For engineers, climate change it is no longer on the horizon – it is part of every project brief.
Whether it is energy systems, transport networks or urban infrastructure, climate resilience is now central to how things are built, maintained and adapted.
That is the starting point for the Engineers Australia Climate Smart Engineering Conference 2025 (CSE25), to be held for the first time in Adelaide on 27–28 August at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The event will bring together professionals across disciplines to share practical strategies for adaptation and mitigation – and to have frank conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and where we go from here.
This year’s theme, ‘Resilience engineered: Solutions for our climate reality’, reflects a clear shift in mindset. Engineering decisions now shape climate outcomes as much as they respond to them.
The program is not framed as a crisis summit – it’s a working session designed for practitioners who are already deep in the reality of building for a changing world.
With more than 60 speakers from across industry, research and government, the focus is on engineered solutions already being implemented and the structural shifts still needed.
The line-up includes respected voices like Professor Mark Howden, director of the Australian National University’s Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions and a key contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
His keynote will outline the current state of climate science and, more importantly, how that science is being translated into policy and infrastructure.
Sessions will also feature Engineers Australia Group Executive Professional Standards and Engineering Practice, Bernadette Foley, and ServiceGen co-founder, Ian Oppermann, discussing how to engineer flexibility into systems under pressure.
The keynote session from Natural Hazards Research Australia Science and Innovation Director, Professor Cheryl Desha, will seek to challenge some of the profession’s traditional risk frameworks and push for design approaches that evolve with shifting conditions.
On the practical side, the Engineering Circularity plenary will bring together researchers like Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox and engineering leaders like Professor Ali Abbas to explore how circular economy principles can drive resilience in supply chains, energy systems and material use.
Renowned demographer Simon Kuestenmacher will offer insights into how generational shifts and technology are reshaping the engineering sector. This represents a timely conversation, especially as demand for climate-focused skills grows faster than the current pipeline can supply.
Over two days, delegates will also explore technical sessions spanning decarbonisation, energy transition, circular economy, resilience, workforce, transport, infrastructure and more.
Each session is designed by engineers, for engineers, with input from industry, research and government experts to address real-world challenges.
Beyond the technical program, CSE25 offers something less tangible but just as important: space for candid conversation.
For engineers, policymakers and business leaders alike, the networking is not just about business cards – it’s about shared challenges, tested insights and ideas that might not surface in more formal forums.
In a profession that values rigour and realism, CSE25 offers a place to test assumptions, compare strategies and stay aligned on the challenges ahead.
To view the full conference program and register visit engineersaustralia.org.au/cse
