The foundation of Australia’s $360 billion construction industry is shifting.

Representing almost 10% of the nation’s GDP, the sector is largely represented by sole traders or small businesses—often balancing cash flow challenges and business management with the day-to-day delivery of projects. Increasing compliance, competition, and regulation means more paperwork and processes—and the headaches that follow in navigating the detail demanded by regulators and contractual requirements. There’s often little time to spend on upskilling teams and future-proofing the business.

A fast-track to learning new skills

Disruption is everywhere. Whether we want change or not, it’s here. Industry events are critical in helping business owners, teams, and contractors get the right information at the right time from experts in the construction sector.

Connecting with construction experts and peers alike is an ideal way to find out about emerging trends as well as how to ensure your workforce has the skills and tools to meet evolving needs and opportunities.

The construction industry is seeing a significant uptake of new technologies, with advances in everyday digital tools, automation for repetitive or dangerous tasks, building information modelling (BIM) and prefabrication, to name a few. With traction building in emerging technology in Australia, construction workers will need to be trained, re-trained and upskilled for the jobs of the future.

Skills development is no longer a start-stop process. The rate of change in technologies is a continuum, meaning skills development is as well. Industry events fast-track the delivery of information critical to identifying skills gaps and applying the experience of others to solve real world problems.

From multi-day conferences and trade shows to exclusive networking events, here is our pick of essential events for construction professionals in Australia.

To jump to a specific event, click below:

• XCON Anywhere 2021
• VIC Major Projects Conference 2021
• NSW Major Projects Conference 2021
• BILT ANZ 2021
• WIDAC 2021-2022
• DesignBuild & BeSummit 2022
• Digital Construction Week 2022
• Australian Build Week Online 2022
• Sydney Build 2022
• BILT ANZ 2022

XCON Anywhere

Typically an in-person event hosted in the United States, XCON has transformed this year into XCON Anywhere, a unique virtual experience for design and construction professionals that will help you drive change and transform the way our world is built.

XCON Anywhere is an entirely virtual event on 28-29 September 2021, for industry leaders, influencers and everyday innovators looking to explore the latest trends in digital construction, deepen their understanding of Bluebeam solutions and forge strategic partnerships.

Learn how the core concepts of knowledge-sharing and reverse mentoring can change the way you look at technology education and discover how applying these concepts within your construction business can break down barriers, increase technology adoption, and help upskill employees.

Key event themes include:

• Technology and Networks to Overcome Physical Boundaries
• Advanced Revu for Construction Planning & Site Logistics
• Supercharge Government e-Plan Reviews
• Managing 3D PDFs in Revu
• Agile Project Management for the AEC Industry
• Applying Technology Education to Real-World Adoption
• Big Data for Big Projects
• Bluebeam and Autodesk Revit Workflows
• And plenty of beginner, intermediate, and advanced workshops for Revu

Presenters will show tips to increase efficiency, minimise risk, and improve project predictability using Revu and demonstrate how simplified workflows combined with accurate reporting maintain oversight, so nothing is left behind.

With dozens of sessions to choose from, XCON Anywhere features a tonne of in-depth virtual learning opportunities to keep you engaged and inspired, wherever you are.

VIC Major Projects Conference

The Victorian Government’s 2021-22 budget has promised a staggering $24.2 billion towards infrastructure investment—confirming the critical role the construction industry plays in creating jobs and boosting the economy.

Join the Victoria Major Projects Conference from 10-11 November 2021 to meet more than 200 industry experts and key stakeholders from public and private sectors for exclusive networking opportunities. Gain industry insights relating to emerging infrastructure opportunities, urban renewal and precinct developments. Discover the range of projects that will drive growth for the Victorian economy into and beyond the next decade.

NSW Major Projects Conference

Meanwhile, the 12th Annual NSW Major Projects Conference will be hosted at the Sydney International Convention Centre on 12-13 October 2021. After a year like no other, New South Wales is committed to building a better state with a record investment of $107.1 billion towards an expansive infrastructure pipeline.

Bringing together more than 25 senior-level executives from the public and private sector to discuss the significant state- wide infrastructure projects and associated opportunities across the supply chain—the largest infrastructure conference in NSW this year.

Learn about critical infrastructure investments such as:

• Western Sydney Airport
• Parramatta Light Rail
• The Sydney Metro West Project
• Powerhouse Parramatta Museum and more

Gain important insights relating to one of Australian most significant electricity transmission projects in decades, alongside the challenges and opportunities in meeting critical water supply needs for Greater Sydney into the next generation.

Also featuring opportunities to secure information relating to the Westmead Health Precinct, renewable energy, the state’s Cultural Infrastructure plan and more, the conference also introduces specialist advice around the rise of social procurement, implementing technology to elevate capability, and the Australian Participation Policy.

WIDAC (Women in Design and Construction)

One of Australia’s fastest growing AEC communities for women, WIDAC hosts events online and in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and offers a range of programs aiming to build capability and connectivity across the industry including extended mentoring programs tailored to ensure a match between mentors and mentees.

Join the Women in Design and Construction (WIDAC) events across Australia such as the virtual Design Review Masterclass on 7 September 2021 to learn how to master tools that will help improve response times in managing changes and reduce costs in Bluebeam Revu.

BILT ANZ

The annual BILT conference is billed as “the best place to get real advice from people who seriously know their stuff, yet continue to learn themselves.” With a collective of business leaders, thought leaders, innovators and implementers sharing their secrets to aid in the quest for a better, smarter industry, and a stronger, more sustainable built environment, the 10-12 March 2022 event offers:

• More than 60 classes, labs and discussions from more than 50 speakers over three days on topics relevant to architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, builders, facility managers and owners, taught by world-renowned experts
• Learn about best practices for Virtual Reality, Digital Engineering, Reality Capture, Drones, DfMA, VDC, BIM and IDD
• Dedicated exhibition featuring the latest cutting edge technology and solutions for the industry
• Opportunities to showcase proven project delivery methods for Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management
• Information about how to leverage digital information and technology to support your business objective

DesignBUILD Expo and Be Summit

Bringing together Australia’s architecture, building, construction and design communities in one essential event, DesignBUILD has been reimagined with a renewed focus on showcasing the best of quality Australian brands, products and sustainable solutions, as well as giving your construction business the chance to discover new markets, create new opportunities and build connections across the entire building lifecycle.

Attracting more than 6,000 delegates from across the design, building and operational life cycle, DesignBUILD will be hosted at the International Convention Centre from 10-12 May 2022.

Central to the event is Be Summit, a one-day event bringing together Australia’s built environment leaders, government policymakers and market experts to build a roadmap of recovery, and pave the way for future construction and development within Australia’s built environments.

A COVID-safe opportunity, Be Summit features experts from across the industry to discuss the major demands, plans, and opportunities for the future. This will be a live-streamed virtual event, so get ready to join the discussion and begin navigating a successful roadmap for our built environments.

Digital Construction Week

The U.K.’s leading platform for innovation and technology in the built environment, Digital Construction Week, is expanding into the Australian market right at DesignBUILD in 10-12 May 2022. Signifying the future direction of the industry, the dedicated content stream will help drive growth and investment into emerging markets.

With a focus on innovation, connectivity and transformation, delegates will discover the latest cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art products propelling the industry into the future.

Join Digital Construction Week to gain insights into:

• Artificial intelligence
• Robotics
• Business information modelling
• Business transformation
• Information management and data science
• Geospatial technologies and mapping
• Smart buildings
• Connected cities
• Visualisation
• Automation

Australia Build Week Online

From 16 May 2022, Australia Build Week Online will be the meeting place for the construction, architecture and infrastructure industry. The largest virtual event for the construction industry across Australia and New Zealand, Australia Build Week offers free attendance for construction professionals.

Discover the latest developments, opportunities and strategies across the construction sector while connecting with professionals from across the globe.

Join the event to access:

• On-demand sessions and live viewing also available
• CPD accredited workshops
• Case studies, expert speakers, development opportunities

Sydney Build

Billed as Australia’s largest construction expo, Sydney Build brings together industry experts, exhibitors and trainers to offer you a one-stop-shop.

Featuring a range of presentations, workshops and networking events, Sydney Build also includes two key supporting events: Digital Construction Australia and the Sydney Infrastructure Expo, bringing your business both new tools and opportunities to meet the challenges of the emerging construction era.

Hosted at the International Convention Centre, the two-day expo on 1-2 June 2022 offers access to more than 300 speakers, presentations, workshops and networking events. Keep up to date with all recent project announcements, spending updates and new technology releases around transport planning in NSW. Meet and network with industry professionals at Australia’s largest construction, architecture and infrastructure event. Each free ticket gives access to the Sydney Transport, Sydney Build and CIVENEX Infrastructure Exhibition.

Key event themes include:

• Spending—analysis and announcements
• Government tenders and new projects
• Federal and NSW State policy
• Public transport congestion management
• Fleet management
• Roads and traffic planning
• Motorways and freeways: upgrades, investment and construction
• City planning—building cities of the future
• Technology and automation
• Sydney Metro, light rail and rail infrastructure

Navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 era is a challenge for most industries, however opportunity is there to be harnessed.

The construction industry is at the forefront of government infrastructure investment and now is the time for the sector to future-proof through skills development, strategic business investment and the implementation of enabling tools and processes to streamline and improve operational delivery.

BILT ANZ

The annual BILT conference will be hosted a second time for 2022. BILT Conference is designed to cater to the needs of those who design, build, operate and maintain our built environment. With a collective of business leaders, thought leaders, innovators and implementers sharing their secrets to aid in the quest for a better, smarter industry, and a stronger, more sustainable built environment, the 24-26 November 2022 event offers:

• More than 90 classes, labs and discussions from more than 80 speakers over three days on topics relevant to architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, builders, facility managers and owners, taught by world-renowned experts
• Learn about best practices for Virtual Reality, Digital Engineering, Reality Capture, DfMA, Virtual Design and Construction, BIM and Integrated Digital Delivery
• Dedicated exhibition featuring the latest cutting edge technology and solutions for the industry
• The only event with something for everyone. This is an event that actively promotes collaborative practice between industry professionals
• Opportunities to showcase proven project delivery methods for Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management
• Information about how to leverage digital information and technology to support your business objective and improve the value of your profession within the industry