Australia's Construction Industry lacks a shared view of its future self - its time to uncover that future and invest

Western Sydney University's Centre for Smart Modern Construction in collaboration with Australia's leading voice on off-site construction manufacture PrefabAUS will host an important conference on Construction Opportunities in Western Sydney - Modernise or Die in Sydney on the 2nd March 2018. This is a unique opportunity for the industry, policy makers and the university to hear from the UK's industry leader Mark Farmer and key NSW clients who will deliver important future capital works programs.

Find out more about the Construction Opportunities in Western Sydney: Modernise or Die conference.

The Centre for Smart Modern Construction (SMC) - c4SMC involves a unique industry and academic collaboration to invest in preparing our next-gen constructors and construction professionals to be future-ready. The collaboration will involve industry investment in supporting new SMC focused research to deliver evidence-based insights into our transforming industry. These insights will help inform academics and supporting c4SMC investors with intel they will need to thrive in the SMC era. The Centre has adopted a number of strategically focused parallel initiatives that combined with its industry responsive research priorities will deliver impact within 3 - 5-years.

The Centre's Director, Professor Srinath Perera said, "the Construction Opportunities in Western Sydney - Modernise of Die, conference is just one, but an important piece of the Centre's intent to open up an important conversation within the university and amongst industry collaborators to uncover answers about what the industry's future-self might be." 

The Centre has commenced an ambitious program since its inception late in 2017. Over $200,000 of industry investment has been committed to 4 new research projects. The university has matched the industry investment with over $180,000 direct investment. It has also fully funded a further research project to investigate digital methodologies to track and record the actual amount of embedded carbon in buildings. All of these projects will be at the forefront of new industry knowledge gathering and capability building. The Centre has also commenced the award of new High Achiever Final Years Undergraduate Scholarships aimed at recognising the best talent and exposing them early to c4SMC supporters.

Professor Perera will announce that the Centre will hold a one day forum on the 10th July, 2018 where the researchers engaged on c4SMC projects will present the scope and program of their intended studies to academic peers and the industry. The forum to be called 'Joining up Construction - the essential conversations.' It will provide a unique and novel opportunity for academics and industry to engage, to share their insights and to hear firsthand of the areas where early insight into the planned research will potentially benefit industry in the near future. The researchers will benefit from early industry feedback and advice. Please save the date. Attendance will be limited to 75 industry and academic participants.
For details contact: c4smc@westernsydney.edu.au

Professor Perera said "the Construction Opportunities in Western Sydney - Modernise of Die conference will help set the tone for many of the conversations the industry will need to have about its future-self. The insights that will be shared by Mark Farmer and leaders from NSW Health Infrastructure, NSW Education Infrastructure and the Western Sydney Airport Co were very timely. The conference will be a great opportunity to hear of the new procurement models that will re-shape business as usual and point to the changing nature of work methods and skills that will be needed to prepare for increasing amounts of traditional on-site fabrication moving off-site in the digital, global economy." 
Professor Perera said, "we are very excited about this event and urge as many in the industry to attend as possible - we are enthused by the wide industry engagement that the Centre now attracts - this event will lift this to a new level"

c4SMC investors will receive complimentary invitations to the Conference, where their continuing support will be acknowledged. Centre advocate,Western Sydney Business Chamber President David Borger will moderate a speaker panel to allow attendees to ask questions and to test their views of the industry's future-self. Remember,

Registration details for the Conference are provided in the link above. There are special prices for whole table bookings in the anticipation this opportunity will be attractive to hosts to bring their clients, key team members and business associates along.

Written by:
David Chandler OAM
Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University
11 February 2018