Three of the Experts You Will Hear From
Jim Penman
Founder and owner, Jim's Group
Jim Penman is the founder and owner of Jim's Group. What began with a lawnmower and a history PhD became the largest franchise chain in the Southern Hemisphere, with more than 50 service divisions and thousands of franchisees. Decades on, Jim still answers the phone himself and stays directly involved with franchisees and customers. His Festival session, After the Customer: Building a Business That Lasts, is about what makes a small business endure.
Dr Saul Griffith
Founder, Rewiring Australia
Dr Saul Griffith is a world-leading engineer, inventor and entrepreneur focused on electrification and the clean energy transition. A MacArthur Fellow with a PhD from MIT, he founded Rewiring Australia, Rewiring America and Rewiring Aotearoa. His research and advocacy have influenced major clean energy policies, and his books, including Electrify and The Big Switch, helped shape the global electrification movement. In Canberra he presents Electrifying the Heaviest Thing You'll Ever Own, on how energy and design are reshaping our homes.
Professor Toby Walsh
Leading authority on artificial intelligence
Professor Toby Walsh is one of the world's leading authorities on artificial intelligence and Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute. He is the author of The Shortest History of AI and Faking It! AI in a Human World, and is known for translating complex technical ideas into clear, practical terms. His Festival keynote, Faking It: What AI Really Means for the Design Profession, separates the hype from the tools that will genuinely reshape how practices operate.
And thats just the beginning. The full program brings together a diverse line-up of industry leaders ready to share knowledge and solutions.
Twenty-Four Experts. Two Days.
Architect, author, educator and consultant
Tone Wheeler
Designs to the triple bottom line, with a focus on sustainability and affordability. Past Chair of the Australian Architecture Association and Adjunct Professor at UNSW.
Executive Branch Manager, ACT Government
James Bennett
James brings the perspective of the jurisdiction hosting the Festival to the national housing conversation. He joins Day One's panel on Australia's housing future.
Co-director, Envirotecture
Talina Edwards
Over 25 years of architectural experience, bridging building science with biophilic design. A certified Passive House designer and recognised leader in healthy spaces.
Director, Prime Design Tasmania
Frank Geskus
Frank directs Prime Design from Launceston. He brings the realities of building and scaling a design business outside the mainland capitals.
Owner and Director, Light House ArchiScience
Jenny Edwards
A scientist rather than an architect, modelling and testing buildings since 2009. Her practice delivers highly efficient, all-electric, climate-resilient homes.
Founder and CEO, Atria Designs
Samuel Kassis
Samuel founded Atria Designs and leads the Sydney practice. With James Hickey he presents a practical look at where AI actually fits inside a design practice.
Chief Economist, Housing Industry Association
Tim Reardon
Tim first joined the Housing Industry Association in 2004, working on housing affordability policy. He rejoined as Chief Economist in 2017 and leads its economics team.
Chief Executive Officer, Building Designers Association of Australia
Chris Knierim
Chris leads the national body for the building design and energy assessment professions. He is Chairman of AdA and a board member of the Australian Construction Industry Forum.
Co-owner, The Dock
Ben Alexander
Former Wallaby and Brumbies record holder, now co-owner of The Dock and 2026 ACT Local Hero. Co-founder of Running for Resilience, he speaks on high performance.
Senior Director and Principal Building Designer, BRD Group
Brenden Creed
Over 30 years of building design experience across Australia and the UK, including 18 years as Director at BRD Group. A Fellow of Building Design Queensland.
Co-Director, Built Environment Program, University of Canberra
Dr Mike Louw
An architect, researcher and educator focused on sustainable design, industrial heritage conversion and adaptive reuse at the University of Canberra.
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Building Codes Board
Adrian Piani
Nearly thirty years across the public and private sectors, in the built and natural environments. He became CEO of the Australian Building Codes Board in December 2025.
Industrial policy specialist and co-author, prefabAUS Industry Roadmap
Lance Worrall
A leading Australian industrial policy specialist and strategic researcher. He is a key voice in the shift toward advanced manufacturing and industrialised building.
Director, Nexus APAC
Shane Martin
A Director at Nexus APAC specialising in public policy, advocacy and corporate affairs. Formerly CEO of Master Plumbers ACT and Executive Director at the Property Council.
Director, ES Design
Elie Sleiman
Elie directs ES Design in Sydney. He joins Day Two's panel on strengthening a business model without necessarily growing its headcount.
Founding Principal, Linden Thorley Architects
Linden Thorley
An architect, certified Passivhaus designer and retrofit specialist. He founded Linden Thorley Architects and examines the opportunity in offsite fabrication.
National Director, External Affairs and Engagement, Master Builders Australia
Darren Disney
A senior public affairs leader whose career spans government and industry, including Chief of Staff to Victoria's Treasurer. He now leads external affairs at Master Builders Australia.
Founder, House of Bamboo and President, Bamboo Society of Australia
Jennifer Snyder
A leading advocate for regenerative, environmentally responsible design. She educates designers and builders on using innovative bamboo products in sustainable spaces.
Former Chief Executive Officer, Australian Building Codes Board
Neil Savery
Three decades of leadership across government and industry, including fifteen years as a Chief Executive. Formerly CEO of the Australian Building Codes Board.
Founder and CEO, Kayo Consulting
Danielle Dal Cortivo
An award-winning CEO with two decades across the public, private, tech and non-profit sectors. Creator of the Insight to Impact System, she helps leaders stop playing it safe.
Managing Director, JHC Consulting Group
James Hickey
An entrepreneur who has spent more than twenty years building businesses and helping founders align strategy, culture, reporting and systems.