From 20–21 August at Swissôtel in Sydney, Australia’s leading experts across the utility and infrastructure sectors will assemble to take part in the nation’s fastest-growing asset management event and discuss the latest challenges and opportunities in the space.
The nature of the utility and infrastructure sectors is constantly shifting. Changing industry standards, Australia’s growing population and the effects of climate change are placing new pressures on asset managers; yet at the same time, new technologies are revolutionising the way we maintain and optimise our critical assets.
Amidst such transformation, it’s now more important than ever that asset managers have access to the latest information and the newest approaches.
Now in its third year, the Asset Management for Critical Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition is the place to be for updates on projects, processes and technologies to better manage Australia’s critical assets.
Over two days in August, the event will feature individual presentations, industry panels, networking sessions and targeted topic streams, providing attendees with practical applications to improve the way assets are managed.
Created by Monkey Media, the team behind Utility magazine, as well as other industry events including Digital Utilities and Smart Cities, the event will provide all the latest industry news and sector issues in a live format, with senior managers from power and water utilities, and infrastructure asset owners around Australia attending.
The speaker lineup includes representatives from utilities including: Sydney Water, Icon Water, Western Power, Powerlink, Jemena, ElectraNet, Infrastructure Australia, KPMG Australia, the ARTC, VicTrack, the Institute of Quality Asset Management and more.
Meet our speakers
Romilly Madew AO, CEO, Infrastructure Australia
Having led the Green Building Council of Australia for 13 years, Romilly is recognised around the world as a leader and advocate for change in the property and construction sector, earning an Order of Australia for her service. As the new CEO of Australia’s peak infrastructure authority, Romilly brings a broader understanding of the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Romilly’s keynote presentation will examine the ways asset managers can mitigate risk and develop comprehensive, long-term resilience strategies in the face of new challenges.
Dr Penny Burns, Chair, Talking Infrastructure Association
Penny is an infrastructure economist and asset management strategist who invented the modern idea of asset management in Australia. Her extensive industry experience includes roles as a foundation board member of the Asset Management Council, two decades as Editor and Publisher of AMQ International’s Strategic Asset Management, as well as direct ministerial and parliamentary review and advice.
Her presentation, Exploring the role of the future asset management strategist, will explore how asset managers can develop the right skills and ask the right questions to manage assets in the 21st century.
Carlos Gamez, Strategic Asset Performance Manager, Western Power
Carlos is a well-recognised electrical engineer and has worked across design engineering, product development, manufacturing, technology, software development and field engineering.
In 2007, Carlos moved to Perth to start up the Transformer Division at General Electric, before accepting the position of Principal Consultant with Assetivity in 2011, where he worked on projects within the Asset Management frameworks which eventually shaped the ISO 55000 set of standards.
In 2014, Carlos joined the MM Group to grow the TxMonitor business unit. He then moved to Western Power in 2016 as Team Leader of Operational Asset Performance and then transferred into the role of Technical Lead of one of the Corporate Strategic Initiatives.
A new and improved program
Each year, we refine the conference program based on feedback from past delegates and Utility readers who tell us what topics they want explored in depth. In 2019, the event will feature four dedicated streams exploring the biggest issues facing asset managers. These streams are:
Case studies and the implementation of ISO 55000
This year, we’re introducing a brand new stream presenting case studies and practical advice on the ISO 55000 standards. Panellists include:
Tammy Falconer, Head of Asset Knowledge, Sydney Water
Having delivered solutions to millions of customers throughout her career, Tammy has a deep knowledge of how to drive change in both state-owned corporations and public sector organisations in order to meet ever-climbing asset management standards.
Matt Henson, Asset Management Systems Manager, Jemena
With an exclusively utilities-based career, Matt will bring crucial firsthand experience from Jemena’s journey towards certification in ISO 55001 and ISO 27001.
Tom Carpenter, CEO of the Institute of Quality Asset Management (IQ-AM) and Director, Asset Management Council
As a founding member of the ISO committee that developed the ISO 55000/1/2 standards, Tom’s insights will be invaluable to the panel, offering the perspective of those creating and reviewing regulatory compliance frameworks.
Inspection and condition monitoring
In another new dedicated stream, panellists will discuss the technologies and approaches revolutionising inspection and condition monitoring processes. Speakers include:
Katherine Larkings, Team Leader
– Asset Strategy and Investment, Icon Water
Katherine has a list of major achievements in asset planning and development of water infrastructure, including overseeing a major upgrade to Icon Water’s condition assessment program.
Matthew Primmer, Planning and Asset Development Manager, Port of Melbourne
With responsibilities across a broad range of infrastructure assets, Matthew will focus on asset management systems and strategic planning frameworks for port facilities.
Managing renewable and energy assets
This dedicated stream is a must-attend for professionals in the energy sector, examining asset management at the intersection of the physical infrastructure, digital utilities and networks. Panellists include:
Lutfiye Manli, Senior Asset Management Strategy Advisor, Powerlink Queensland
With a PhD in Engineering Asset Management and over ten years’ experience in managing energy assets, Lutfiye has a comprehensive understanding of new ideas, approaches and changes in the sector.
Rohan Fernandez, Manager
– Strategic Asset Management, ElectraNet
Having accrued extensive experience working on optimising asset management practices within the technology domain, with a particular focus on cyber security, Rohan is well-placed to speak about enhancing our thinking in the energy space.
Sarah Hannah, Head of Asset Systems (Interim), Group Operations, AGL
Sarah is not your typical asset manager. She is responsible for the asset management systems across Australia’s largest portfolio of power generators. Whilst Sarah comes from a chemical and process engineering background, she brings a human touch to the industry. Sarah lives the value that people are our most important asset and bringing them along on the asset management journey is not an option, it’s essential.
The dedicated stream on asset management in the rail sector will also return in 2019 with a focus on the newest developments in the sector. Speakers in this stream include Brian Green, General Manager – Asset Management, The Australian Rail Track Corporation and Dr Collette Burke, Chief Engineer of Victoria and Director at VicTrack.
Steve Doran, Director, Infrastream, will be the MC for the conference, bringing his vast asset management experience to connect the presentation and really cement the topics in delegates minds. Dr Andrew O’Connor, Partner – Engineering and Asset Management, KPMG Australia, is also a special guest this year and will moderate two of the panel streams.
Other speakers also include Tommy Viljoen, Leading Partner, Cyber Security Strategy and Governance at Deloitte Australia, who will explore how organisations can manage critical infrastructure cyber attack risk, and Dr Michael Moffatt, Principal Technology Leader, National Leader Infrastructure Management, Australian Road Research Board (ARRB).
The biggest issues in asset management
In addition to the four targeted streams, we will also take a closer look at new asset management technologies and digital solutions, as well as methodological approaches and strategies behind those technologies. Topics that will be covered include:
- Data collection and analytics
- Creating digital asset strategies
- Protecting critical assets from cyber attacks
- Internet of Things
- Strategic asset management plans
- Planning best practice
- New assets vs maintaining existing assets
- Skills of the future and future asset manager capabilities
- And much more
A conference for industry professionals
The event brings together senior leaders and C-suite level decision-makers from Australian utilities, infrastructure asset owners, industry associations, consultancies and government.
Last year’s event saw delegates from Sydney Water, Ausgrid, V/Line, Queensland Urban Utilities, Powerlink, Transport for NSW, Jemena, Port Authority NSW, Ergon, Energy Queensland, Pacific National, Essential Energy, Sunwater, City West Water, Origin Energy, SA Water, Port of Melbourne, KPMG, Infrastructure Australia, nbn co, TransGrid, WaterNSW, among others.
Learn from other sectors
In order to truly optimise your current practices and operations, it’s often essential to see what others both within and beyond the utility sector are doing.
That’s why Asset Management for Critical Infrastructure is the only asset management event in Australia that sees different sectors — from water to power, rail, roads and transport — come together to give delegates the opportunity to hear about each other’s successes and learn from their mistakes.
Curated networking sessions will allow you to not only speak with other people in your field, but also hear how other industries are dealing with similar asset management problems. With a comprehensive and multi-sector approach to conferencing, the event is sure to equip delegates with new perspectives and ideas to take back to the office.
The 2019 Asset Management for Critical Infrastructure Conference will run from 20–21 August at Swissôtel in Sydney. Register at assetmanagementevent.com.au.
If you’re interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the event, you can download the prospectus on the website or email events@monkeymedia.com.au.
