Conference Day One - Tuesday, 31 October

Go to day two Go to post-conference Masterclass sessions

08:15

Registration and welcome coffee

08:50

Opening remarks from the Chair

Rita Henderson
Professor and Deputy Dean (Societal Impact and Translation)
University of New South Wales Engineering

DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS

09:00

Building a successful long-term career in engineering

Analysing the key drivers to set your engineering career off on the right foot
Developing a matrix of skills including strong communication, problem-solving and analytical thinking to provide a solid leadership foundation
Harnessing your skills as a collaborator and negotiator to build bridges across your organisation and with stakeholders

Nina Kilpinen
Managing Director
Seed Engineering

09:30

PANEL DISCUSSION: Building an effective engineering leader’s toolbox

How can you help to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement within your organisation?
What are the most effective strategies to ensure effective collaboration within teams and between other departments?
How can diversity and inclusion be fostered within teams and how can you demonstrate the benefits of a diverse team?
What are the best ways to respond to and manage conflicting priorities when leading a team?

Moderator:

Susan Pearce
Chief Executive Officer
Australian General Practice Network

Panellists:

Beatriz Toribio Lopez
Head of Asset Engineering
RES

Tamsyn Parker
Business Manager, Customer Engineering Services NSW/ACT
BOC South Pacific

Eleanor Loudon
Chief Executive Officer
Engineers Without Borders

Margaret Rogacki
General Manager, Australia LNG
ExxonMobil

10:20

Leading through technical expertise: balancing technical proficiency with leadership skills

Building effective leadership behaviours to increase the performance and well-being of your team and organisation
Inspiring creativity, innovation & technical proficiency
Bridging the gap between creating leaders and technical experts

Elizabeth Taylor AO
Chair
SmartCrete Cooperative Research Centre

10:50

Morning tea

11:20

Building confidence and self-esteem to find success in engineering

Exploring strategies to develop self-confidence and assertiveness in engineering roles
Overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing a growth mindset to fuel professional growth
Building resilience and managing setbacks to maintain confidence in the face of challenges

Ashley McCarthy-Griffiths
Business Improvement Principal | President
Stanmore | Power of Engineering

IMPROVING PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTROLS AND A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS

11:50

PANEL DISCUSSION: Identifying and elevating the key project management skills all leaders need to master

What are the key challenges that engineers commonly face when managing projects, and how can they overcome them?
How can engineers effectively prioritise tasks, anticipate potential issues, manage resources, and allocate budgets?
What project management methodologies or frameworks are most effective for engineering projects, and how can engineers apply them?
How can engineers evaluate project performance, conduct post-project reviews, and apply lessons learned to future projects?

Moderator:

Sarah de Man
Major Maintenance & TAR Manager – Asset Services
Origin

Panellists:

Angela Jeffery
Project Director – Western Sydney Airport
Sydney Metro

Nina Lee
Senior Associate - Structures
BG&E

Emma Ram
Manager, Electrical Programs, Major Works
Sydney Trains

12:40

Networking lunch

13:40

Optimising project controls for success

Streamlining project monitoring and reporting processes to maximise value and improve efficiency
Leveraging real time data with analytics to drive timely and informed decision-making and project success
Breaking down the silos and increasing collaboration among project stakeholders

Maria Koutsimpiris
Project Controls Manager – Southern Program Alliance | Chair - National Committee for Women in Engineering
ACCIONA | Engineers Australia

Luz Vasquez-Castro
Project Controls Manager – Eastern Region
ACCIONA

14:10

Mastering risk management for optimal outcomes

Identifying and mitigating potential risks through proactive risk assessment and analysis
Implementing robust risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans to safeguard project success
Enhancing communication among project teams to effectively address and manage risks throughout the engineering lifecycle

Ingrid Fuentes
Manager, Network Safety and Risk
Energy Queensland

14:40

Considering safety culture in projects and operations environments

Understanding safety maturity models and how to improve safety culture
Analysing the treatment of hazards and risks
Examples of risk management for projects and operational risks

Praema Ranga
Engineering Capability Manager
Boeing Defence Australia

15:10

Afternoon tea

PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AS CRITICAL FACETS OF A SUCESSFUL ORGANISATION

15:40

Navigating and thriving in a male-dominated environment

Leveraging emotional intelligence to enhance communication and relationship-building skills
Creating an inclusive workplace by engaging with executives to promote diversity and shift culture
Addressing bias, unconscious bias and microaggressions in the workforce

Benita Husband
Engineering Director – Victoria and Tasmania
CPB Contractors

16:10

PANEL DISCUSSION: Creating an inclusive future and a fairer, more functional workplace

What challenges or barriers exist when it comes to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce?
What steps can we take to address and mitigate any systemic barriers that may exist within the engineering profession?
How do you ensure that underrepresented voices are heard and valued in engineering decision-making processes?

Moderator: