landscape architect, renowned for his expertise in design and his commitment to promoting sustainable gardening practices. His career blends his technical background in landscape architecture with a personal passion for nature, community involvement, and environmental education. Costa's role as the longtime host of Gardening Australia has solidified his reputation as a trusted voice in the Australian gardening and environmental sectors. With a background in landscape architecture, Costa's work has extended beyond television, contributing to numerous public and private landscape projects that emphasize eco-friendly design, water conservation, and the incorporation of indigenous plant species. His philosophy integrates natural elements with thoughtful design, creating spaces that are both functional and environmentally responsible.

Overview

Hear from our Opening Plenary Keynote in this session.

Morning Tea

Thu Oct 22, 10:30am – 11:00am Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Join us in the Exhibition Hall for Morning Tea. Take a break, connect with exhibitors, and start exploring what’s on offer.

Workshop Sessions

Thu Oct 22, 11:00am – 12:30pm Meeting Place
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Overview

Join in our roundtable sessions.

Lunch

Thu Oct 22, 12:30pm – 1:30pm Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Head to the Exhibition Hall for lunch. Enjoy a bite to eat, catch up with exhibitors, and begin collecting stamps in your Exhibitor Passport for a chance to win!

Abstract Sessions

Thu Oct 22, 1:30pm – 3:00pm Meeting Place
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Overview

Join in our abstract sessions.

Afternoon Tea

Thu Oct 22, 3:00pm – 3:30pm Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Recharge in the Exhibition Hall with Afternoon Tea. It’s a great time to revisit exhibitors and make the most of day one!

Abstract Sessions

Thu Oct 22, 3:30pm – 5:00pm Meeting Place
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Overview

Join in on some very informative sessions on infrastructure and asset management.

Rooftop Drinks sponsored by Modelve

Thu Oct 22, 5:00pm – 8:00pm Bossley Rooftop
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Overview

Join us for an unforgettable evening! Rooftop Drinks, proudly sponsored by Modelve, will take place on the Bossley Rooftop at Rydges Melbourne. Set against stunning, sky-high city views, this relaxed networking event is the perfect place to unwind with drinks, delicious canapés, and connect with fellow delegates for a truly great night. Not attending the full conference? You’re still welcome, tickets to the Rooftop Drinks event can be purchased separately.

Opening Plenary Keynote

Thu Oct 22, 9:00am – 10:30am Meeting Place
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Overview

Hear from our Opening Plenary Keynote

Leaders Exchange

Thu Oct 22, 11:00am – 12:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

In the Leaders Exchange sessions, you'll have the freedom to choose from four engaging topics, each led by an expert facilitator. Dive into the conversation that interests you most and if something else sparks your curiosity, you can switch rooms during the mid-session break to explore another perspective.

Steve Verity
Steve Verity
Principal Advisor - Asset Management, IPWEA
Leaders Exchange 1
Biography Session Info
Biography
Steve is an Emeritus member of IPWEA with over 35 years' experience in infrastructure and asset management across public and private sectors. He is active on multiple standards committees and working groups, and serves as IPWEA's representative on the Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management. Steve applies strong planning, risk, and funding approaches to support sustainable service delivery. He has also contributed to research and infrastructure performance reporting initiatives that strengthen evidence-based decision-making. He brings practical insight, broad experience, and a commitment to mentoring others in developing asset management capability.
Session Info
Every infrastructure organisation faces the same fundamental challenge: what do we prioritise when we cannot do it all? This interactive Leaders Exchange explores the real-world balancing act between maintaining service levels, managing asset risks, and operating within financial constraints. Through guided discussion and shared experience, participants will test their thinking against peers and consider how different approaches influence outcomes. Participants will leave with practical insights to support more transparent, evidence-based decisions and improve conversations with elected members and executives. This is important because the most significant risks often arise not from what we choose to do, but from what we defer, misalign, or fail to clearly explain.
Adam Thomas
Adam Thomas
Senior Advisor - Infrastructure Financial Management
Leaders Exchange 2
Biography Session Info
Biography
Since starting with local government nearly 30 years ago, Adam has held a number of senior roles in asset financial management in NSW State Government, Federal Government and the University sector. In more recent times, Adam has worked as a consultant to several NSW local governments, specialising in the integration of Asset data with large ERP systems, data modelling, capital expenditure management, AMP preparation and asset financial management. Adam is a CPA with an economics degree and also holds a Master of Business Administration.
Session Info
Asset management requires funding of lifecycle costs. Asset and finance managers need to come from a common understanding of what these costs are and how we fund them. This practical and interactive session will highlight the key technical issues impacting alignment, such as data, planning timeframes, objectives and asset management lifecycle costs, and the strategies that can be implemented to build alignment of practice within your organisation.
Tamara Allen-Canny
Tamara Allen-Canny
Senior Advisor - Asset Management, IPWEA
Leaders Exchange 3
Biography Session Info
Biography
Tamara is a passionate advocate for building asset management capability across local government and industry. With over two decades of senior executive experience, she has worked across growth, rural, and regional councils in Victoria and Queensland. Tamara brings deep knowledge in infrastructure and engineering services, having led teams in asset management planning, capital works delivery, maintenance, and disaster recovery. Tamara understands the real-world challenges councils face in managing assets effectively and sustainably and has extensive experience in leading asset transformation programs in both large and small councils. Through her work with IPWEA, she supports others in developing practical skills and strategic approaches to asset management. Her leadership and lived experiences have helped teams build confidence and deliver long-term value for their communities.
Session Info
This interactive workshop challenges practitioners to rethink how you present asset management information, focusing on clarity, relevance and impact. Learn how to deliver concise, decision-ready insights that resonate with decision makers across your organisation. Walk away with practical techniques to improve reports, strengthen briefings, and support more informed, confident decision-making.
Ross Goyne
Ross Goyne
Chair, IPWEA Asset Management Committee
Leaders Exchange 4
Biography Session Info
Biography
Ross Goyne is a qualified Civil, Municipal and Water / Wastewater Engineer with over 47 years' experience. He worked in Local Government in many senior management roles for a period of 27 years in seven municipalities across two states. Moving to private industry in 2005 he ran his own consultancy as Director Ross J Goyne Consulting P/L for over 13 years. The consulting focussed on providing specialist support for public works organisations in Asset Management and Project Management. Ross has passion for and been involved with Asset Management and Geographic Information Systems since the early 1990's and was the recipient of an Institute of Municipal Engineering Foundation - Overseas Study Tour award to the US & Canada in 1992 to further study these topics.
Session Info
Discover how the ISO 55000 suite can help your organisation turn asset management into a stronger driver of performance, governance, and service outcomes. In this practical workshop, delegates will explore how the international standards connect strategy, risk, lifecycle planning, and decision-making (SAMP) to build greater organisational maturity. With a clear focus on infrastructure and Local Government contexts, the session will give participants practical insights, common pitfalls to avoid, and actionable steps they can take back to their organisation immediately.
Kerry Brown
Kerry Brown
Professor of Employment and Industry, Edith Cowan University
Leaders Exchange 4
Biography Session Info
Biography
Kerry Brown is the Professor of Employment and Industry in the School of Business and Law and Research Theme Leader, Natural and Built Environments at Edith Cowan University, WA. She holds a PhD in Industrial Relations from Griffith University. She is President of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management (2020-2022). Professor Brown is a Board Member of the Planning and Transport Research Centre WA (since 2019), Board Member of the Asset Institute and Executive Board Member and Founding Fellow of the International Society for Engineering Asset Management (ISEAM) since 2007. She is a member of the International Standards Organization Technical Committee TC251 Asset Management. Professor Brown specialises in business management; innovation; public policy and management; HRM; collaboration, networks and business clusters; capability, strategy, management and policy for infrastructure and asset management.
Session Info
Discover how the ISO 55000 suite can help your organisation turn asset management into a stronger driver of performance, governance, and service outcomes. In this practical workshop, delegates will explore how the international standards connect strategy, risk, lifecycle planning, and decision-making (SAMP) to build greater organisational maturity. With a clear focus on infrastructure and Local Government contexts, the session will give participants practical insights, common pitfalls to avoid, and actionable steps they can take back to their organisation immediately.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Bass Coast's Structures Asset Management Journey

Thu Oct 22, 1:30pm – 1:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Bass Coast Shire Council manages 1,300 structures, including over 300 transport bridges & major culverts and 31 pedestrian structures serving an extensive rail trail, tracks and pathway network. Two structures are iconic heritage listed timber trestle bridges, and several have 100+ year old components. Due to the significant deterioration of many structures, Council have embarked on a fast-tracked replacement and rehabilitation program to correct the historical pattern of reactively load-limiting and closing compromised structures.

Simon Harris
Simon Harris
Coordinator Asset Management, Bass Coast Shire Council
Biography Session Info
Biography
Simon Harris has 20 years leadership experience in infrastructure asset management. Working at Bass Coast Shire Council in Victoria, he manages a small Asset Management Planning team with shrinking funds to innovatively deal with climate changes and a growing community's needs. Their goal is to provide safe, sustainable community infrastructure for the fast-growing Bass Coast region. They have done this through using state of the art technology and predictive models to economically plan for infrastructure maintenance and funding to best use the resources available. They've pioneered integrated asset management systems that address climate change risks.
Session Info
Bass Coast Shire Council manages 1,300 structures, including over 300 transport bridges & major culverts and 31 pedestrian structures serving an extensive rail trail, tracks and pathway network. Two structures are iconic heritage listed timber trestle bridges, and several have 100+ year old components. Due to the significant deterioration of many structures, Council have embarked on a fast-tracked replacement and rehabilitation program to correct the historical pattern of reactively load-limiting and closing compromised structures. Addressing this required more than field discovery alone. A key innovation was a large‑scale subdivision development review of more than 700 historical development areas since around 1995. Leveraging NSW Government's historical cadastre to identify the development areas, we established a link to our corporate document management system where drawings were already held but not systematically utilised. This targeted desktop investigation allowed missing assets to be identified, spatially validated and prioritised for verification, significantly reducing reliance on ad‑hoc discovery.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Digital Transformation of Leakage Management: Advancing Data-Driven Asset Performance in Ghana Water

Thu Oct 22, 1:30pm – 1:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Water utilities worldwide are under increasing pressure to transition from reactive operations to performance-based asset management enabled by digital intelligence. In response to persistent Non-Revenue Water (NRW) challenges and aging infrastructure risks, Ghana Water Ltd (GWL) implemented a standardized Leakage Management System (LMS) as a strategic digital transformation initiative to strengthen asset performance, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making.

Hughes Affum
Hughes Affum
Water Supply Engineer, Ghana Water Ltd
Biography Session Info
Biography
Ing. Hughes Kwabena Affum holds a BSc in Civil Engineering (Water Supply & Distribution) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is a professional engineer with the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), member of the Association of Ghana Water Limited Engineers (AGWLE) and licensed by the Engineering Council of Ghana. He is a Water Supply Engineer at Ghana Water Limited, specializing in non-revenue water reduction, leakage management, pressure monitoring, pipe network infrastructural improvement and asset management to improve utility performance and service delivery.
Session Info
Water utilities worldwide are under increasing pressure to transition from reactive operations to performance-based asset management enabled by digital intelligence. In response to persistent Non-Revenue Water (NRW) challenges and aging infrastructure risks, Ghana Water Ltd (GWL) implemented a standardized Leakage Management System (LMS) as a strategic digital transformation initiative to strengthen asset performance, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making. Previously, leakage reporting across operational regions was limiting benchmarking, predictive analysis, and capital prioritization. The LMS introduced a unified digital workflow integrating automated data templates, Enterprise GIS, spatial analytics, and centralized reporting. It captures validated performance metrics—including leak frequency, response and repair times, pipe material failure trends, and probable causes—while enabling ArcGIS-based spatial mapping of burst incidents. Beyond reporting standardization, the LMS transforms field data into actionable asset intelligence. Management dashboards now support benchmarking, hotspot identification, material performance assessment, and proactive rehabilitation planning. Correlating failures with pipe attributes and geographic clustering has shifted maintenance practices from reactive response toward targeted, risk-informed intervention.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

A Digital Twin and Big Data Analytics Framework for Integrated Multi-Hazard Risk Modelling

Wed Oct 22, 1:50pm – 2:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

This study presents a Digital Twin and Big Data Analytics framework to quantify multi-hazard operational disruption across geographically distributed transmission assets. Using a scalable GeoParquet architecture, a unified daily asset digital twin was developed representing 35 years of historical climate exposure (1990–2024). Hazard-specific feature engineering integrates climate data, terrain attributes, physics-informed models, and machine learning to estimate probabilistic Work / Derate / Outage states for individual towers and spans.

Rudolf Espada
Rudolf Espada
Spatial Analyst, Powerlink Queensland
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
The speaker is a Spatial Analyst within the Powerlink Queensland's Delivery and Technical Services - Digital Engineering Department, specialising in geospatial analytics, environmental modelling, and data-driven decision support. Prior to joining Powerlink, the speaker held multiple spatial roles across agricultural consulting and local government, including work with city council.
Session Info
The Calvale–Calliope River (C2C) Reinforcement Project is subject to interacting climate hazards—including wind, flooding, ground wetness, heatwaves, bushfires, and cyclones—that directly influence access, safety, productivity, and construction sequencing across geographically distributed transmission assets. Conventional planning methods rely on generic weather allowances and do not adequately represent asset-specific exposure, temporal variability, or cumulative multi-hazard effects. This study presents a Digital Twin and Big Data Analytics framework to quantify multi-hazard operational disruption at the asset level over a 35-year historical period (1990–2024). A unified daily asset digital twin was developed using a scalable GeoParquet architecture, representing each asset-day as a virtual exposure to historical climate conditions. Hazard-specific feature engineering integrates long-term climate data, terrain attributes, physics-informed models, and machine learning techniques to estimate probabilistic Work / Derate / Outage (W/D/O) states for individual towers and spans.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Managing Green Asset Infrastructure Seems Straightforward, Doesn't It?

Thu Oct 22, 1:50pm – 2:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Session details will be announced soon.

Karl Nesbitt
Karl Nesbitt
Senior Consultant, Xyst
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Karl Nesbitt has over 30 years' experience in the horticulture, parks and open spaces, community facilities and customer service sectors. He has been involved in contract management, business development and quality assurance programs such as Yardstick, and seeks to build capability, develop partnerships and deliver high quality recreation experiences. Karl has also been involved in environmental landscape architecture, development of green space frameworks, asset renewals and open space management. His roles have encompassed parks, recreational facilities, horticulture and turf management, and cemeteries; he has delivered local and international webinars to support the Cemeteries and Parks industry and managed the New Zealand Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective.
Session Info
TBC (will be announced soon)
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Breaking the Crisis Cycle in Local Roads Asset Management

Thu Oct 22, 2:10pm – 2:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Regional councils across Australia face the challenge of managing ageing infrastructure with limited financial capacity, even as community expectations rise. For MidCoast Council, this is amplified by one of the largest local road networks in NSW. This session shares the MidCoast Road Strategy, an evidence-based framework designed to break the cycle of crisis, reaction and apathy in road infrastructure management, combining condition data, financial modelling and community engagement.

Robert Scott
Robert Scott
Director Infrastructure & Engineering Services, MidCoast Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Rob Scott is a senior infrastructure leader in NSW local government, specialising in civil engineering, water utilities, and asset management. He's currently the Director of Infrastructure & Engineering Services at MidCoast Council, responsible for delivering essential services across transport, water, sewer and more. Known for his direct, collaborative approach, he's passionate about sharing knowledge to improve outcomes for communities.
Session Info
Regional councils across Australia face a common challenge: managing extensive, ageing infrastructure networks with limited financial capacity while community expectations continue to rise. For MidCoast Council on the NSW Mid-North Coast, this challenge is amplified by one of the largest local road networks in the state — more than 3,600 km of roads serving 195 towns and villages across a 10,000 km² region. Following council amalgamation, growing community dissatisfaction and increasing infrastructure pressures, it became clear that traditional asset management planning alone was not enough to reset expectations or drive meaningful change. A new approach was needed to connect technical asset data, financial reality and community understanding.

This presentation shares the development of the MidCoast Road Strategy, an evidence-based framework designed to break the long-standing cycle of crisis, reaction and apathy that often characterises road infrastructure management. The strategy combined multiple sources of information, including detailed condition data collection, lifecycle deterioration modelling, analysis of customer service requests, community satisfaction data and extensive engagement with Councillors and staff.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Paper Cuts to Pixel Perfect: The Digital Evolution of Asset Management Plans

Thu Oct 22, 2:10pm – 2:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Asset management plans are still largely paper-based, often becoming outdated "set and forget" documents that fail to support evidence-based decision-making. This session explores the shift to dynamic, digital asset management plans (DAMPs), showing how a digital approach transforms static data into usable, transparent information. Discover how this shift empowers smarter, data-driven decisions that are easy to refresh as part of your review cycle.

Lauren Russell
Lauren Russell
Consultant, Brightly, a Siemens Company
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Lauren is a Strategic Asset Management Consultant for Brightly, bringing over seven years' experience within strategic asset and infrastructure management experience across all levels of government and private sector. Lauren has a particular passion for health infrastructure, innovative digital solutions, monitoring functions and enjoys collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to help identify opportunities where asset management can make a measurable impact. Now based in Melbourne, Lauren's passion for health infrastructure means she has been intimately involved in many complex and innovative programmes of work, including the development of organisational policies, strategic plans and digital tools to better manage Aotearoa New Zealand's NZD$38 billion worth of health assets. She has since worked across a number of different sectors and enjoys the variety.
Session Info
Asset management plans (AMP) are a paper-based product in what is quickly becoming a world with an insatiable appetite for digital solutions. The International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM) emphasises that asset management plans should outline an organisation's current understanding of service requirements and network capability to support evidence-based decision-making. Yet, many organisations treat AMPs as 'set and forget' paper documents, quickly outdated and underutilised, directly contradicting the foundational asset management principle of maximising value. This presentation invites you on a transformative journey, demonstrating the potential of shifting from cumbersome paper trails to dynamic, digital asset management plans (DAMPs). We will explore how embracing a digital approach not only 'ticks the box' of having a plan but also its ability to transform data into usable, transparent information, empowering your organisation to make smarter, data-driven decisions that are easy to refresh as part of your review cycle.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

The Elephant Beneath the Streets: Unlocking Hidden Stormwater Knowledge

Thu Oct 22, 2:30pm – 2:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Accurate knowledge of stormwater assets underpins sound valuation, risk management and investment planning. Ahead of its most recent stormwater revaluation, Shoalhaven City Council uncovered around 20km of previously unrecorded pipes and found roughly 20% of the network missing from existing registers. This session outlines how a structured review, including a large-scale check of more than 700 historical development areas, lifted data confidence and organisational understanding of the network.

Peter McQueen
Peter McQueen
Manager Asset Strategy, Shoalhaven City Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Peter McQueen is the Manager Asset Strategy at Shoalhaven City Council, with over a decade of experience across asset management, geospatial systems, and enterprise data platforms within local government. His work focuses on improving the quality, governance, and usability of asset data to support evidence‑based decision‑making, long‑term financial planning, and effective infrastructure management.

With a background spanning engineering, spatial information systems, and leadership, Peter brings a practical and collaborative approach to bridging the gap between technical systems and business outcomes. He is a strong advocate for capability uplift, mentoring teams, and embedding sustainable data and process improvements within organisations.
Session Info
Accurate knowledge of stormwater assets underpins sound valuation, risk management and investment planning. In preparing for our most recent stormwater revaluation, Council identified significant gaps in the documented extent and condition of the network. This presentation outlines how we uncovered hidden assets, improved data confidence, and fundamentally lifted organisational understanding of our stormwater system. Through a structured review process, Council identified approximately 20km of previously unrecorded stormwater pipes. Additionally, we identified that around 20% of the network not being valued in existing asset registers.

Addressing this required more than field discovery alone. A key innovation was a large‑scale subdivision development review of more than 700 historical development areas since around 1995. Leveraging NSW Government's historical cadastre to identify the development areas, we established a link to our corporate document management system where drawings were already held but not systematically utilised. This targeted desktop investigation allowed missing assets to be identified, spatially validated and prioritised for verification, significantly reducing reliance on ad‑hoc discovery.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Operationalising AI in Lifecycle Planning: Data Alignment, Treatment Logic, and Validation

Thu Oct 22, 2:30pm – 2:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Asset-intensive organisations are collecting growing volumes of condition, inspection and operational data, yet many struggle to convert it into timely, risk-informed treatment decisions. This session presents a platform-agnostic framework for deploying AI across lifecycle management, covering data discovery and alignment, lifecycle logic and trigger definition, and validation and assurance. Four case studies demonstrate practical application, including AI-assisted maintenance regime definition aligned to relevant Standards.

Muhammad Fahad Khan
Muhammad Fahad Khan
Strategic Asset Management Consultant, Siemens
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Fahad Khan is a Strategic Asset Management Consultant at Brightly/Siemens with extensive experience supporting asset‑intensive organisations across aviation, transport, utilities, and local government. His work focuses on enabling risk‑informed investment decisions by improving the quality, structure, and usability of asset data.

Fahad specialises in bridging the gap between asset registers, condition and performance data, lifecycle modelling, and risk‑based treatment planning, helping organisations move from compliance‑driven practices to insight‑led, decision‑grade outcomes. He has delivered and supported initiatives spanning enterprise asset data standardisation, lifecycle and renewal modelling, capital prioritisation, and long‑term financial planning.
Session Info
Asset intensive organisations collect growing volumes of condition, inspection, and operational data, yet many struggle to convert it into timely, risk informed treatment decisions. Fragmented, inconsistent and misaligned information as well as the complexities of lifecycle analysis often leads to organisations relying on tacit judgement rather than evidence based transparent decisions.

This abstract presents a platform-agnostic framework for the deployment of AI in targeted areas of the lifecycle management process. The author aims to showcase the business efficiency and improved asset strategy opportunities that exist with AI deployment. The framework focuses on three functions: (1) data discovery and alignment, (2) lifecycle logic and trigger definition, and (3) validation and assurance. Four case studies demonstrate practical application, including AI-assisted maintenance regime definition aligned to relevant Standards.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

From Stabilisation to Maturity: A Local Government Case Study in Embedding Best Practice Transport Asset Management

Thu Oct 22, 3:30pm – 3:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

This presentation draws on the real-world transformation of Armidale Regional Council (NSW), responsible for a AUD $1.2 billion transport portfolio. A comprehensive Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment revealed systemic weaknesses across governance, finance, workforce capability, maintenance practice, capital works planning and long-term sustainability. Maintenance and renewal ratios were below accepted benchmarks, backlog levels elevated, condition data inconsistent, and capital programs insufficiently aligned to lifecycle need.

Meroeh Shaker
Meroeh Shaker
Manager Transport, Armidale Regional Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Meroeh Suesser-Shaker FIEAust CPEng NER is Manager Transport at Armidale Regional Council, responsible for the strategic planning and operational delivery of transport maintenance and capital works. Her remit includes roads, bridges, and stormwater networks that enable safe movement of people and goods across the region. (Council's transport and stormwater portfolio includes 650 km sealed roads, 1,060 km unsealed roads, 141 bridges, and 119 km of stormwater pipes and pits, among other asset classes.)

Meroeh is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia, with over two decades leading and supporting multi-disciplinary infrastructure programs across public and private sectors. Her background includes senior leadership in local government engineering and project delivery functions, including oversight of large capital works programs and governance-driven service delivery improvements. She holds a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (2004) and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (2025).
Session Info
This presentation draws on the real-world transformation of Armidale Regional Council (NSW, Australia), responsible for a AUD $1.2 billion transport portfolio. A comprehensive Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment revealed systemic/operational weaknesses across governance, finance, workforce capability, maintenance practice, capital works planning and delivery, and long-term sustainability. Maintenance and renewal ratios were well below accepted benchmarks, backlog levels were elevated, condition data lacked consistency, and capital programs were insufficiently aligned to lifecycle need.
Stream B: Technology, Tools & Innovation

The 90-Second Defect: AI Didn't Come to the Boardroom. It Came to the Asset.

Thu Oct 22, 3:30pm – 3:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Noosa Shire Council and TechnologyOne moved past debate and embedded AI directly into three points where asset management actually breaks down — the defect log, the crew route, and pre-committee decision-making. Using real crews, real assets and a rigorous pre/post benefits framework built to withstand scrutiny, this session presents what the data showed: the gains, the surprises, and the parts that didn't go to plan.

Gladstone Brohier
Gladstone Brohier
Product General Manager, TechnologyOne
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Gladstone is the General Manager, Product for Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) at TechnologyOne, Australia's largest locally headquartered enterprise software company. He leads the product strategy and roadmap for a solution that covers all business functions of asset management — operational, tactical, and strategic — within a single, natively integrated ERP platform purpose-built for Local Government, Asset-Intensive industries, State & Federal Government, and Infrastructure. With deep experience across the full asset management lifecycle, Gladstone works closely with public sector organisations across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to align technology capability with strategic asset management outcomes. His work spans competitive positioning, capability development, and the translation of complex infrastructure challenges into practical, value-driven product solutions.
Session Info
The asset management industry has spent three years debating what AI could do. Noosa Shire Council and TechnologyOne decided to find out.

In May 2026, they embedded AI directly into three points where asset management actually breaks down — the defect log, the crew route, and the decision the asset manager has to make before Thursday's committee meeting. No proofs of concept. Real crews, real assets, real domains, real measurement.

Before a single feature was switched on at the Council, they built a pre/post benefits framework designed to withstand justification and defensibility scrutiny. This session presents what the data showed — the gains, the surprises, and the parts that didn't go to plan.
Devon Wilson
Devon Wilson
Coordinator Asset Systems, Noosa Shire Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Devon Wilson has been the Coordinator of Asset Systems for Noosa Council since 2021, leading the development and implementation of the asset management framework. This includes the Strategic Asset Management Plan, Asset Management Plans and undertaking Strategic Asset Modelling. Her team also manages the Enterprise Asset Management System (system functionality and the Asset Register) and GIS data. She is passionate about data quality, metadata and standards. Her background in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and mobile computing has led to a keen interest in the use of technology, particularly AI, to improve our knowledge of our assets and to inform decision-making.
Session Info
The asset management industry has spent three years debating what AI could do. Noosa Shire Council and TechnologyOne decided to find out.

In May 2026, they embedded AI directly into three points where asset management actually breaks down — the defect log, the crew route, and the decision the asset manager has to make before Thursday's committee meeting. No proofs of concept. Real crews, real assets, real domains, real measurement.

Before a single feature was switched on at the Council, they built a pre/post benefits framework designed to withstand justification and defensibility scrutiny. This session presents what the data showed — the gains, the surprises, and the parts that didn't go to plan.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

From Community Plan to Asset Plan: Turning Deliberation into Practical Decisions

Thu Oct 22, 3:50pm – 4:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

How does a small rural Council make confident, long-term decisions with limited data, constrained budgets and diverse community expectations? This presentation shares the journey of Hepburn Shire Council in strengthening its approach to asset management by connecting community priorities to practical, financially informed decisions through simple, whole-of-portfolio scenario modelling.

Lace Daniel
Lace Daniel
Manager Operations, Hepburn Shire Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Lace Daniel is the Manager Operations at Hepburn Shire Council, leading the delivery of works, parks and engineering services across a diverse rural municipality. With over 15 years' experience in local government and a strong interest in asset and maintenance management, Lace focuses on using practical data and systems to support better, long-term decision making and strengthening how Councils plan for the future.
Session Info
How does a small rural Council make confident, long-term decisions with limited data, constrained budgets and diverse community expectations? This presentation shares the journey of Hepburn Shire Council in strengthening its approach to asset management by connecting community priorities to practical, financially informed decisions. As a small rural Council without access to complex systems and datasets, Hepburn has focussed on getting the fundamentals right. Rather than treating strategic asset management as a compliance exercise, the organisation has worked to position it as a practical tool to support clearer, more transparent decision making. A key part of this journey has been linking community engagement to asset and financial planning through simple, whole-of-portfolio scenario modelling. Using fit for purpose and cost-effective tools, Council has been able to explore real-life trade-offs between service levels, risk and affordability.

These scenarios have been used both internally and with the community to support more informed conversations. Instead of presenting fixed options, throughout the engagement, Council were able to work through different funding and service choices to better understand the impact over time. This helped shift the discussion from broad aspirations to more grounded and testable decisions. Importantly, this approach is still evolving. It has not removed all the challenges around data, systems or consistency, but it has provided a clearer line of sight between community expectations, asset performance and long-term financial sustainability. The presentation will step through the engagement process, demonstrate how scenario modelling has been applied in practice, and outline how this is shaping Council's path forward. This includes a focus on service level review, asset rationalisation, improved data and systems and more integrated long-term planning.
Stream B: Technology, Tools & Innovation

From Streetlight to Smart Asset: Unlocking Commercial and Connectivity Potential in Urban Infrastructure

Thu Oct 22, 3:50pm – 4:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

As local authorities face mounting financial pressures and ambitious sustainability goals, the humble streetlight is evolving into a powerful, revenue-generating urban asset. This session explores how advances in policy, planning and innovation are enabling councils to unlock new revenue streams and maximise asset value — from hosting EV charge points and 5G small cells to deploying connected sensors. Drawing on real-world Connected Urban installations, it shows how multi-functional smart poles can transform lighting networks into the backbone of future-ready, commercially viable smart cities.

Keith Henry
Keith Henry
General Manager & Head of Telecoms, CU Phosco Australia Pty Ltd
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
With a career spanning over 36 years within the lighting industry, Keith Henry joined CU Phosco in February 2023 as General Manager – Lighting and Telecommunications. In April 2026, Keith was promoted to Global Head of Telecommunications, a role in addition to his management of the CU Phosco presence in Australia.

In line with the company's plans to expand overseas with a physical entity in Australia, where the company's founder CEO originated from, Keith set up the business from what had previously been managed as a partnership model.
Session Info
As local authorities face increasing financial pressures and ambitious sustainability goals, the humble streetlight is evolving into a powerful, revenue-generating urban asset.

This paper explores how advances in policy, planning, and innovation are enabling councils to unlock new revenue streams, maximise asset value, and deliver practical solutions through the intelligent evolution of their lighting infrastructure.

From hosting EV charge points and 5G small cells to deploying sensors and other connected technologies, opportunities now extend far beyond illumination. Following recent legislative changes around rooftop and street-level communications infrastructure, we'll share insights from real-world Connected Urban installations that show how multi-functional smart poles are already enabling network densification, supporting smarter mobility, and creating new commercial models for asset owners.

By shifting from passive infrastructure ownership to active asset optimisation, local authorities can transform their lighting networks into the backbone of future-ready, commercially viable smart cities.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

One Page AMPs

Thu Oct 22, 4:10pm – 4:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Asset Management Plans often sit on the shelf rather than guiding day-to-day decisions in the field. This session asks whether all the prime information from a lengthy AMP can be condensed onto a single page, or A3 sheet, for crews to reference on every job. Using a real-world road rehabilitation scenario, it shows how a One Page AMP can lead to better-informed decisions and significant capital budget savings.

Jon Charles
Jon Charles
Manager AM, Spatial and Saleyards, Southern Downs Regional Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Jon has over thirty years experience encompassing government, small business, medium business, and corporate enterprise in a variety of roles. Each role required the skills of management, problem analysis, requirement analysis and solutions development, communicating with politicians, executives, managers, and operational personnel.
Session Info
Asset Management Plans are usually 5 to 20 pages in length and often collect more time on the shelf than in the hands of our teams. Is this the best outcome for an AMP? Or would be see a greater benefit if our team referred to the AMP every day and on every job?

Is it possible to have all the prime information on one page? Yes, it may need to be a A3 sheet, but the information we need to manage our asset can be contained on one page. Does it replace the AMP? No, but the improvement in asset management outcomes are better.

Take the scenario of a crew evaluating a section of road. There are a number of issues. The Levels of Service you have determined in your AMP are mostly front of mind and the crew are making a determination. The decision that the segment needs a rehabilitation. This goes forward and programmed into your capital program. Consider if the team had picked up all aspects of your Levels of Service. The assessment could have been that the road was in a better state than assessed when all elements considered. They have pulled out the One Page AMP, made the assessment and a reseal will extend the life of the segment sufficiently until the next planned rehabilitation. Your capital budget has just been reduced for this job by up to 75%. And you remain on your planned program.
Craig Young
Craig Young
Local Government Operations, Infrastructure and Assets Executive, Noosa Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Craig is passionate about asset management and working with the front line operational teams to improve efficiency without sacrificing customer service. I have worked successfully in both front line and back office roles and strive to combine these areas for maximum benefit for the community.
Session Info
Asset Management Plans are usually 5 to 20 pages in length and often collect more time on the shelf than in the hands of our teams. Is this the best outcome for an AMP? Or would be see a greater benefit if our team referred to the AMP every day and on every job?

Is it possible to have all the prime information on one page? Yes, it may need to be a A3 sheet, but the information we need to manage our asset can be contained on one page. Does it replace the AMP? No, but the improvement in asset management outcomes are better.

Take the scenario of a crew evaluating a section of road. There are a number of issues. The Levels of Service you have determined in your AMP are mostly front of mind and the crew are making a determination. The decision that the segment needs a rehabilitation. This goes forward and programmed into your capital program. Consider if the team had picked up all aspects of your Levels of Service. The assessment could have been that the road was in a better state than assessed when all elements considered. They have pulled out the One Page AMP, made the assessment and a reseal will extend the life of the segment sufficiently until the next planned rehabilitation. Your capital budget has just been reduced for this job by up to 75%. And you remain on your planned program.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Leveraging Idle Data to Unlock Savings

Thu Oct 22, 4:10pm – 4:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Local governments hold far more useful data than they often realise. This session shares four Council case studies demonstrating significant time and cost savings achieved across portfolios, buildings and infrastructure, showcasing how existing data can be leveraged to unlock measurable outcomes.

Derek Huynh
Derek Huynh
Director | Digital Innovation Lead, ADP Consulting
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Derek leads ADP Consulting's Digital Innovation team, helping Councils use existing data to reduce costs and accelerate decision-making. With a background in architecture, he combines design thinking, engineering, and technology to deliver faster, clearer, and more cost-effective asset outcomes.
Session Info
Local governments hold far more useful data than they often realise. This presentation shares four Council case studies that demonstrate the significant time and cost savings being achieved across portfolios, buildings, and infrastructure. We intends to co-present with the relevant Councils - subject to our ongoing conversations confirming each of their availabilities to attend.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

ARIC, Elected Members and Community: Governance Matters in Strategic Asset Management

Thu Oct 22, 4:30pm – 4:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

City of Monash showcases how strengthened governance, policy and strategic planning can transform infrastructure decision-making across a complex municipal asset portfolio. By aligning its Asset Management Policy with ISO 55001 principles and enhancing Audit and Risk Committee oversight, Monash shifted toward whole-of-portfolio, scenario-based planning. This presentation explores how councils can move from compliance-driven asset management to a governance-led, strategic approach that delivers better long-term outcomes.

John Yovanches
John Yovanches
Strategic Asset Manager, City of Monash
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Over 30 years experience in the field of Asset, Finance and People Management, 26 of those years within local Government, providing professional business management to match asset management solutions with the requirements and outcomes. Currently Strategic Asset Manager at City of Monash, focusing on the development of sound asset management across Council's asset and property portfolio through the development of Council's Asset Management Framework including policy, strategy and plans.
Session Info
The City of Monash provides a practical example of how governance, policy and strategic planning can be aligned to improve infrastructure decision-making across a complex municipal asset portfolio. Like many councils, Monash faced challenges with siloed asset planning, limiting visibility of trade-offs across asset classes and reducing transparency in long-term decision-making. Through a structured review of its Asset Management Policy and supporting frameworks, Monash strengthened governance clarity, aligned policy commitments with ISO 55001 principles, and improved organisational accountability. This includes an enhanced Audit and Risk Committee (ARIC) lens, providing greater oversight and assurance that asset decisions are structured, transparent, and aligned to organisational risk and performance objectives. A key outcome has been the shift toward whole-of-portfolio, scenario-based planning. This enables councillors and executives to clearly understand the trade-offs between investment decisions, service levels and risk across the entire asset base. It also enables internal deliberation to be grounded in service levels, supporting more consistent and defensible decision-making and preparing the organisation for its next Asset Plan engagement in 2028.

The approach also supports stronger integration between engineering and financial planning, improving confidence in long-term financial sustainability and alignment with accounting requirements, including fair value considerations. This presentation will show how councils can shift from compliance-driven asset management to a governance-led, strategic approach that improves long-term outcomes for both the organisation and the community.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

From Strategy to Value: Organisational and Systems Approaches to Operationalising Asset Management

Thu Oct 22, 4:30pm – 4:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

International frameworks like ISO 55000, GFMAM and the IAM Anatomy of Asset Management have strengthened the strategic foundations of asset management, yet many organisations still struggle to translate strategy into operational outcomes. This session explores a progressive approach to this challenge — starting with the organisational foundations of leadership, governance and culture, then introducing a systems approach that connects strategy, lifecycle planning, risk and financial decision-making across the enterprise.

Dharmen Dhaliah
Dharmen Dhaliah
Author and Thought Leader in Organisation-Wide Asset Management, DYD Services Inc.
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Dharmen Dhaliah is an infrastructure asset management leader, advisor, and author with over two decades of experience in infrastructure and asset-intensive organizations across municipal, utility, and private sector environments. He serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada and is a Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA), contributing to the advancement of asset management practices in Canada and internationally.

Dharmen is the author of Physical Asset Management – An Organizational Challenge and Organization-Wide Physical Asset Management - A Systems Approach, which introduce frameworks for integrating organizational leadership, systems thinking, and lifecycle decision-making across asset-intensive organizations.
Session Info
International frameworks such as the ISO 55000 Asset Management Standard, the GFMAM Asset Management Landscape, and the IAM Anatomy of Asset Management have significantly strengthened the strategic foundations of asset management. However, many organizations continue to face a persistent challenge: translating asset management strategies, policies, and plans into operational decisions that deliver measurable outcomes and organizational value. This presentation explores a progressive approach to addressing this challenge through three complementary perspectives.

The first perspective focuses on the organizational foundations of asset management, emphasizing the critical role of leadership, governance, culture, and cross-functional alignment in enabling effective asset management practices. Building on this foundation, the second perspective introduces a systems approach, positioning asset management as an integrated organization-wide system that connects strategy, lifecycle planning, risk management, financial decision-making, and operational activities across the enterprise.

Day 2 Friday, 23 October 2026

8:00am 9:00am

Breakfast

Exhibition Hall

10:30am 11:00am

Morning Tea

Exhibition Hall

10:30am 11:00am

Lunch

Exhibition Hall

Concurrent Stream Session #1 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #2 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

Concurrent Stream Session #3 Choose Stream A OR Choose Stream B

2:30pm 3:00pm

Afternoon Tea

Exhibition Hall

3:00pm 4:00pm

Debate

Meeting Place

Keynote & International Session - Focus on Capacity Building and Development of AM in Juristictions Around the World

Fri Oct 23, 9:00am – 10:30am | Meeting Place
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Overview

Gain some excellent insights from our Keynote Speakers in this plenary session.

Wendy McPate
Wendy McPate
FIEAust CPEng Eng Exec RPEQ BEng CAMA, National Chair of the Asset Management Council
Keynote Speaker
Biography Session Info
Biography
Wendy McPate is an accomplished engineering and asset management leader with over 25 years of experience across energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors in Australia and the UK. As GHD’s SQ Business Group Leader – Power, we provide strategic oversight to multidisciplinary teams delivering projects that enable energy transition, including renewables and traditional power generation, defence and project management. Our work focuses on creating sustainable solutions that deliver long-term value for communities and clients. Her career spans senior leadership roles at Origin Energy, Stanwell Corporation and Scottish Water, where she drove business transformation, strengthened asset management capability and delivered operational excellence.Wendy has been actively involved with the Asset Management Council (AM Council) as a volunteer contributor for a decade and on the board since 2021 prior to the role of Board Chair of the Asset Management Council (AM Council) in January 2026. This included the contribution to initiatives such as the AMBoK team, Women in Asset Management SIG and Power SIG. In January 2026, she will step into the role of Board Chair. The AM Council is Australia’s peak professional body for asset management and a Technical Society of Engineers Australia, dedicated to improving society and empowering sustainable communities through effective asset management.
Session Info
Wendy will deliver the keynote session after the International session (Focus on Capacity Building and Development of AM in Juristictions Around the World) delivered by Nicole Allen, Nick Leggett and Geoff Cooper.
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Nicole Allen
P.Eng., M.Sc., Executive Director NAMS Canada Inc
International
Biography Session Info
Biography
With more than 15 years of experience supporting Canadian municipalities and organizations of all sizes, Nicole has built a career grounded in deep understanding of the diverse realities facing rural, urban, remote, First Nation, and Indigenous communities across the country. Her work spans all tiers of government and includes extensive relationships with communities of practice and local governments from coast to coast to coast. Nicole is a recognized expert in Infrastructure Asset Management and brings real‑world implementation experience and a strong commitment to sustainable service delivery. Her approach emphasizes strategic alignment—integrating climate adaptation, risk management, financial planning, emerging technologies, and natural asset management to support informed, resilient decision‑making.
Session Info
More info on the session will be announced soon.
Adam Thomas
Nick Leggett
Chief Executive, Infrastructure New Zealand
International
Biography Session Info
Biography
Nick Leggett commenced in the role of Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand in April 2023. Previously Chief Executive of the road transport industry peak body, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, Nick’s professional career has always centred around the need for quality and sustainable infrastructure. As Mayor of Porirua City between 2010-2016 he understands the need for great infrastructure to power opportunities for people and provide a bedrock for economic growth and social progress. Nick is strongly of the view that Aotearoa New Zealand must be bolder in its funding, investment and scale of world leading infrastructure projects. We must collectively encourage and welcome a more diverse range of people into the industry to deliver on this.
Session Info
More info on the session will be announced soon.
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Geoff Cooper
Chief Executive, NZ Infrastructure Commission - Te Waihanga
International
Biography Session Info
Biography
Geoff Cooper is the Chief Executive at Te Waihanga. He has a background in global policy having worked for the United States Federal Reserve, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and the United Nations. He is a former Chief Economist for both PwC and Auckland Council, where he worked on infrastructure, housing, regulation, and financial policy, including business case development for Auckland’s City Rail Link. At Te Waihanga, Geoff was previously the General Manager of Strategy where he had purview over research capabilities, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and development of the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy. He holds a Master of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.
Session Info
More info on the session will be announced soon.

Networking Breakfast

Fri Oct 23, 8:00am – 9:00am Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Join us on Day Two from 8:00am! Grab a light breakfast and fresh coffee before sessions begin.

PLENARY

Plenary and a Panel

Fri Oct 23, 11:00am - 12:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Plenary Session 1: Advancing Asset Management Capability Across Queensland - Rory Barlow, Director, Education Programs and Capability Uplift, Queensland Treasury Corporation and Jonathan Jones, Head of Education, IPWEA

Panel Session: Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience. Panelists include: Steve Verity, Principal Advisor Asset Management, Chris Champion, Director, Landscape Foundation of Australia

Plenary Speakers

Rory Barlow
Rory Barlow
Director, Education Programs and Capability Uplift, Queensland Treasury Corporation
Keynote
Biography Session Info
Biography
Rory Barlow is the Director, Education Programs and Capability Uplift at Queensland Treasury Corporation. Rory leads QTC Education, working closely with state and local government to strengthen financial management and decision‑making across the public sector. He brings deep experience from senior roles across Queensland's public sector with a career focused on translating strategy into practical outcomes. In his current role, Rory oversees QTC Education delivered in partnership with leading education providers, supporting public sector professionals across Queensland to build capability where it matters most. Rory is passionate about impactful capability uplift, particularly supporting regional and remote councils to access high‑quality professional development that strengthens decision‑making and delivers value to Queensland communities.
Session Info
Advancing Asset Management Capability Across Queensland. More session info will be released soon.
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Jonathan Jones
Head of Education, IPWEA
Keynote
Biography Session Info
Biography
Jonathan is the Head of Education at IPWEA. His experience spans almost 2 decades in adult education and learning and development across the finance, not-for-profit and education sectors, working for organisations such as Commonwealth Bank, Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM@UNSW Sydney), Sydney School of Entrepreneurship and Mission Australia. Prior to this, Jonathan worked as a corporate recruiter. During Jonathan’s career, he has scoped and implemented a wide range of initiatives to enhance employee and student learning and organisational improvement.
Session Info
Advancing Asset Management Capability Across Queensland. More session info will be released soon.

Panel: Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience

Join our panel as they explore how infrastructure organisations can build climate resilience into asset planning and delivery, drawing on landscape architecture, asset management practice, and real-world project experience.

Panelists

Steve Verity
Steve Verity
Principal Advisor - Asset Management, IPWEA
Panelist
Biography
Biography
Steve is an Emeritus member of IPWEA with over 35 years' experience in infrastructure and asset management across public and private sectors. He is active on multiple standards committees and working groups, and serves as IPWEA's representative on the Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management. Steve applies strong planning, risk, and funding approaches to support sustainable service delivery. He has also contributed to research and infrastructure performance reporting initiatives that strengthen evidence-based decision-making. He brings practical insight, broad experience, and a commitment to mentoring others in developing asset management capability.
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Chris Champion
Director, Landscape Foundation of Australia
Panelist
Biography
Biography
As a President, Chair, Non-Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Champion brings lifelong experience to the municipal government, public works, engineering and not-for-profit sectors. He is a past president and Board Chair of Engineers Australia. Following a successful 30 years in local government, Chris led the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) as CEO for 15 years to become a global leader in sustainable approaches to infrastructure asset management. Chris has had a significant international career. He has established NAMS Canada for IPWEA as Director International and Executive Chair and is a past president and the current Secretary General of the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME). Chris has had a career-long interest in the public domain, our professions and contributing to the community.

Morning Tea

Fri Oct 23, 10:30am – 11:00am Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Join us in the Exhibition Hall for Morning Tea and connect with our exhibitors.

Lunch

Fri Oct 23, 12:10pm – 1:10pm Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Enjoy lunch in the Exhibition Hall. Take the opportunity to engage with exhibitors and finalise your Exhibitor Passport before the prize draw.

Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Operations Essentials: Nailing the Basics and Fixing the Essential Resources Needed to get the Job Done

Fri Oct 23, 1:10pm – 1:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

This session presents a case study of TasWater's Operations Essentials program, exploring how upskilling staff with formal change management training has driven positive asset management outcomes. TasWater operates 59 water treatment plants and 110 sewage treatment plants across Tasmania, serving close to 576,000 people. The presentation looks at how the program — one of TasWater's Top 5 organisational priorities — is helping the utility work smarter, improve consistency and deliver better outcomes for staff, the business and customers.

Adela Parnell
Adela Parnell
Operations Essentials Change Lead | Senior Planning Engineer, TasWater
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Adela Parnell is an engineer with a varied career, with experience both in consulting and working at TasWater, the statewide water and sewerage authority in Tasmania. Whilst her time at TasWater has seen her achieve nearly as many job titles as years of service, she has primarily been working within the sphere of asset management. In 2026 she took a leap into TasWater Operations as part of a secondment opportunity to be an Operations Essentials Change Lead, valuing the chance to work within a different part of the business. Her volunteer shadow career has led her to hold various office-bearer positions at both Engineers Australia and IPWEA.
Session Info
This presentation is a case study of the Operations Essentials program at TasWater, and how upskilling staff with formal change management training has led to positive asset management outcomes within the utility. TasWater, the state-wide water and sewerage authority for Tasmania, maintains and operates 59 water treatment plants and 110 sewage treatment plants in a state with a population of nearly 576,000 people (approx. 10% of the population of Melbourne). It is an organisation born from a legacy of reform, bringing with it both challenges and opportunities. The Operations Essentials program is one of TasWater's Top 5 organisational priorities. Its focus is about working smarter, improving consistency, and achieving better outcomes for staff, the bottom line, and customers.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

The Asset Manager and the AI Co-Worker

Fri Oct 23, 1:10pm – 1:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Eden Shirley, Founder of FleetGuru.ai and President of AFMA, takes the stage for a live, unscripted conversation with "Mic", an AI co-worker purpose-built for fleet and asset maintenance operations. Together they explore real-world asset management challenges, from maintenance decision-making to operational coordination. This keynote offers a tangible, forward-looking view of AI as an embedded co-worker in everyday asset management.

Eden Shirley
Eden Shirley
Managing Director, Autoguru + FleetGuru.ai
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Eden Shirley is a globally recognised voice in fleet AI, having spoken at AFMA, Fleet Europe Days, and Fleet APAC summits on the future of intelligent vehicle operations. As Founder and Managing Director of FleetGuru.ai, Eden is leading the shift from reactive fleet management to AI-driven asset intelligence. FleetGuru's platform processes over half a billion dollars in authorised repairs annually, and is evolving into a predictive maintenance engine that tells operators what's going wrong before it does, optimises asset lifecycles, and turns fleet data into decisions. As President of the Australian Fleet Management Association, Eden is helping define the frameworks and standards that will govern how AI reshapes fleet operations worldwide.
Session Info
A live, on-stage conversation between Eden and AI. What does it actually look like to work alongside AI in asset management? In this highly original, no-slides keynote, Eden Shirley (Founder of FleetGuru.ai and President of AFMA) takes the stage with "Mic", an intelligent AI co-worker purpose-built for fleet and asset maintenance operations. Rather than presenting theory or delivering a traditional product demonstration, this session centres on a live, unscripted conversation between Eden and Mic. Together, they explore real-world asset management challenges from maintenance decision-making and cost optimisation to operational coordination and workflow execution.

This keynote offers a tangible, forward-looking view of how AI will reshape asset management, not as a distant concept, but as an embedded co-worker within everyday operations. This is not a presentation about AI. It is a live experience of the future of work.

Abstract Sessions

Fri Oct 23, 1:10pm – 2:30pm Meeting Place
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Overview

Join in our abstract sessions.

Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Networks Don't Fail all at Once - They Deteriorate Whilst Waiting

Fri Oct 23, 1:30pm – 1:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Transport for NSW operates in a highly complex environment where investment decisions must contend with uncertainty, interdependencies and operational variability across rail systems. This session explores how structured experimentation principles can support more robust decision-making, using representative rail investment scenarios to show how systematic exploration of interacting factors can strengthen confidence under uncertainty. While framed around rail investment, the approach is broadly applicable to other complex engineered and digital systems.

James Carroll
James Carroll
Heavy Rail Control System Specialist, Transport for NSW
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
James Carroll is undertaking UNSW Canberra–led research into interaction-driven deterioration modelling and renewal intelligence, under the supervision of Dr Keith Joiner. His work examines how a renewal intelligence framework can support long-term asset renewal decisions by improving visibility of uncertainty and interaction effects across the asset lifecycle. He has delivered decision-support and analytical frameworks across transport, mining and public-sector environments, including recent work supporting Transport for NSW investment appraisal in complex, uncertainty-driven contexts. His work does not assume the use of specific tools; rather, it focuses on a decision framework that can be applied over existing analytical and asset management practices, with an emphasis on governance-aligned application that complements established planning and assurance approaches rather than introducing prescriptive tools or methodologies.
Session Info
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) operates in a highly complex environment where investment decisions must contend with uncertainty, interdependencies, and operational variability across rail systems. Conventional evaluation approaches—including deterministic modelling, point-estimate analysis, and expert judgement—often struggle to adequately represent these dynamics in complex, interacting systems.

This paper explores the application of structured experimentation principles to support more robust decision-making in such contexts. Using representative rail investment scenarios, it illustrates how systematic exploration of interacting factors can improve understanding of system behaviour and sensitivity without increasing model complexity or fragility.

While the primary focus is on rail investment, the approach is framed generically and is applicable to other complex engineered and digital systems where configuration choices and interactions materially influence outcomes. The intent is not to prescribe a specific modelling technique, but to examine how disciplined experimentation can complement existing analytical practices and strengthen confidence in decisions made under uncertainty.

This work forms part of ongoing research at UNSW Canberra under the supervision of Dr Keith Joiner, examining how structured analytical approaches can be applied across transport and digital system environments to support more consistent and defensible governance. AI tools may be used to assist with drafting and refinement; all analysis, design decisions, and conclusions remain the author's.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Managing Sustainable Local Government Infrastructure Assets

Fri Oct 23, 1:30pm – 1:50pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Infrastructure asset management requires a systematic, coordinated approach to ensure the longevity, efficiency and sustainability of built infrastructure. With Australia having experienced catastrophic infrastructure failures due to natural disasters, ageing assets and underinvestment, climate resilience must be embedded into long-term asset management and financial planning. This session explores how AUS-SPEC national specifications can support life cycle management, sustainable construction practices and procurement strategies across the infrastructure asset life cycle.

Nandini Mehta
Nandini Mehta
AUS-SPEC Manager, NATSPEC
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Nandini Mehta manages the AUS-SPEC, the national technical specifications for local government at NATSPEC, the national building specification organisation. Nandini is a civil structural engineer with over 25 years of experience in the construction industry in Australia and overseas. She has developed various technical documentation for various infrastructure assets including roads, buildings, parks and public utilities, and has expertise in the construction and maintenance of the built environment. She actively participates at the IPWEA International and State Conferences, various industry forums and review of National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) Best Practice Guides, Standards, Austroads publications, IPWEA Practice Notes and IIMM. She is a Board member of the Streets Opening and Coordination Council, Presenter for Managing Sealed and Unsealed Roads workshops conducted by IPWEA NSW & ACT, ex-Secretary of Metro North Regional Chapter and member of the IPWEA NSW Women in Public Works Panel.
Session Info
Infrastructure asset management involves a comprehensive approach to ensure the longevity, efficiency and sustainability of built infrastructure and services. It requires a systematic and coordinated set of activities to deliver cost effective outcomes for the life cycle management of assets.

Australia has experienced catastrophic infrastructure failures due to natural disasters, ageing assets and underinvestment in maintenance. These failures have a widespread impact on essential services and highlight the need for resilient infrastructure. Climate resilience needs to be incorporated into long term asset management and financial plans.

This presentation will highlight how AUS-SPEC national local government specification documentation can assist in the following: Life cycle management; the selection of appropriate construction practices and implementing sustainable practices; and procurement strategies to achieve sustainability targets in the infrastructure asset life cycle.

Afternoon Tea

Fri Oct 23, 2:30pm – 3:00pm Exhibition Hall
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Overview

Wrap up the day in the Exhibition Hall with Afternoon Tea. Final chance to complete your Exhibitor Passport.

The Great Debate

Fri Oct 23, 3:00pm – 4:00pm Meeting Place
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Overview

On the final day of the Summit, select industry leaders will engage in a lively debate aligned with the event's central theme: "Advancing Asset Management: From Practice to Performance." This session promises to be a highly thought-provoking finale to our 2026 program.

Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, But You've Got Me Starting in Pompeii

Fri Oct 23, 1:50pm – 2:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Cam Martin shares his personal journey into local government and Cessnock City Council's journey into "real" Asset Management, with real outcomes. Delivered in an engaging, funny and empathetic style, this session explores the importance of building relationships with senior executives — and why people, not processes, are the real driver of sustainable change in Asset Management.

Cam Martin
Cam Martin
Asset Planning Manager, Cessnock City Council
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Cam Martin was first exposed to "real" leadership in his early twenties as a member of the Australian Defence Force, where his 15-year military career included multiple overseas deployments. A plumber by trade, his move into Asset Management came about almost by accident, and he has since become a seasoned senior leader known for getting results rather than chasing self-promotion. Cam rates situational awareness and social intelligence as the most important skills in the industry, and brings a refreshing, no-nonsense energy to the stage — a welcome departure from the painfully boring presentations many delegates have sat through in the past.
Session Info
This session shares Cam's personal journey into local government, and Cessnock City Council's journey into "real" Asset Management, with real outcomes. Cam discusses the importance of building relationships with senior executives and how to influence their decision-making, delivered in a presentation style that's engaging, funny and empathetic. Having spent three and a half years in the LG industry, Cam brings a left-field perspective that delegates describe as refreshing, entertaining and insightful, while questioning why some traditional structures still operate in their current form. At the heart of his message is a simple idea: people are the difference, and building, supporting and growing your team — both personally and professionally — is the real sustainability factor in Asset Management.
Stream B: Technology, Systems & Delivery

Advancing Asset Management: People, Places, Processes and the Technology that Connects Them

Fri Oct 23, 1:50pm – 2:10pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Advancing asset management isn't just about better systems or more data — it's about turning practice into performance by connecting people, place-based decisions, and repeatable processes through practical technology. Drawing on real-world experience with Australian councils, this session explores how asset management maturity is built when capability, local context, governance, and digital tools work together to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable services under growing pressure.

Stephen Hegedus
Stephen Hegedus
Partner/Board Chair, Shepherd
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
Stephen Hegedus is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer and Partner at SHEPHERD, with extensive leadership experience in local government, including roles as Director of Engineering Services and Chief Executive Officer. He is a recognised industry leader in strategic and practical asset management and is a member of the IPWEA Asset Management Committee. Stephen works with Councils to improve infrastructure performance, strengthen financial sustainability, and deliver practical asset management outcomes for communities.
Session Info
Advancing asset management is not just about better systems or more data. It is about turning practice into performance by connecting people, place-based decisions, and repeatable processes through practical technology. Drawing on real-world experience with Australian councils, this presentation will show how asset management maturity is built when capability, local context, governance, and digital tools work together.

Local governments and asset owners are under growing pressure to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable services with constrained budgets, ageing infrastructure, and increasing climate risk. In this environment, lasting results come from strengthening the relationship between the people who make decisions, the places they serve, and the processes that guide investment, maintenance, and renewal.

From a people perspective, the presentation will explore how capability frameworks, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration help engineers, finance teams, field crews, and executives interpret data consistently and act with confidence. From a places perspective, it will examine how regional and remote councils can use fit-for-purpose tools such as GIS-based asset registers, mobile inspection systems, imagery, and sensors to respond to local service levels, environmental conditions, and resilience challenges. From a processes perspective, it will highlight the importance of practical data governance, lifecycle planning, risk-based prioritisation, and integrated workflows that turn raw data into decision-ready programs.
Stream A: Strategy, Service & Stewardship

Advancing Asset Management: From Practice to Performance Through Digital Capital Planning

Fri Oct 23, 2:10pm – 2:30pm | Meeting Place
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Overview

Local governments are increasingly required to demonstrate not only sound asset management practices, but measurable infrastructure performance outcomes. This session explores how a strategic asset management framework has been strengthened by embedding digital planning capability into capital works programming and network performance monitoring. By integrating condition assessments, risk evaluation, lifecycle intelligence and long-term financial forecasting, this approach creates a clearer line of sight between asset health, community outcomes and investment decisions.

Geevin Pathiranagama
Geevin Pathiranagama
Asset Management Programmer, Shire of Ashburton
Presenter
Biography Session Info
Biography
With over five years of asset management practice across three local governments in two Australian states, Geevin Pathiranagama is an emerging asset management practitioner focused on strengthening infrastructure performance in regional and local government environments.

His experience spans capital works programming, lifecycle planning, condition assessment frameworks, and long-term financial alignment. Working across diverse council contexts has provided him with practical insight into balancing service delivery expectations, risk exposure, and fiscal sustainability.

Geevin is passionate about building asset resilience through the adoption of modern digital tools and data-driven strategic planning approaches. He is particularly interested in how technology can elevate asset management maturity, transforming operational data into strategic insight that supports transparent, defensible investment decisions.

He previously presented at the IPWEA Queensland State Conference in 2023, where he shared insights on advancing asset management practices within local government. As an up-and-coming leader in the field, he remains committed to bridging practice and performance through digitally enabled asset management frameworks.
Session Info
Local governments are increasingly required to demonstrate not only sound asset management practices, but measurable infrastructure performance outcomes. This presentation explores how we have strengthened our strategic asset management framework by embedding digital planning capability into capital works programming and network performance monitoring. By integrating condition assessments, risk evaluation, lifecycle intelligence, service level targets, and long-term financial forecasting within a structured planning environment, we have created a clearer line of sight between asset health, community outcomes, and investment decisions. This shift enables us to move beyond compliance-driven planning toward performance-based asset management, where capital allocation is guided by evidence, risk exposure, and service sustainability.