Conference Agenda

09:15 - 09:45

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

09:45 - 10:10

Developing Trade through the Port of Darwin and the Land Bridging Strategy

• Join David as he presents an overview of Aurizon’s investments in the Northern Territory and their aspirations for growth and supply chain resilience

David Norris, Supply Chain Development Manager, Aurizon

10:10 - 10:35

Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct

• The Precinct is located on the Middle Arm Peninsula of Darwin Harbour.
• It is a strategic approach to creating a ‘development-ready’ location for investment - especially renewables and low-emission energy and fuels, advanced manufacturing and low-emissions minerals processing.

Daniel Cameron, Project Director – Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, Infrastructure NT

10:35 - 11:00

Suncable’s Australia-Asia Powerlink (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.

Jett Street, Regional Director - NT, Sun Cable

11:30 - 11:50

Providing Energy Security for the Northern Territory

Alister Trier, Chief Executive, Department of Mining and Energy, Northern Territory Government

11:50 - 12:10

Darwin Region Water Supply Program Updates

• The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) and Manton Dam Return to Service (RTS) projects: Best solutions to ensuring water security for the Darwin region over the short and long term.
• The Manton Dam project has commenced construction and is rapidly progressing to supply water by 2026.
• The AROWS project represents a new way of thinking to deliver reliable, sustainable and safe water for the Darwin region over the long term.

Evan Tyrrell, Executive Director, Enabling Infrastructure, Infrastructure NT, Department of Logistics and Infrastructure Northern Territory Government

12:10 - 12:30

Introducing Bluebeam and it’s use across the project lifecycle

Digitise your plan reviews and approvals with greater speed and accuracy using software designed for civil engineering, land planning, and public development project collaboration. Bluebeam Revu enables secure plan and permit reviews, markups, and modifications, allowing for easy editing of drawings and documents with industry standard tools. Custom toolsets can be saved and shared to ensure alignment among clients and project partners. Revu also enhances preconstruction estimation by enabling visual searches, quick asset counts, and precise measurements, linking totals to Excel for accurate estimates. Additionally, it tracks all markups on PDFs, including author and status, and exports data to BI tools for actionable insights into project progress and asset management.

Ben Byrnes, Technical Executive - AEC, Arkance

12:30 - 12:50

Rover 1 Project

• Overview of the Castile Resources’ Rover 1 Project
• 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.

Michael Poepjes, Chief Technical Officer, Executive Director, Castile Resources

12:50 - 13:00

Ministerial Address

Hon William (Bill) Yan, Treasurer, Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Minister for Housing Construction, NT

14:00 - 14:20

Nolans Rare Earths Project

Arafura Resources Ltd is developing the Nolans Rare Earths project located on Aileron Station, approximately 135 kilometres NW of Alice Springs.

• Project Overview and Updates

Stewart Forrest, Manager - Northern Territory, Arafura Resources Limited

14:20 - 15:00

Panel Discussion
Shaping the Future of the Northern Territory

• Unlocking Opportunities for Growth
• Attracting private investment to the Territory
• Accelerating Indigenous Business and Employment Growth

Charmaine Phillips, Director Northern Territory, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Ltd.
Drew Wagner, Chief Executive Officer, UDIA NT
Darrin Hepworth, General Manager, Jawoyn Association

15:30 - 16:00

Legal Update: The Evolution of Government Contracting

• The contract models used by government to procure major projects in Australia have evolved over the past 5 years after a once-in-a-generation pipeline of major projects in Australia gave rise to complaints of a "profitless boom" for Australia's engineering and construction sector.
• Clayton Utz Major Projects Partner Greg Midgley will discuss the current state of the market in Australia and the latest developments in the forms of contract being used by governments throughout Australia to procure major projects.

Greg Midgley, Partner, Clayton Utz

16:00 - 16:30

Matt Green, Executive Director, DigitalDarwin NT

09:30 - 09:55

Overview of the Tennant Creek Projects

• Challenges and Opportunities of the Tennant Creek Mineral Field

Mike Dunbar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Emmerson Resources

09:55 - 10:20

Speed Networking

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

10:20 - 10:40

Developing the Hydrogen Industry in the Territory

• Hydrogen presents a significant long-term economic export opportunity for the Northern Territory.

Zoe McManus, Director Renewable Hydrogen, Office of Sustainable Energy, Department of Mining and Energy

10:40 - 11:00

Social and Affordable Housing for the Territory

• Driving a financially sustainable and and diverse social housing system

Karen Walsh, CEO, Venture Housing

11:30 - 11:50

Darwin Ship Lift

• The Northern Territory Government is delivering the Darwin ship lift to establish Darwin as a thriving maritime services industry hub, capitalising on the Territory’s strategic position in the Asia Pacific region and enabling the future marine industry park development.
• The Darwin Ship Lift Facility will be a common user facility, which will enable vessel owners to choose and manage their own service and maintenance providers. This will also enable multiple providers to operate concurrently at the facility.
• Latest Updates

Shane Dahlhelm, Executive Director - Darwin Harbour Infrastructure Projects, Infrastructure NT

11:50 - 12:10

Alice Springs Priority Projects

• Overview of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia Project (ATSIAGA)
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) is a transformative project that will see construction of a world-class gallery that celebrates the artistic traditions and cultural expressions of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Adam Walding, Deputy CEO, Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, NT

12:10 - 12:35

Barkly Project and the Bluebird Copper-Gold Discovery

• The Barkly Project and the Bluebird discovery are located 40km east of Tennant Creek at the eastern end of this major copper-gold field.
• Project Overview.

Vincent Algar, Chief Executive Officer, Tennant Minerals

13:35 - 14:00

Land Development Corporation

• Updates on the corporation’s latest projects
• Exploring its commitment to planning for economic growth and development

Tony Stubbin, Chief Executive Officer, Land Development Corporation

14:00 - 14:20

Stephanie Berlin, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Club NT