Built Evolution | Transitioning to timber and MMC
Built Evolution brings together speakers and practitioners from across the built environment to showcase timber structures in multi-residential, commercial and single-dwelling projects. Designed as a learning-focused conference, the event highlights timber construction and modern methods of construction (MMC), offering practical, project-based insights from industry experts.
For suppliers, manufacturers and service providers to the timber and construction sector, Built Evolution offers a rare opportunity: a full day with a concentrated audience of the people who specify, design, approve and build, all gathered specifically to learn how to deliver more projects using sustainable timber-based systems.
This event is hosted by Timber Insight, and proudly supported by WoodSolutions.
Why timber, why now
The Australian construction industry is at a turning point. Housing supply pressures, skilled labour shortages and the drive to decarbonise the built environment are accelerating the shift toward timber systems and modern methods of construction. Recent changes to the National Construction Code have opened the door to mid-rise timber buildings, and prefabricated and engineered timber solutions are moving rapidly from the margins to the mainstream.
Western Australia is a market on the move. Built Evolution is designed to give the WA industry the practical knowledge, case studies and connections to make that transition and to introduce them to the companies, products and ideas that will make it possible.
Explore the program
7.30–8.30am — Registrations & Expo Discovery
8.30am — Conference Opening
Acknowledgment of Country, safety, welcome to speakers and thanks to sponsors.
Craig Oatway, Timber Insight
Kevin Peachey, WoodSolutions
8.40am — Introduction: WA Housing Delivery Transition
Minister John Carey’s opening address will outline the WA Government’s commitment to accelerating housing delivery through innovation, local manufacturing and strategic investment in residential land and infrastructure.
Minister John Carey MLA
Accompanied by Policy Adviser Aamon Zothner
9.00am — Market Overview: WA Housing Market Overview
An overview of the Western Australian housing market, including current trends and key statistics on Perth’s housing supply and demand. Michael will also touch on challenges and opportunities for the WA housing sector.
Michael MacGowan, Executive Director, HIA
9.25am — Panel: The Role of MMC in Affordable Housing
The panel will cover the volume of housing delivery, opportunities for prefabrication, challenges to scaling and the need for varied housing typologies.
Moderator: Craig Oatway
Panellists: Minister John Carey; Michael MacGowan, HIA; Norm Roberts, Offsite; Sam Reece, AAA; and Liam Loan-Lack, Keystart
9.50am — Case Study: Scaling Housing Delivery Through Timber Prefab
Speaking on the company’s evolution towards MMC and sustainable building practices, including its strategic direction and operational investment in shifting to increased levels of prefabricated timber-framed housing.
Brad Ridolfi, Scott Park Group
10.15am — Morning Tea in Expo Area
10.45am — Panel: Building the Future of Lightweight Timber Framing
How FWPA- and AFWI-funded research and development is shaping new industry standards, making it easier than ever to build in timber across all construction typologies.
Introduction and moderator: Kersten Gentle
Panellists: Rhianna Robinson, FTMA/USC; Kevin Peachey, FWPA; and Jon Shanks, TimberEd
11.30am — Timber: The Ultimate Renewable
How Australia’s forestry sector can deliver secure timber supply, long-term carbon storage and verified sustainability through modern forest management and PEFC-certified projects.
Matt de Jong, Responsible Wood
11.50am — Designing for Less Carbon
Discover how smarter material choices and practical embodied-carbon analysis can help deliver lower-carbon homes without compromising cost, performance or buildability.
Tom Petty, CarbonTrace
12.10pm — Case Study: The Precinct Project
A nationally significant advanced-manufacturing strategy transforming plantation timber into engineered wood products and prefabricated components.
Tim Woods and Edwina Vulcz, The Precinct Project
12.30pm — TOBY for Childhood Cancer
An overview of the charity, its objectives and results.
Ian Meachem, TOBY FCC
12.35pm — Lunch in Expo Area
1.30pm — Smarter Systems for More Homes
Building 4.0 CRC’s kit-of-parts approach is simplifying design, accelerating prefabrication and creating a practical pathway to faster, more scalable housing delivery across Australia.
Daryl Patterson, Building 4.0 CRC
1.55pm — Engineered in WA
Locally manufactured engineered wood products are delivering high performance, greater resource efficiency and a stronger sustainability story for the future of Australian construction.
Kathy Morris, Wesbeam
2.20pm — The Rise of Australian Mass Timber
Learn how Australian-made CLT and GLT systems are creating faster, lower-carbon and more predictable construction outcomes for the next generation of Australian buildings.
Ben Cox, NeXTimber (Timberlink)
2.45pm — Case Study: Lessons from the Mass Timber Front Line
From early contractor involvement to on-site installation, this session unpacks the real-world experience of delivering mass-timber projects and what it means for the future of timber construction in WA.
Ian Meachem, Constructive PD (CPD)
12.35pm — Lunch in Expo Area
1.30pm — Smarter Systems for More Homes
Building 4.0 CRC’s kit-of-parts approach is simplifying design, accelerating prefabrication, and creating a practical pathway to faster, more scalable housing delivery across Australia.
Daryl Patterson, Building 4.0 CRC
1.55pm — Engineered in WA
Locally manufactured engineered wood products are delivering high performance, greater resource efficiency, and a stronger sustainability story for the future of Australian construction.
Kathy Morris, Wesbeam
2.20pm — The Rise of Australian Mass Timber
Learn how Australian-made CLT and GLT systems are creating faster, lower-carbon and more predictable construction outcomes for the next generation of Australian buildings.
Ben Cox, NeXTimber (Timberlink)
2.45pm — Case Study: Lessons from the Mass Timber Front Line
From early contractor involvement to on-site installation, this session unpacks the real-world experience of delivering mass timber projects and what it means for the future of timber construction in WA.
Ian Meachem, Constructive PD (CPD)
3.10pm — Afternoon Tea in Expo Area
3.40pm — Energy Compliance in a New Construction Era
Practical guidance for achieving energy-rating compliance in Western Australia as the industry transitions to framed, prefabricated and lower-carbon building systems.
Debbie Bute, Leading Energy
4.05pm — Enabling the Next Generation of Housing
This session examines how DevelopmentWA is helping create the policy, land and infrastructure settings needed for innovative and industrialised housing solutions to grow in Western Australia.
TBC, DevelopmentWA
4.30pm — Close of the Day
Event wrap-up and acknowledgement of speakers and sponsors.
Craig Oatway, Timber Insight
5.00pm — Documentary Screening: “Built By Nature: Our Future”
Exclusive Australian first screening of a documentary about landmark projects in the global drive to decarbonise the built environment, narrated by Kevin McCloud. Film screening and networking drinks in the Expo Area.
Built By Nature (builtbn.org)
The event at a glance
- Full-day conference at Crown Perth
- Plenary sessions featuring high-calibre speakers and practical, project-based content
- Exhibition hall open all day, with an extended lunch held in the exhibition space
- Morning tea, hot buffet lunch, and drinks with the evening screening
- Exclusive screening of Our Future: Built By Nature Documentary