Principal Partner

NeXTimber by Timberlink

NeXTimber® by Timberlink manufactures Australian made engineered wood products (EWPs) and provides mass timber building solutions with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) members.

Made from sustainably certified local Australian plantation pine that sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, NeXTimber CLT panels and GLT members provide the biophilic and environmental benefits of traditional timber but with the strength to support taller and more complex structures.

Production of the NeXTimber range is scheduled to begin in 2023. Our locally based technical support team is ready now to help you optimise the use of NeXTimber products in your future projects.

NeXTimber: It’s what better tomorrows are built on.

Website – www.nextimber.com.au 

Video – https://youtu.be/IJ4dXBqVB88 

Platinum Partner

XLam Australia

XLam leads the manufacture and supply of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) beams and columns for use in conventional and mass timber construction projects across Australia and New Zealand. 

Across the government, commercial and residential sectors, XLam CLT and GLT is routinely specified and used in applications from major construction projects through to individual mass timber buildings.  XLam has secured a market reputation for quality, efficiency and technical support that means XLam is the natural choice for the production and supply of engineered timber for sustainable and efficient prefabricated mass timber and “hybrid” conventional construction.

XLam offers a total solutions package including design, manufacturing, off-site solutions and assembly services. Every project is unique and XLam understands the requirements of a fast, safe and sustainable construction process to ensure efficient delivery.

www.xlam.co.nz

Gold Partners

MASSLAM-ASH 

MASSLAM is a revolutionary glue-laminated (GLT) mass-timber solution from Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) – Australia’s largest and most advanced hardwood manufacturer.

ASH’s glulam timber systems (including columns, beams, and floors) are grown, owned, and manufactured in Australia.

MASSLAM is designed for manufacture and assembly by our in-house team of MASSLAM experts. MASSLAM has formed the primary structure for many of Australia’s largest and most prominent mass timber projects and with expanding product ranges and fibre resources, many big-scale commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional projects are in the pipeline. 

ASH’s MASSLAM range utilises uniquely attractive Australian timbers like Tasmanian Oak and Plantation Oak, as well imported species like American Oak, chosen because they have some of the best strength-to-weight ratios of any timber species worldwide. MASSLAM’s product grades and CNC process has advantages that allow longer spans, higher ceilings, increased floor space, lesser beam depth and lower associated connection and installation costs. Better still, mass timber like MASSLAM is cheaper to construct than concrete and steel, looks better, is safe, sustainable and efficient.

https://ash.com.au/

HASSLACHER group / HESS TIMBER

HESS TIMBER, a member of the HASSLACHER group, offers a unique range of services for architects, planners, and developers and sets new standards with over 140 years of experience and a constant drive for innovation as a sought-after company for special solutions in timber engineering. HESS TIMBER has specialised in the realisation of architecturally challenging and large-scale mass timber projects. HESS TIMBER can refer to outstanding projects in Australia, such as the country’s first commercial wooden multistorey office building International House Sydney, the award-winning Performance Space of Phoenix Central Park, or the free-formed foyer of Bunjil Place in Melbourne.
www.hess-timber.com/en

Gold Sponsor

WoodSolutions

WoodSolutions is an industry initiative designed to provide independent, non-proprietary information about timber and wood products to professionals and companies involved in building design and construction.
WoodSolutions comprises a website with more than 3000 pages of information and downloadable resources, technical publications, professional seminars and other related activities.
A collaborative effort between FWPA members, WoodSolutions is supported by industry bodies and technical associations.
www.woodsolutions.com.au

Silver Partners

Intergrain Trade & Industrial

Bring your timber projects to life with Intergrain Trade & Industrial. Our technical representatives have detailed product knowledge and can help you achieve the best outcome for your timber projects. Whether you’re an architect, specifier, builder, or coating applicator, we are here to provide you with tailored product selection, specification, and application solutions.

www.cabots.com.au

Pentarch Forestry

Pentarch Forestry commenced business in 1992 by establishing a business to export softwood pine logs to South Korea. It quickly became apparent that there was minimal expertise in this area elsewhere within Australia. The Company has progressively developed specialist skills and services in the fields of log marshalling, shipping and international trade to facilitate log export operations, and as a result of the acquisition of Boral Timber in 2021, is now one of the largest suppliers of certified hardwood and softwood in Australia with a wide product range including flooring, structural timber, decking, furniture timber, decorative and cladding. Pentarch Forestry products are used for structural, commercial and renovation markets and are distributed across domestic and export markets.

http://pentarch.com.au/

Wurth Australia

Wurth Australia’s Construction Division supplies all trades in the building and timber industries, with quality the foundation of our market-leading position in assembly products and techniques. Wurth provides screws, anchors, abrasives, hand tools, material processing, chemicals, and health and safety equipment. Our highly qualified and industry leading Engineering Team can provide technical on-site support to ensure that installations or applications are safe, efficient and specification compliant. A full range of post installed anchoring solutions are available from heavy duty concrete screws and fix anchors to a range of chemical injection products for concrete and masonry.

Wurth – World market leader in the sale of fastening materials.

https://eshop.wurth.com.au/en/GB/AUD/

Bronze Partners

Bliss & Reels

Bliss & Reels are a machinery supply & service company established in the 1940’s.  We are the exclusive local representatives for a range of European equipment manufacturers for the prefab & mass timber sectors.

RANDEK are a pioneer in automation for offsite house / building manufacture, having been active in the sector since the early 1960’s.  The systems are used to manufacture wall frames & wall panels, floor cassettes, roof trusses and modular buildings, along with the latest technology in robotics, and digital vision system technology.

ESSETRE are a leading supplier of woodworking machinery, in operation for over 40 years.  The company has a complete range of machines for processing structural building elements made from solid and laminated timber, glulam beams and CLT panels.

LAP manufacture laser projection systems.  These improve the accuracy and speed of manual assembly tasks including production of floor cassettes, roof trusses and wall frames/panels.

www.blissandreels.com.au

CLT Toolbox

CLT Toolbox is a software company tailored for the timber industry that solves two major problems that can help engineers design with timber products:

  • Education: timber isn’t taught adequately at university, nor are their readily available design standards for the emerging mid-high rise opportunity spaces. 
  • Automated design routines: Engineers around the country are implementing the same design routines, typically through excel.

Research shows that these two major frictions result in approximately 500 hours of unpaid learning for structural engineers in designing their first building. Subsequently, projects are run at a loss and engineers are deterred from the sector

CLT Toolbox is the future of structural design for mass timber buildings. With support from leading mass timber suppliers across Australia, our state-of-the-art software is set to automate the costly structural design process and provide the education missing at university. 

CLT Toolbox simplifies the design process, reducing the barrier to entry for engineers unfamiliar with timber. Our software is user-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective, leading the trend towards the productization of construction.

The software has had interest from all Tier 1 engineering firms in Australia and has 10paid  beta companies using the product. CLT Toolbox is partnering with the supply chain ahead of an upcoming public release later in 2023. 

https://clttoolbox.com.au/

Homag/Weinmann

The HOMAG Group is a leading manufacturer of modern, high-performance machines, production lines and systems for the construction of prefabricated timber buildings, with a coordinated portfolio for woodworking including solutions for utilising computer-controlled, automated machinery with a range of CAD/CAM-interfacing controls.

As part of the German HOMAG Group, WEINMANN portfolio includes beam processing, production of wall elements, roof and floor elements and the processing of large-scale board materials and handling, storage systems and providing solutions for cross-laminated timber (CLT)

www.homag-australia.com

Hundegger Australasia

Hundegger offers innovation matched with high performance in production of engineered timber frame and mass wood systems, with unique functionality and reliability in their ‘state of the art’ solutions for processing including cutting saws, panel processing and CNC machines, along with the most recent software technologies and robotic developments to meet customer’s future requirements.

As an Australasian company, we offer high levels of technical support and backup service with a comprehensive range of spare parts and a decade of experience in servicing local markets.

www.hundegger.de

Simpson Strongtie

Simpson Strong-Tie is one of the largest suppliers of structural building products in the world, including timber connectors, fasteners, fastening systems, anchors and lateral-force resisting systems. The company is known for its commitment to product development, engineering, testing and training as well as providing customers with quality products and exceptional service. Today, Simpson Strong-Tie has more than 3,100 employees and more than 50 factories, offices and warehouses all around the globe.

https://strongtie.com.au/

Weinig Australia

Michael Weinig Australia is the industry leader in solid wood and panel processing technology and equipment. We provide innovative manufacturing solutions for the smallest workshop through to industry turnkey production lines. The Weinig & Holz-Her range of equipment includes moulders, cross-cut saws, rip saws, finger jointers, gluing presses, scanners, CNC machining centres, edge banders, beam saws, vertical saws, material handling equipment, along with fully integrated software solutions that manage and optimise production. For manufacturing excellence – Think Weinig.

http://www.weinig.com.au/

Exhibitor Partners

BeA Australia

BeA supplies customised fastening systems and automated fastening equipment for frame & truss fabrication and provide new fastening innovations in timber frame and panel construction. BeA provide modular-tool systems that offer solutions from automated packaging to single-unit fabrication to mass production, with customized solutions for prefabricated houses, furniture, automotive, appliances and packaging. 

www.bea-group.com

Cadwork

Cadwork is the front runner in timber construction software and solutions markets for more than 30 years. With its complete and flexible range of design, management, and production modules, cadwork covers all areas of timber construction applications (Mass Timber, Framing, Modular, Hybrid, DFMA, Traditional Carpentry to name a few) and each stage of a project (Architectural Design, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Management, Production, etc).

Unmatched flexibility and power to meet business needs, using state-of-the-art technologies to ensure maximum speed in visualization and data access. Each year cadwork reinvests more than 25 % of its resources into software development.

https://www.cadwork.com/cwen/Home

ROCKWOOL Malaysia

ROCKWOOL Malaysia, a subsidiary of ROCKWOOL International, is the leading manufacturer of stone wool insulation products in Malaysia. ROCKWOOL Malaysia manufactures and supplies a full range of smart and sustainable insulation products for the construction and process industries based on innovative stone wool technology. ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation is made from one of nature’s most abundant resources –volcanic rock. Not only is it a naturally renewable and sustainable material, it also boasts a unique combination of benefits and lays the foundation for our business. All our insulation products possess outstanding fire, acoustic, thermal and water properties as well as a lifelong durability, making it the sustainable and cost-effective choice. ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products are water repellent by nature – we keep buildings warm and dry without any reduction in thermal performance over time, as well as resist moisture in humid climates, protecting the long-term health of buildings and the people within them. Saving the environment, building and people ROCKWOOL insulation saves more than the energy used for its production. Its use helps conserve scarce energy resources and thereby helps alleviate severe environmental problems.

rockwoolasia.com

Rothoblaas

Rothoblaas is an Italian multinational and a leading developer and provider of high technology solutions for the engineered wood construction sector, engaging with architects, engineers and builders to create solutions for fixing and fastening, along with membranes and tapes for improved building performance in acoustics and moisture control. Along with catalogues for the extensive product range, specialised design software can further assist designers in finding the most efficient solution for a wide range of connections in construction.

Rothoblaas is one of the leading companies worldwide in the development of products and services dedicated to the wood carpentry industry and continues to export know-how from the heart of the Italian Alps to the world.

www.rothoblaas.com

Siegware

An established supplier business of architectural innovations, Siegware offers the most up-to-date products from select manufacturers in Europe and around the world. Siegware stocks a range of construction supplies and specialised hardware including Sherpa connectors for engineered timbers such as Glulam, CLT and sawn timber beams. Products for low energy builds, a comprehensive range of Isocell airtightness products, Siegenia AERO ventilators, silicones, Adler low VOC timber finishes, a variety of construction tools, window and door hardware, and more. 

Siegware provides a unique service to our customers, through knowledgeable support, technical expertise and wide stock offering. With over 10 years of experience in the building supply industry, Siegware has the solutions for your most complex projects.

https://www.siegware.com.au

SPAX

As a leading manufacturer and supplier of screws for timber connections, SPAX has revolutionised the timber fastening industry by developing innovations that boost productivity and save on-site costs. 

SPAX products are certified as 100% made in Germany so there is no compromise in quality. SPAX is specified by architects and engineers throughout Europe, America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In Australia and New Zealand, SPAX provides trained sales representatives and engineering support to provide tailored solutions and design advice for your next project.

SPAX is proud to announce its 200 year anniversary this year, having been founded in 1823 as the first company in the world to undertake the industrial production of screws and it continues to develop and improve the SPAX product range.

www.spaxpacific.com

Hospitality Sponsors

Theca Rubner

As the representative partner for Rubner in Australia and New Zealand, Theca Timber is a go-to expert in engineered timber structural solutions, and a major supplier of all kind of engineered timber structures down under.

Rubner started manufacturing glued laminated timber (GLT) in 1976, and today it’s an innovative product-oriented manufacturer with headquarter in Italy, branches across Europe, and has completed jobs in over 60 Countries.

Being a specialized company in timber engineering, Rubner is conscious of the strong impact of the early involvement of an engineered timber manufacturer in the design process, and can lead projects using timber where it is called use for. It’s one of the world largest bespoke GLT supplier, well known for its versatility and fully prefabricated solutions.

Representing the natural evolution of expertise in timber construction, since 2016 Theca Timber and Rubner have joined forces to offer services that range from managing the design process completely, to offering specialistic consultancy for complex structural solutions, to supply fully prefabricated structures straight to site.

While promoting and marketing innovative solutions to the entire local industry, including developers, architects, engineers, specialist consultants and builders, Theca Timber and Rubner make sure that right from the start of the design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA), the process progresses to create cost efficiencies in value engineering.

theca.com.au

Viridi Group

Smarter, Sustainable Construction: Building for a Better Tomorrow.

At ViRIDI, we are focused on revolutionising the construction process, using ViRIDI’s cutting edge facilities and advanced manufacturing techniques. We are fast-tracking building projects using prefabrication and timber based structural solutions, whilst maintaining a focus on sustainability.

We’re pushing boundaries and embracing innovation with our range of timber based structural components offering flexibility for all project types. These are adaptable and cost effective – we are the market leaders in optimal standardised design.

https://www.viridigroup.com.au/

Event Supporters

Kevin Peachey
Kevin Peachey, Head of Built Environment Programs, Forest & Wood Products Australia

Kevin works for Forest and Wood Products Australia and manages WoodSolutions as well as industry data management and analysis to support improved decision making throughout the sector’s value chain.

FWPA is a not-for-profit industry services company that collaborates with government and industry to deliver transformative RD&E initiatives and market development programs to drive growth in the Australian forest and wood products industry.

Kevin’s background includes key roles with the Australian Forest Products Association, Timber Towns Victoria, the National Timber Councils Australia, Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment and Director for the Forest Stewardship Council


Perry Forsythe
Emeritus Professor, University of Technology, Sydney

Perry has a strong mix of research, teaching, academic, managerial and practical experience obtained in the construction industry over a 45 year period. He has held senior positions in design, construction, estimating, project management and professional consultancy organisations. He has also had a broad spanning career in the University sector, primarily as the Professor of Construction Project Management at the University of Technology Sydney. He has had constant involvement in the research and development of timber construction systems, especially concerning mass timber construction and the optimisation of onsite productivity.


David Oliver
EGM Sales, Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Timberlink Australia

David Oliver is the EGM Sales, Marketing & Corporate Affairs for Timberlink Australia & New Zealand.
Throughout David’s career he has worked with a range of Australian manufacturing companies supplying the Frame & Truss, retail Hardware, building, construction and automotive sectors in domestic and export markets. Over the last 7 years David has worked for Timberlink and has been deeply involved in the development of the NeXTimber Cross Laminated and Glue Laminated Timber business.

Mario Savva
Managing Director, Savcon

Established in 1999, Savcon Pty Ltd is one of Australia’s most reputable commercial carpentry companies and leaders in Australasian Mass Timber Construction Movement. Savcon are renowned for the exceptional projects they deliver. They are the emerging national leaders in Mass Timber Installations on large scale construction projects, fast gaining a reputation in Europe and Australasia as Mass Timber Experts. We have been at the forefront of the Mass Timber Movement since it emerged into the Australian construction industry, forging valuable relationships, and collaborating with Major Australian, New Zealand and European Industry Experts.


Andrew Dunn
Chief Executive Officer, Timber Development Association

Andrew has 39 years of experience in the building industry, with the last 33 years within the timber sector and 23 years as CEO of TDA.
He is educated in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Sydney and has a Master of Timber Engineering from Central Queensland University.
Andrew’s work within the timber industry has been at the market end of the timber industry’s supply. Focusing on the needs of the construction sector and matching the capacity or ability of the timber industry to meet these needs.
Technically based, he has represented the industry on numerous committees from Australian Standard, Building Industry, Government and timber industry boards and panels. He has co-chaired two international timber industry networks on the promotion and promotion of fire-safe timber buildings.
He has extensive knowledge in fire and sound timber technology and is more recently involved in introducing cross-laminated timber and mid-rise timber-framed building systems to Australia


Rob duToit
Head of Business Development, XLam Australia

Rob joined Xlam earlier this year as Head of Business Development.  He has over 25 years’ experience in the building and infrastructure sector in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, with the majority of this experience in technical sales, business development and management. Rob applies his broad knowledge of building materials and industry experience to developing opportunities for mass timber construction and is enthusiastic to be a part of a growing industry focusing on innovative construction solutions.  At Xlam, we are driving change in the construction industry with faster, more efficient, safer, and sustainable solutions.


Kevin Ezard
Event Founder, Timber Offsite Construction Conference & Exhibition

Kevin’s career commenced in automotive engineering design, and progressed into a wide range of business activities including waste recycling, hardwood sawmilling, prefab timber framing, building materials, along with a marketing consultancy to a broad range of clients.
He also organised local and international events on Automotive engineering and the Australian wine industry, and created the famous ‘ezard’ restaurant with his son Teage in Melbourne’s CBD.
23 years ago Kevin founded the ‘Frame Australia’ conference and exhibition, which was focussed on prefabricated timber framing in housing construction.
Over time the program content moved to engineered wood and mass timber buildings, and so in 2017 the name was changed to ‘Timber Offsite Construction’.
This year’s event will be Kevin’s last, as he is handing over the reins to the Timber Development Association NSW, headed up by Andrew Dunn.


Nikeesh Prasad
Structural Engineer, Aurecon

Nikeesh Prasad is a Structural Engineer at Aurecon in Melbourne with a strong background in delivering building structures across various sectors like education, commercial, data centres, and sports stadiums. He became intrigued by mass timber buildings while attending the World Conference in Timber Engineering during his university years, and this interest has persisted throughout his professional career. His mass timber journey has included celebrated projects such as the CLT House and the San Clemente High School Hall. More recently, he has contributed to the design of the Boola Katitjin building, the largest mass timber building in Western Australia as well as the grandstands of the new Alliance Stadium in Sydney, not timber but still exciting!
Rasied in the Fiji Islands, Nikeesh is acutely aware of the impacts of climate change and is committed to creating sustainable designs that optimize carbon efficiency. Beyond structural engineering, he likes to train machine learning algorithms and enjoys participating in discussions about artificial intelligence.

Ali Habibi
Principal & Structural Operations Leader, Northrop Consulting Engineers

Ali is a Sydney-based Principal of Northrop and Chartered Engineer with over 20 years of experience. He is national operation leads of Northrop structural division. His career portfolio includes number of national and international award-winning timber projects such as:

He is a recognised expert in multi-storey engineered timber buildings, with multiple academic papers and industry presentations to his credit. Ali is the board member of the ACSE and has been appointed an Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University.
Ali’s approach is to design beyond structural engineering by analysing the overall purpose of a space, considering its users, its lifecycle and its environmental footprint.


Nathan Benbow
Engineering Design Manager, Australian Sustainable
Hardwoods (ASH)

Nathan, Young Engineer of the Year – Victoria Winner for 2021 is a highly skilled structural engineer who genuinely believes there is a better way to build. He is passionate about mass timber design and construction and is doing what he can to make positive change in the local construction industry.
Nathan has delivered many note-worthy projects during his career, including the Royd Clan’s House in Ceres, Adina Hotel’s 55 Southbank Boulevard and the MASSLAM skylight at the Westfield Knox redevelopment.
Nathan joined the team at Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) in 2021 and is developing the design and detailing capabilities of MASSLAM GLT and assisting project structural engineers to optimise designs using DfMA principles.

Jo Lees
Construction Manager, Hines

Jo Lees is Construction Manager at Hines and oversees the design, programming, procurement, construction and close-out of Hines development projects in Australia. With nearly two decades of experience in the construction industry and across multiple asset classes, Jo brings a track-record of delivering high-quality projects on-time and on-budget to the Hines team.  In her current role, Jo is responsible for the development of the T3 Collingwood – a 15-story, 18,000 square meter concrete and timber hybrid office in the city’s progressive Collingwood neighbourhood which is scheduled for completion September 2023; and 50 Ann St – a 25 storey office tower known as the State Law Building located in Brisbane’s CBD.

Andrew Cartledge
Senior Development Manager, Residential Development, Mirvac

20 yrs residential development experience as a Development Manager across the end to end development process including 10yrs as a Senior Development Manager at Mirvac


Jess Baller
Design Coordinator, Multiplex Australia

With a passion for sustainability and innovation, Jess is an experienced Design Coordinator in the field of construction. She boasts a strong track record of facilitating collaboration between clients, design teams, and construction professionals, effectively bridging the gap between architectural dreams and on-site practicality.
Jess excels in navigating the intricacies of construction projects, ensuring design integrity while closely adhering to project timelines and budgets. She is widely recognized for her meticulous attention to detail and adept problem-solving skills, consistently contributing to successful project outcomes.
Jessica holds a first-class honours degree in Construction Management from Curtin University and has played a pivotal role in the success of a diverse range of projects. These include data centres, apartment complexes, defence facilities, commercial developments, and most notably, Boola Katitjin – the MET academic facility for Murdoch University.

Tyson Infanti
Director of Business Development, Hasslacher Timber Australia

Tyson Infanti is a leader in the mass timber industry, having worked in the supply chain of CLT and Glulam commercial projects since its early days in Australia.
Tyson holds a degree in structural engineering and has spent most of his career in project management and design, with a more recent move into business development with Hasslacher Timber Australia. He has a passion for timber and sustainable construction methods and appreciates the detailed planning and technical aspects of mass timber projects.
With a hands-on, practical approach to his work, Tyson frequently attends the construction site to educate clients and gain more knowledge of the product which we all know and love; wood.

Carey Lyon
Founding Director, Lyons

Carey Lyon is a founding Director of Lyons, one of Australia’s largest and innovative architectural design practices. Lyons is committed to the intellectual exposition of architectural practice, actively folding conceptual ideas into the realities of delivering major projects.
Carey is an acknowledged leader in design within Australia, evidenced by the multi-award-winning projects he has led and co-led, and his long-standing role as Professor of Architecture at RMIT University and peer elected positions for national architecture bodies.
Carey was National President of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2006/2007 and has also been a Board Member of the Green Building Council of Australia, as well as being a current member of the Victorian Design Review Panel. He has been awarded a Life Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Architects and the Presidential Medal from the American Institute of Architects.
His practice’s work has been awarded over 100 national and international design awards, including the Victorian Architecture Medal in 2023, 2018 and 2002 and in 2023 received both the Queensland and Western Australian Medallions.
Lyons represented Australia at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2023, 2014, 2008 and 2000. The practices work has been extensively published nationally and internationally, including a major monograph by Thames and Hudson called “more – the architecture of Lyons 1996 – 2011”.


Stefan Gerber
Technical Sales & Business Development Manager,
Binderholz Australia

Stefan represents Binderholz Australia Pty Ltd, with focus on the development and supply of refined CLT and Glulam mass timber systems. Stefan has over 25 years experience in the timber and broader construction industry, in Australia and in Europe, and worked across a multitude of disciplines within the sector, ranging from Engineering, R&D, Sales through to Technology Management. Stefan found his life-long passion for working with timber by beginning his career in the European tradition, with an apprenticeship in joinery. Combining his experience and passion with undergraduate and post graduate qualifications in timber engineering and business management, he has a rare and comprehensive understanding of the applications and benefits of mass timber systems in Australia.


Anders Carlsson
Sustainability Manager, Derome Group

As a building engineer I have worked at building sites but I spent most of my time at Derom´s Technical department working on our technical platforms, wood and moisture. Nowadays my focus is on Research and Development, developing solutions for our house companies. I’m also Sustainability Manager for the Derome Group.


Jason Hursthouse
Project Director, Holmes Solutions, NZ

After completing study with a diverse mix of geology, economics and project management experience, I was drawn toward the technology and development company Holmes Solutions. I have worked in the construction team for six years in project director and business development roles. I seek opportunities to collaborate and drive the construction industry forward. Our team work on major projects for world-leading clients using evidence-based design to create new technologies.

At Holmes Solutions, we believe in transforming the building industry and we see mass timber as a key piece of the puzzle. We’re working to understand the challenges and use innovation to overcome them. I am passionate and excited about this work and journey the sector is on.


Jon Roebuck
Team Leader Mass Timber, Holmes Solutions, NZ

After many years as a mechanical engineer in the automotive, aerospace and marine engineering industries, I made a change of direction in 2019 to lead the Mass Timber Technology team at the Holmes Solutions R&D centre in Christchurch.

My 30 years since graduation in London have been a journey of discovery, from designing race cars to tackling pressing issues of affordable housing and climate change. I find it rewarding to see the technology we develop making a meaningful difference to our built environment.

Our team have a track record in identifying the future needs of mass timber construction and working with industry leading partners to bring successful products to market. We look forward to playing a key role in enabling the widespread adoption of timber in our cities.


Phil Tondl
Group Manager ‑ Design & Innovation, Lipman

Phil joined Lipman in January 2016 with a passion for design, first-hand appreciation of buildable solutions and a drive to deliver exemplary buildings.
He has positioned himself within industry as a progressive thinker, highly collaborative by nature and committed to delivering genuine innovation.
Phil believes timber has an important place in the future of our industry. He has travelled extensively to ensure Lipman is at the frontier of this emerging construction technology.
He was instrumental in the delivery of the acclaimed Macquarie University Incubator.
In 2019, Phil commenced his current role to lead a growing team through a time of significant change for the construction industry.  He is driving new levels of manufactured content into buildings delivered by Lipman, further consolidating their leadership in the delivery of innovation, quality, and value.

Richard Smith
Director, MBM Consultancy

Richard is a Director at MBM and a highly accomplished quantity surveyor with over 25 years of experience. He firmly believes in unlocking the industry’s potential for smarter, sustainable approaches, as demonstrated by his contributions to significant projects such as Barangaroo and the emergence of Parramatta as a second CBD. Specializing in social and affordable housing, timber construction, and modular schools, MBM has become an authority in these methodologies, anticipating and embracing the next wave of innovative practices.
Richard’s unwavering enthusiasm for the industry plays a vital role in MBM’s exceptional track record. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability and the belief that quality, cost, and time can coexist, Richard continues to champion innovation and drive the industry towards a prosperous and environmentally responsible future.

Dale Jeffs
Site Supervisor, ICON Construction

I am originally from Adelaide and moved to Melbourne 7 years ago. My background is metal fabrication and started in construction from year 12 in 2008 where I completed a school based apprenticeship in Adelaide.
I worked for a company in Adelaide called Tri Metal Engineering for 7 years where I worked on multiple jobs including the RAAF base in Edinburgh SA, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Convention Centre and SAHMRI (South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute).
I have been working with con for the past 6 years. My first project was 601 Saint Kilda road. I started as a JR foreman on this project where I worked on the structure, façade and an intricate balustrade system. After 601 I worked on park house apartments in Richmond where I was a finishers foreman. I was also was part of the Calvary aged care facility in Caulfield south. There I was part of the residential age care building and subacute wing as the structure foreman and finishes foreman.

Dr Tripti Singh
Centre Director, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life

Professor, Dr. Tripti Singh has recently been appointed as Director of the Timber Durability Centre, at the University of Sunshine Coast.  Dr. Singh has an extensive background in timber durability and a global reputation for research excellence.  She is also affiliated as a senior scientist at Scion, New Zealand. Dr Singh has published extensively on the subject of timber durability and works closely with industry through her membership in the joint Australia/New Zealand Committee TM-012 as well as the Australasian Wood Preservation. She has also held leadership positions in the International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG/WP) and currently serves on the Executive Committee.

Robert Svars
General Manager, Vistek Engineers

Robert is the General Manager of Vistek, a structural engineering firm that has been at the forefront of mass timber’s introduction to the Australian market. He has recently launched V-SET (Services for Engineered Timber) a design/consultancy service specifically tailored to the requirements of mass timber projects. This leverages Vistek’s mass timber experience and broader industry network to help the construction industry embrace low-carbon construction methods at scale.


Amanda Sturgeon
CEO, Built by Nature

Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA is the CEO of Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund dedicated to creating buildings that work in unison with nature. Previously, as the Regenerative Design and Climate Change Practice Lead at global consultancy firm Mott MacDonald, she brought regenerative design solutions to city scale projects across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. As the former CEO of the International Living Future Institute, she spent a decade creating regenerative frameworks such as the Living Building and Community Challenge programs, scaled the organization globally and created a global movement around Biophilic Design. Amanda is an award-winning architect, author of Creating Biophilic Buildings, a TED Speaker on Bringing Biophilic Design to Life and has an essay in the anthology All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions to Climate Change. In 2015 she was named as one of the top 10 women  in sustainability with the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award and was elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2014.

Eric Guenther
Co-Founder & Principal, Interstice, LLC

Eric is a Co-Founder and Principal at Interstice, LLC where he leads digital and structural optimization. He is invested in the development of sustainable and holistic AEC systems through applied research and computational design.   His structural and architectural background allows him to understand the broader goals of projects and implement innovative and cost-effective solutions.   Eric believes in embracing technology but only when balanced with practicality and real world constraints.

Jimmy Walker
Associate, JCB Architects

Jimmy is an Associate at Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, with over 17 years experience in the industry. 
As a Senior Project Architect, Jimmy brings meticulous attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills to every project, with a particular ability to resolve complex issues and tackle project challenges head on.  Throughout his career, he has worked in leading design practices in both Melbourne and Darwin, across multi residential, healthcare, education, residential, social housing, infrastructure, tropical design and remote community work. 
Jimmy has a keen interest in the design and delivery process of Mass Timber structures; and is currently leading JCB’s T3 Collingwood 36 Wellington St project.

Nigel Burdon
Technical Director & Structural Practice Lead VSA, AECOM

Nigel is a Technical Director in the AECOM Melbourne Building Structures team who has worked around the world on various complex and innovative projects. He has a particular interest in designing long-span complex geometry structures, as well as in timber engineering. Nigel’s timber design experience ranges from gridshells to large commercial office buildings. Notable timber experience includes leading the design of the Bunjil Place Council Facility, as well as the award winning Swinburne University Factory of the Future spherical timber meeting room structure. His commercial timber office experience began with the design of Ballarat GovHub which as a first of its size in Victoria helped pave the way for large- scale timber office buildings in the state. Nigel is currently the AECOM Project Director for T3 Collingwood, leading the multidisciplinary engineering team.

Steven Craft
CHM Fire Consultants, Canada

Dr. Steven Craft is a founding partner of CHM Fire Consultants Ltd located in Ottawa, Canada.  He served as an Adjunct Professor in the Fire Safety Engineering Program at Carleton University from 2010- 2019 and was a Research Scientist with Canada’s National Forest Products Research Institute (FPInnovations) from 2006-2011.  He has an undergraduate degree in Forest Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD in Fire Safety Engineering from Carleton University.  He is the Chair of the ULC Fire Test Committee, is a Vice-chair of ASTM Committee on Fire Standards and, is on the Technical Committee for the Canadian Wood Design Standard, CSA O86, where he Chairs the Task Group on Fire Resistance.  Dr. Craft has been involved in over 20 significant mass timber buildings across Canada.


Olivia Thim
Business Development Manager, Växjö Linnaeus
Sciencepark

I work at Växjö Linnaeus Sciencepark, responsible for business development. Sciencepark is an innovation arena with 4 focus areas:

We are a start-up and want to help small and medium sized companies in their innovation journey.
My last job was 8 years as manager of construction- and energy project manager in a real estate company. I have a strong interest in changing the construction industry because the industry is a major contributor to our carbon footprint. I am also chairman of an association with 30 companies called sustainable Småland, where we highlight hot topics that companies and organisations should be aware of in aiming to meet the goals of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


Andrew Ball
President, oWOW, USA

Andrew Ball is the President and Partner of oWOW, an Oakland, CA Real Estate firm with vertically integrated Development, Design, Construction and Property Management Divisions. oWow specializes in apartment buildings using mass timber structures that are priced for the missing middle with incomes between 80 to 120% of AMI.
He was previously President and Partner at RAD Urban, a company specializing in high rise Modular housing projects with internal divisions providing Manufacturing, Design and Construction.
Most notably he was the owner and CEO of Webcor Builders for 20 years growing the company from $20M to $1.4B with notable projects that include the California Academy of Sciences, SFMOMA, Lucas Arts Letterman campus , Electronic Arts headquarters, Oracle campus headquarters, Infinity Towers, Transbay Terminal and many more, until he sold the company to Obayashi corporation.
Mr. Ball was a four time Governor appointed California Water Commissioner, a Board member of the Bay Area Council and co-Chair of its Water Committee, and served as a Board member of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group heading up Water Policy. He has been involved in other industry organizations including the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Center for Economic Development, SPUR, Stanford Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, and UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment.

Alar Just
Professor of Structural Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology

Alar Just is a professor at Tallinn University of Technology and a researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Dr. Just has been working as a Chief Engineer at the structural design office for 15 years where lead the design of many timber buildings and bridges. His current research is related to fire resistance of timber structures. He has conducted more than 250 fire tests. He is currently supervising 3 PhD students in the field of fire resistance of timber structures. Beside home university he has regular courses at Linneaus University and London City University. Dr. Just is reviewer for several scientific journals, in the scientific board of the conferences Structures in Fire, Wood Building Forum and Wood and Fire.
Alar Just is a head of Estonian delegation in CEN TC 250 SC 5. He is member of TC250 – SC5.T4 project team, drafting the next generation of EN 1995-1-2.

Jane Armstrong
Technical Sales Engineer, Viridi Group

Jane’s passion for innovative systems has made her an industry leader, particularly with the use of prefabrication techniques and mass timber. At Viridi, Jane applies her technical expertise in timber engineering, alongside nearly 8 years of construction in mass timber – to drive adaptable and efficient building solutions. She has a knack of communicating complex engineering problems, in simple and engaging ways.
Jane approaches each project with a passion to embrace and learn from past experiences, developing innovative solutions; and offering clients with responses that address their needs. We are driving change in the construction industry at Viridi, with sustainable, safe and smart building products at the forefront.

Maria Hindy
Project Coordinator, ICON Construction

I have worked in this industry for 6 years, Graduated from the double degree at Deakin University for Architecture & Construction Management. I started as an interned at an architecture firm and worked there for 3 years, then decided to move to the builders side in 2019. I worked at Probuild on T1 jobs all over Melbourne CBD where I was first exposed to Timber on Northumberland Street (54 Wellington St). At Northumberland Street I managed occupancy permit & practical completion process where I needed to understand timber structure handover with the FRV & RBS. I moved to Icon in 2022 and became the Timber Structural Coordinator at 36 Wellington Street. My job involved shop drawing coordination, fire testing execution, Logistics and installation coordination, Moisture Management plan development and execution, Crane crew & lifting equipment coordination, etc..

Projects summary:

  • T3 36 Wellington Street: Commercial, GLT & CLT installation
  • CSL Elizabeth North Stage 2: Pharmaceutical Research & Development
  • Northumberland: Commercial, CLT design
  • West Side Place: Residential Towers, Office / Commercial, 6 Star Hotel

Mei Doery
Project Manager, ICON Construction

With over 12 years’ experience working in the property and construction industry, Mei Doery is a Project Manager at Icon having been with the company for nearly 7 years. Mei grew up with a love of fixing and building things with her older brother. Mei originally studied a Bachelor of Environments in Melbourne with a passion for sustainability and ambitions to become an architect. She eventually swapped to a Master of Construction and has spent time as a client side Project Manager, a Contract Administrator and now Icon Project Manager completing the delivery of 36 Wellington Street a 15 Level Commercial Office Tower.  In the last 3 years, Mei has led the delivery of 480 Elizabeth Street, a 52 Level Student Accommodation Tower in the Melbourne CBD (one of the tallest student accommodation jobs in Australia), The VCCC Centre of Excellence (CoE), a PCA A grade pharmaceutical lab & GMP manufacturing facility and a highly complex health project.

Kieran Hayes
Senior Technical Engineer, XLam Australia

Kieran is an accomplished structural engineer and certified Passiv Haus Designer with extensive experience in mass timber projects. As the Senior Technical Engineer for XLAM, he is responsible for product development, technical inquiries, and design assistance for the ANZ region. He oversees the entire supply chain, from the processing of sawn timber at Hyne’s Tumbarumba mill to the final certification of CLT and Glulam components on construction sites.
In his previous role as a Structural Engineer at XLAM, Kieran led several notable projects, including seven single and double-story mass timber office pods, a glulam warehouse with 36m clear spans, and a 6-storey office utilizing CLT band beams. His prior consulting experience included notable projects such as the New Sydney Fish Markets and Wynyard Place – Shell House.
Kieran’s holistic understanding of building principles, coupled with his background in structural engineering, has earned him chartership in the field. He is passionate about delivering high-quality, sustainable building solutions and remains dedicated to continuing his work in the industry.

James Dibble
Managing Director, Grange Development

 

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    Craig Curtis
    Director of Emerging Building Technologies, Seattle, USA

    Craig is a nationally recognized design leader with a focus on innovative, sustainable integrated design and the incorporation of emerging building technologies including mass timber and modular construction. He has extensive experience with mass timber projects including several projects currently in design at Mithun, including an 11-story mass timber condominium project, multiple buildings for the Binderholz company and commercial office structures. Craig also serves in a firmwide role, sharing knowledge across the practice and collaborating with teams on a wide range of project typologies for clients looking to explore the integration of new building technologies. He is a frequent presenter at conferences, design awards juror and architectural studio critic, supporting the advancement of mass timber and development of next generation talent. Craig spent five years at Katerra prior to joining Mithun, where he led the architecture and design division and was responsible for the development of several building platforms utilizing mass timber as the basis for design. While at Katerra, Craig was architect of record for the Catalyst building (designed to ILFI zero energy and zero carbon certification standards), and the development of the Katerra CLT factory in Spokane Valley, WA (now owned and operated by Mercer, Inc.).

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