DigiComm25 Speakers
OUR HOST

PETRA BAGUST

 

GLOBAL SPEAKERS

JEAMES HANLEY | NATE HELBACH | MICHAEL NOLANDARYL PATTERSON |SHAOLEI REN |JENNIFER WHYTE

 

LOCAL SPEAKERS

ROBERT AMOR | AMELIA BURNETTTROY COYLEKAYE MAREE DUNNANDREW FIELDJAKE NASHKERI NIVEN | MELANIE TRISTRAM

 

PETRA BAGUST - HOST

Petra Bagust - Kaikōrero, broadcaster, host

Petra has been a voice of influence through television, radio and podcasting in Aotearoa since the nineties, and while her hairstyle has changed, her positivity and charismatic communication certainly hasn’t. Petra brings a wealth of real-life experience to the table having navigated the turbulent world of media, balancing the challenges of family life and career, through to partnering with powerful organisations of change both locally and globally. Always engaging, sometimes irreverent,

Petra speaks her mind with purpose, clarity and soul.

 

JEAMES HANLEY - GLOBAL

Jeames Hanley is a Digital Technologies Lead at Buchan in Sydney. As a CTO technologist and strategist, Jeames combines strategic vision with technical expertise to propel organizations toward true digital transformation. Jeames’ work is centered around supporting people in an era shaped by exceptional technological advancements.

Jeames' presentation at DigiComm25 will focus on Creating an AI Strategy, including: 

  • Industry Challenges
  • Pace of Change
  • Skills of the future
  • Steps to build your AI strategy
  • Roadblocks and Benefits

Audience takeaways:

  • Understand the value of an AI Strategy
  • Know where to start your AI journey
  • How to deal with common roadblocks

Who can’t miss this presentation?

Architects, Digital Managers/leaders, those working in governance and business strategy

 

NATE HELBACH - GLOBAL

Nate Helbach is the founder and CEO of Neutral. While studying finance and sustainability at Harvard Extension School, Nate developed the framework of what is now Neutral, which redefines conventional development strategies and mitigates the harmful effects of the built environment on our ecosystem. Nate founded Neutral based on this thesis developed at Harvard in 2019/2020 and continuously seeks to evolve and innovate new sustainable and regenerative development methods to rejuvenate our built environment. He leads financing, capital markets, accounting, investments, product development, and construction oversight of the company's low-, mid-, and high-rise developments.

See more from Nate Helbach:

Nate's presentation at DigiComm25 will focus on Mass Timber, including: 

  • A case study into mass timber projects in the USA including but not limited to the following considerations:
    • Sustainability
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Entitlement
    • Design
    • Engineering
    • Construction
  • The holistic mass timber market
  • Passive House (PHIUS) Living Building Challenge (LBC) and LEED certifications and process
  • Volumetric module and flat-pack componentization
  • Vertical interrogation of a development architecture, engineering, and construction company.

Audience takeaways:

  • How to build a mass timber buildings
  • The case for flat-pack componentisation and not volumetric module
  • How to decrease operational and embodied carbon emissions
  • The business case for PHIUS and LBC certification
  • How to build a regenerative circular building
  • Understanding how to build a mass timber building
  • Why a developer should build a PHIUS or LBC certified building
  • Understanding how to use flat-pack componentisation
  • Why a development company should be vertically integrated

Who can’t miss this presentation?

Architects, Contractors, Developers, Property Owners, Project Managers, Timber enthusiasts

 

MICHAEL NOLAN - GLOBAL

Michael Nolan works as the Principal, Climate Risk and Resilience at Aurecon. He has 30 years’ experience in sustainability, climate change risk, resilience and carbon management for government, private sector and construction.

He was previously the Director of the International Secretariat for the United Nations Global Compact - Cities Programme and a key contributor to: United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction - Global Methodology for Infrastructure Resilience.

He co-authored the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia’s rating scheme; the Australian Standard AS5334 Climate Change Adaptation for Settlements and Infrastructure; Investing in Community Futures – eBook; and 100 Resilient Cities strategy and tools.

Michael has strong global experience (20+ nations) advising on climate change investment prioritisation.

Michael's presentation at DigiComm 25 will focus on Resilient and Sustainable Investment Decisions, with information on:

  • UN Resilient Infrastructure Scorecard and its application
  • Carbon Assessment for Transport Investment (CATI) tool for Waka Kotahi (NZ)
  • Integrating multiple benefits into investment decisions, core strategy and financial disclosures

Audience takeaways:

  • Global approaches to incorporate resilience and carbon into investment decision making
  • Local examples of supporting decision making
  • Challenges and opportunities for construction industry

Who can’t miss this presentation?

Consultants, those in infrastructure, government and local government decision makers

 

DARYL PATTERSON - GLOBAL

Daryl Patterson, trained in architecture, had 28 years of experience with Lendlease, gaining expertise in design, construction, and technology while co-founding four internal start-ups.

As Chief Product Officer and Head of Design for Lendlease Digital, he led platform development for a kit-of-parts system utilising design automation, for enhanced productivity. He also introduced cross-laminated timber (CLT) to Australia and contributed to major global mass timber projects.

Currently, Daryl consults on construction industrialization for many organisations and collaborates with Building 4.0, a research centre focusing on design and construction productivity. Daryl was a founding proponent of the Building 4.0 centre.

See more from Daryl Patterson:

Daryl's presentation at DigiComm 25 will focus on the Digital Intersection between Design and Making with lessons from DfMA and Design Automation

Audience takeaways:

  • Lessons Learned in Manufacturing Buildings
  • Opportunities and Pitfalls in Digital Technologies
  • Value of Open Systems

Who can’t miss this presentation?

Consultants, Architects, Project Managers, Design Managers

 

SHAOLEI REN - GLOBAL

Shaolei Ren is an Associate Professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside. His research broadly focuses on addressing algorithmic and systems challenges to build responsible AI, with applications to networked systems, sustainability, and public health.

His work has generated significant societal impacts, including adoption in AI guidelines of many international organizations and governments such as the United Nations, UNESCO, WHO, and Government of Canada.

He received the NSF CAREER Award in 2015 and multiple paper awards including ACM e-Energy’24 and ’16. He holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

See more from Shaolei Ren: 

Shaolei's presentation at DigiComm 25 will focus on improving sustainability and health with AI including: 

  • Sustainable AI, including carbon emissions and water consumption.
  • Health-informed AI
  • Holistically responsible and equitable AI
  • Leveraging AI to improve sustainability and health. 

Audience takeaways:

  • AI’s growing carbon emission and water consumption.
  • The health impacts of AI.
  • The potential for AI to improve sustainability and health.

Who can’t miss this presentation?

Those in infrastructure (particularly water), government and local government decision makers, property developers

 

JENNIFER WHYTE - GLOBAL

Professor Jennifer Whyte is Director of the John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney. Her research is on how digital information transforms delivery of major projects, project leadership and future making. Her research team works with engineers and managers on major projects to develop new generation solutions.

Her research has had a significant impact on transforming industry and policy, through participation in Advisory Boards, notably the main board of the UK Construction Leadership Council (2019-2021) and the Building Safely Committee (2018-2019), set up after the Grenfell Disaster.

She is a Policy Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and retains a position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London.

See more from Jennifer Whyte:

Jennifer's presentation at DigiComm25 will focus on infrastructure and a systems approach to digital transformation including:

  • What questions should project leaders and engineers ask as digital information transforms delivery?
  • Digital information as connected with production approaches: Insights from research with project leaders and engineers on digital strategy, managing change, systems integration and handover on major projects.  
  • Challenges and opportunities encountered when advancing digital tools, e.g. visualization tools for the construction site and natural language processing.
  • Differences between digital information in projects (as temporary organisations) and in firms. 

Audience takeaways:

  • Digital thread of information within the project and its persistence afterwards
  • Managing digital innovation offline from the critical path of delivery
  • Digital information as supporting larger production approaches

Who can’t miss this presentation?
Industry leaders, consultants, those in infrastructure, government and local government decision makers

 

ROBERT AMOR - LOCAL

Professor Robert Amor has spent over 30 years working on the application of computer science research in the architecture, engineering, and construction domains.
He is a Professor at the School of Computer Science, University of Auckland + Chief Experience Officer and Director of Compliance Audit Systems Ltd.

See more from Robert Amor:

 

AMELIA BURNETT - LOCAL

Amelia Burnett is the Director of Clementine Consulting Ltd, she is aleader, change manager, and subject matter expert with 10+ years’ experience enabling transformation within the infrastructure, sustainable development, engineering, and digital innovation fields.

She recently led the InfraTech program at the Global Infrastructure Hub, a not-for-profit created by the G20, which increased global investment in InfraTech-enabled infrastructure projects.

Amelia has produced consensus and data-driven reports for multilateral organisations on enabling the global InfraTech ecosystem, sustainable finance and infrastructure taxonomies. Her publications include reports and thought leadership on digital twins, systems thinking, digital transformation and modern methods of construction.

Before joining the GI Hub, Amelia worked in consultancy, providing strategic advisory services to projects and organisations seeking to affect positive change in the built environment sector. Prior to returning to New Zealand, Amelia held leadership positions in several UK infrastructure transformation programs, including the National Digital Twin program, the Construction Innovation Hub, and the Centre for Digital Built Britain, in her role at the University of Cambridge.

 

TROY COYLE - LOCAL

Troy Coyle is the CEO of the Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) and was formerly the Director and Deputy Chair. She was the first female member of HERA’s Executive and holds a number of governance and leadership roles in the construction industry including Co-Chair of the Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council.

Troy is passionate about innovation, diversity, sustainability, new technologies, customer engagement, NZ Living Standards framework and digital transformation.

 

KAYE MAREE DUNN - LOCAL

Kaye-Maree Dunn - Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Mahanga, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāi Te Rangikoianaake

Kaye-Maree is the co-founder of Āhau, a blockchain-based whānau data platform that is reconnecting indigenous people and pākehā with their past and identities. She is also the Kaiwhakahaere | Director of Making Everything Achievable Limited which she created with her brother Mita in 2010.

Kaye Maree is a wahine Māori tech entrepreneur who has made her mark in the digitech industry, she aspires to ‘use our influence for social and collective impact and to help transform the lives of others.’ Specialising in relationship building, strategy, facilitation and human centred design, Kaye-Maree wants to ensure individuals have the right tools and support to govern their organisations with confidence and competence.

 

ANDREW FIELD - LOCAL

Andrew Field is a Business Director, Advisory, Digital Transformation at Beca.

He is an experienced Project Director, Digital Transformation lead in the construction sector; supporting the digital enablement of delivery practices on major utility and transportation projects. Assisting clients to connect their asset management strategies to their information management processes; supporting decision-making for better outcomes for asset owners and their customers.

Andrew is part of the BIMinNZ group and was part of producing the Digital Guidance Suite that was released earlier this year.

See more from Andrew Field: 

 

JAKE NASH - LOCAL

Jake Nash is a Senior Associate | Digital Support Lead for Warren and Mahoney Architects, with a particular interest in staff development and growing talent.

He has a major focus on Revit, BIM, and the development of Technical Knowledge.

See more from Jake Nash:

KERI NIVEN - LOCAL


Keri Niven - Principal, Digital at Aurecon. She is an experienced Digital Information Management Consultant, with a strong background in Geospatial technologies, and over 20 years international experience.

Keri has been responsible for designing and implementing information and collaboration systems for many high-profile clients across New Zealand and the UK including NIWA, London 2012 Olympics, Ordnance Survey, and The Office for the Deputy Prime Minister.

Keri’s primary area of expertise is in designing platforms for enterprise project collaboration and in building systems that integrate principles of design led thinking, spatial and interactive visualisation and iterative digital decision making.

MELANIE TRISTRAM - LOCAL

Melanie Tristram is the Digital Delivery Lead | Principal at Jasmax
As Digital Delivery Lead, Mel advances Jasmax’s application of BIM & PIM, advising project teams on project BIM strategy and delivery to ensure that delivery meets each client’s aspirations and expectations. She leads Jasmax’s BIM team in researching and implementing tools and workflows that enhance and aid collaboration with our consultants and partners, leveraging BIM and our developing capabilities.

Mel contributes widely to the industry through committees and leadership. She was part of the BIMinNZ group and was a part of producing the Digital Guidance Suite that was released earlier this year.


See more from Melanie Tristram:

 

 

 

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