Conference Agenda

09:20 - 09:50

SPEED NETWORKING

This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with those they are seated with and other summit attendees.

09:50 - 10:10

Supporting Responsible and Sustainable Land Development to grow the NT Agriculture Sector

Andrew Bayliss, Senior Executive Director, Industry Development & Corporate, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, NT

10:10 - 10:40

Territory Energy Link and AROWS Projects

• The Northern Territory Government is investigating a multi-user, multi-asset infrastructure corridor as part of its commitment to rebuilding the Territory economy.
• It is called Territory Energy Link and was formerly known as the Tennant Creek to Darwin Infrastructure Corridor.
• The Territory Energy Link corridor will run for around 670km from near Elliott to the proposed Middle Arm Precinct in Darwin. It will be approximately 130m wide and support buried services including gas, water, optical fibre, hydrogen gas and other services in the future. The corridor will connect major energy projects in the Beetaloo Sub Basin to Middle Arm Precinct and other strategic infrastructure in Darwin.

Arows Project
AROWS is an innovative and sustainable large scale water storage project. 

• The AROWS project represents a new way of thinking to deliver reliable, sustainable and safe water for the Darwin region over the long term.
• Latest updates

Evan Tyrrell, Executive Director – Enabling Infrastructure, Department of Logistics and Infrastructure NT

10:40 - 11:00

Rebuilding the Territory's Economy

Stuart Knowles, Territory Coordinator, Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet Northern Territory

11:30 - 11:50

Rover 1 Project – Latest Updates

• The $280M million Rover 1 project presents an exciting opportunity for economic growth in the Barkly region.
• The Rover 1 Project is expected to target gold dore, 99% cobalt, 99% copper, and 96.4% magnetite in an underground mine 80kms south west of Tennant Creek.
• Latest updates

Mark Hepburn, Managing Director, Castile Resources Limited

11:50 - 12:10

Win More: Rethinking the Procurement Process

In the construction and engineering industries, the procurement phase often consumes significant time, spend and resources, diverting attention from crucial project delivery. This presentation will explore how companies can harness the power of AI to streamline the procurement process, minimise risks, and refocus efforts on execution.

AutogenAI enables organisations to generate high-quality draft bids, tenders, and proposals in minutes, accelerating workflows that traditionally take days. The session will provide real-world examples of construction and engineering companies that have successfully adopted this technology. Attendees will learn how these organisations have leveraged AI to improve stakeholder collaboration, enhance bid quality, and increase win rates. Importantly, the time saved has allowed teams to dedicate more resources to project planning and delivery, ensuring operational excellence.

Jack Brandon, Account Executive, AutogenAI Pty Ltd

12:10 - 12:40

Updates on the Suncable's AAPowerlink Project

SunCable’s flagship development project, Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), will harness and store renewable energy from the Northern Territory – for 24/7 transmission to Darwin and Singapore via a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system.\
The project includes the development of the world’s biggest integrated renewable energy and battery storage facility in the heart of the Northern Territory.
Latest Updates

Jett Street, Regional Director, NT Suncable

12:40 - 13:00

Developing Circular Economy Strategies for the Northern Territory Construction Sector

• Transitioning the Territory to a Circular Economy

Eileen Breen, Business Development Manager, NTEX, President - Waste & Recycling Industry Association NT (WRINT)

14:00 - 14:20

Dr. Ellin Lede, Chief Development Officer, Tivan Limited

14:20 - 14:40

3rd Generation Rapid Hardening Concrete Technology

• Opportunities to support Darwin’s major project delivery and maintenance of civil infrastructure when time is of the essence.

Andrew Ross, General Manager – Northern Region, Fulton Hogan Construction
Dr. Patrick Stähli, CEO, Concretum

14:40 - 15:00

Nolans Rare Earths Project

• Arafura Nolans Project Ltd (Arafura) is developing the Nolans Rare Earths project, which will encompass a mine, beneficiation plant, extraction plant, separation plant, sulphuric acid plant and related non-process infrastructure, to be constructed in the Northern Territory. 
• The project site is located on Aileron Station, approximately 135 kilometres NW of Alice Springs.

Stewart Forrest, Head of Northern Territory and Indigenous Affairs, Arafura Rare Earths Limited

15:30 - 15:50

Construction in Focus: Overcoming Delivery and Risk Challenges

• Insights from working across government, asset owners, tier one contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers.
• In this session, Mike will explore the key challenges the construction industry faces today—from navigating complex technology stacks to managing risk, compressed delivery schedules, and cost overruns.

Mike Kain, Lead Technical Consultant, ARKANCE

15:50 - 16:10

City of Darwin’s Waste to Energy: Opportunities at Shoal Bay

Simone Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, City of Darwin

16:10 - 16:40

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Rebuilding the NT’s Economy

• Priority Projects to Shape NT’s Infrastructure Future
• Addressing Skills Shortages 
• Accelerating Indigenous Engagement in Construction Projects

Drew Wagner, CEO, UDIA NT
Glen Hingley, Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce NT
Ruth Palmer, Northern Territory Executive Director, Property Council of Australia

09:25 - 09:50

SPEED NETWORKING

This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with those they are seated with and other summit attendees.

09:50 - 10:10

Eric Dyer, Chief Financial Officer, Tamboran Resources

10:10 - 10:30

Overview of Investments in Northern Australia and in particular the Northern Territory Region – NAIF

• The Northern Territory's vast land area and ample sunlight present opportunities for renewable energy development, including solar power projects and research into advanced energy technologies.

Stephen Land, Chief Investment Officer, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)

10:30 - 10:55

Darwin Port Masterplan

• Darwin Port is the only major multimodal port located in Northern Australia and is strategically located as Australia’s gateway to Asia and Asia’s gateway to Australia.

Peter Dummett, Chief Executive Officer, Darwin Port

11:25 - 11:45

Evolution of Public-Private Partnerships and Traditional Contracting

• "Public-Private Partnership" (PPP) vs Traditional Contracting.
• We will explore the evolution of "Traditional Contracting" methods which has blurred the lines between a PPP and other forms of public-private partnerships.
• We will highlight how each model controls project risk and cost, and touch on some notable past, current and future major projects across the Territory that involve a partnership between the public sector and private sector.

Andrew Giles, Partner, HWLE Lawyers

11:45 - 12:05

Affordable Housing for the Territory

•  Addressing the scale of housing need across the NT

Annie Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, NT Shelter

12:05 - 12:30

Legal Update: Recent Developments in the Northern Territory and Beyond

• Following on from his popular legal update sessions at the past two NT Major Projects Conferences, Clayton Utz Major Projects Partner Greg Midgley joins us again for a third year in a row.  Greg will discuss the current state of the construction market in the Northern Territory and Australia and the latest developments in both regulation and contract forms being implemented by governments in the Northern Territory and throughout Australia to procure major projects.

Greg Midgley, Partner, Clayton Utz

13:30 - 13:50

• The NT Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP) is a joint initiative between the Australian and NT governments to upgrade housing and essential infrastructure in Northern Territory homelands.
• Addressing critical housing and infrastructure issues in remote Northern Territory homelands.

Daniel Johns, A/Director, Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program, Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development NT

13:50 - 14:05

Delivering projects that enhance the regional economic development of the Northern Territory

Katrina Kawaljenko, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Development Australia NT

14:05 - 14:35

Power and Water Corporation Water Infrastructure Projects Overview

• Enabling future growth through major water infrastructure projects

Liam Early, Senior Project Manager, Power and Water Corporation
Trevor Durling, Principal Water Engineer, Power and Water Corporation