Australia’s fastest growing asset management event returns to Sydney from 20–21 August, bringing together leading experts across the utility and infrastructure sectors to discuss the most pressing issues in asset management.
The infrastructure and utility sectors are in the middle of major changes and growth. Construction of new infrastructure projects is booming across Australia while existing assets are implementing a range of emerging technologies to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
With the Liberal–National Coalition returning to power at the recent Federal Election we can expect an even bigger focus on infrastructure as it sets out to fulfill the $100 billion infrastructure funding it promised in the 2019-20 Budget.
Combined with the continued uptake and creation of new technologies, changing industry standards and increased levels of public scrutiny, plus the constantly changing nature of the infrastructure and utilities sectors, it’s essential for asset managers to have access to the latest information.
In its third year, the Asset Management for Critical Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition will once again be the place to be for updates on technologies, projects and processes that help to better manage critical assets in Australia.
Over two days in August, the event will feature individual presentations, industry panels, networking sessions and targeted topic streams, providing attendees with practical applications to improve the way assets are managed.
The event is created by the team behind Infrastructure magazine, as well as other industry events including Digital Utilities and Smart Cities. This means that all the latest industry news and sector issues that are covered in the magazine and online are bought into a live format, with senior managers from power and water utilities and infrastructure asset owners around Australia, including the rail sector.
What’s new for 2019?
This year, we’re introducing two new targeted streams to the program — A closer look at inspection and condition monitoring; and Case studies and the implementation of ISO 55000.
We asked our past delegates and readers what are some of the biggest issues facing them as asset managers or topics that they want to explore more in depth and these are two topics that regularly came up.
These streams will join our other established streams: Asset management in the rail sector; and Managing renewable and energy assets, with the energy stream expanding beyond last year’s focus on renewables.
We have, of course, also created a new program of industry experts to explore these topics through individual presentations and panels.
Some of this year’s speakers include:
Romilly Madew
Romilly Madew
CEO, Infrastructure Australia
Recently awarded an Order of Australia in acknowledgment of her contribution to Australia’s sustainable building movement, Romilly is recognised around the world as a leader and advocate for change in the property and construction sector. She led the Green Building Council of Australia for 13 years, representing over 650 companies with a collective annual turnover of $40 billion, and presiding over the Green Star rating system which has seen more than 2,250 projects certified across the country. Romilly holds Board positions with Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Chief Executive Women, and has sat on numerous ministerial panels including the Cities Reference Group, National Urban Policy Forum and the China/Australia Services Sector Forum.
Her achievements have previously been recognised with national and international awards, including the 2015 International Leadership Award from the US Green Building Council and the 2017 World Green Building Council Chairman’s Award. An honorary fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, Romilly has been named one of the ‘100 Women of Influence’ by the Australian Financial Review and Westpac, and is a National and NSW winner of the Telstra Business Women’s Award.
Tammy Falconer
Tammy Falconer
Head of Asset Knowledge, Sydney Water
With a strong desire to make a difference for customers and her community, Tammy has carved out a successful career working for and driving change in state-owned corporations and public sector organisations.
As Head of Asset Knowledge for Sydney Water, Tammy leverages her expertise in asset management, data and analytics to place trusted information into the hands of decision–makers to deliver customer-centric solutions for Sydney Water’s 4.9 million customers. She is a leader with impact, passionate about developing teams with a culture of collaboration, achievement and fun.
Her achievements span unique and diverse work experiences including increasing fare compliance and customer satisfaction across all modes of public transport in Sydney; leading the implementation of GIS and asset management information systems, and improving asset management practices delivering power, water and wastewater services to 72 remote indigenous communities across the Northern Territory.
Brian Green
Brian Green
General Manager Asset Management, The Australian Rail Track Corporation
Brian is responsible for asset management, project delivery and maintenance of ARTC’s Interstate Network, which covers some 7,500km from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Port Augusta, Broken Hill, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane.
Brian has an Honours degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Business Management, and commenced his career in the coal mining industry in the UK and is an indentured time served mining electrical craftsman. Brian’s career has spanned 39 years with 20 years in senior executive and general management positions. He has extensive experience in the mining, electricity generation and distribution, and rail industries in asset management, engineering and project management.
Over the years, Brian has been involved with, and has been responsible for, delivering millions of dollars of electrical and rail infrastructure across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Brian was recipient of Engineers Australia, National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year Award in 2013.
Dr Collette Burke
Dr Collette Burke
Chief Engineer of Victoria and Director at VicTrack
Dr Collette Burke is the inaugural Victorian Chief Engineer, with more than 25 years of engineering and construction industry experience in roles such as Site Engineer, Executive Manager and Managing Director. Having completed a PhD in risk management at RMIT and value for money on major infrastructure projects, she is also an internationally acknowledged researcher.
In addition to her role as the Victorian Chief Engineer, she acts as the Managing Director of Exner Group and Karsta in the Middle East and has been appointed as a Director for VicTrack. Formerly, Dr Burke was the National Director of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
Dr Burke has a drive for greater operational outcomes, a focus on strategic and forward planning, people development, effective delivery and commercial strategy.
Dr Andrew O’Connor
Dr Andrew O’Connor
Partner – Engineering and Asset Management, KPMG Australia
Andrew is passionate about bringing information and structure to how asset management decisions are made. Andrew is an asset management and reliability engineering professional with over 20 years’ experience in the defence, aviation, maritime, mining, utilities and nuclear sectors.
Andrew has a PhD in reliability and risk, authored a book on statistical modelling of asset systems and is a Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA). Andrew co-founded two engineering businesses winning the Telstra Business Awards and BRW Fast 100 company before joining KPMG as a lead partner in the company’s engineering and asset management practice.
Steve Doran
Steve Doran
Director of Infrastream
Event MC
Steve Doran is the Director of Infrastream, a firm established in 2008 that specialises in supporting clients for better asset management outcomes. Steve was previously the Chair of the Asset Management Council’s Sydney Chapter. He holds separate globally recognised certifications as an ISO 55001 Asset Management Assessor and as an organisational coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership.
Steve developed a strong passion for innovation as an Engineer and Manager in over 20 years with Sydney Water in positions such as Asset Management Process Improvement Leader, and Maintenance Analysis & Innovation Manager, and as a Consultant in the United Kingdom for Halcrow’s Management Sciences division.
Who will attend?
The event brings together senior leaders and C-suite level decision-makers from Australian utilities, infrastructure asset owners, industry associations, consultancies and government.
Last year’s event saw delegates from Sydney Water, Ausgrid, V/Line, Queensland Urban Utilities, Powerlink, Transport for NSW, Jemena, Port Authority NSW, Ergon, Energy Queensland, Pacific National, Essential Energy, Sunwater, City West Water, Origin Energy, SA Water, Port of Melbourne, KPMG, Infrastructure Australia, nbn co, TransGrid and WaterNSW, among others.
The biggest issues in asset management
In addition to the four targeted streams, we will also take a closer look at new asset management technologies and digital solutions including data collection and analytics, Internet of Things, machine learning and digital engineering, and other innovations.
Conference Program Manager, Jessica Dickers, said her vision for the program is to outline specific practical solutions that can be implemented in an organisation.
“We also plan to look at a risk-based approach to decision making, measurement of outcomes, how it all fits in with CapEx budgets, challenges surrounding maintenance priorities, and the latest in proactive condition assessment and preventive maintenance,” Ms Dickers said.
Other topics that will be covered include strategic asset management plans, planning best practice, new assets vs maintaining existing assets, skills of the future — future asset manager capabilities, dealing with skills shortages and workforce mobility, and much more.
Learn from other sectors
It’s one thing to be pushing the boundaries of innovation at your own organisation and learning from your own experience, but sometimes to truly overhaul current practices and operations, it’s essential to see what others in the sector are doing.
This is a big focus for Asset Management for Critical Infrastructure as it’s the only event that sees different sectors — from water to power, rail, roads and transport — come together to give delegates the opportunity to hear about each other’s successes and learn from their mistakes.
Not only can you network with other people in your field, but hearing how other industries are dealing with a similar asset management problem, often gives delegates new perspectives and ideas to take back to the office.
Head to assetmanagementevent.com.au to learn more about the event and to buy tickets.
If you’re interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the event, you can download the prospectus on the
website or email events@monkeymedia.com.au.
