Partnerships 2026
Partnerships is the most respected annual gathering of senior public and private sector leaders from across the Australian infrastructure market. This one-day event connects some of the nation’s leading business, policy and political decision makers with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s CEO level membership ensuring high quality debate through keynotes, panel sessions and an Industry Leaders’ Luncheon.
Sponsors
Partnerships 2026 Panels
Our signature conference event Partnerships 2026 returned to Sydney bringing its big ideas, debate and discussion about infrastructure and beyond. Watch each of the panel recordings on InfraFlix below.
Partnerships 2026 | Ministerial Address: The Hon. Catherine King MP
The Hon. Catherine King MP delivered the opening keynote at Partnerships 2026, highlighting some of the current major infrastructure priorities.
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Partnerships 2026 | Keynote Interview: The Hon. John Graham MLC
The Hon. John Graham MLC, NSW Minister for Transport, Special Minister of State, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, sat down for a keynote interview with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Dwyer, to provide an update on the NSW transport agenda.
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Partnerships 2026 | The Productivity Challenge: Government Reform
The panel will explore Australia’s productivity challenge through infrastructure planning, energy transition and major project delivery. Bringing together senior public sector leaders from across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, the discussion will examine opportunities to improve coordination, streamline delivery and strengthen long-term economic outcomes amid growing infrastructure and fiscal pressures.
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Partnerships 2026 | The Productivity Challenge: Industry Delivery
This panel brings together private sector leaders to discuss the key challenges shaping productivity across Australia’s infrastructure pipeline. The conversation will explore delivery efficiency, investment settings, procurement, market capacity and coordination between government and industry. Panellists will examine what practical changes are needed to support faster project delivery, stronger economic outcomes and long-term infrastructure investment.
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Partnerships 2026 | Keynote Interview: Shemara Wikramanayake
At Partnerships 2025, Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake returned to the stage to discuss the Australian infrastructure investment landscape amid a shifting global context.
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Partnerships 2026 | The Future of Water Security
This panel brings together leaders from across the water sector to discuss the infrastructure, investment and policy challenges shaping Australia’s future water security. The conversation will explore water resilience, the growing role of desalination as an independent supply source, and the infrastructure needed to meet rising population and commercial demand. Panellists will also examine long-term planning, investment certainty and how the sector can respond to increasing pressure on existing water networks and supply systems.
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Partnerships 2026 | Macquarie Capital Economic Update: Ric Deverell
At Partnerships 2026, Ric Deverell, Chief Economist and Head of Macro Strategy at Macquarie Group returned to the stage to deliver Macquarie Capital’s annual economic update, providing a global outlook across major economies and financial markets, and the associated implications for infrastructure investment.
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Partnerships 2026 | Inside Australia’s Award-Winning Projects
Bringing together the leaders behind the three most recent winners of the National Infrastructure Awards’ Project of the Year Award, this panel will explore the realities of delivering complex, city-shaping infrastructure projects at scale. Drawing on lessons from Sydney Metro, Melbourne Metro and the Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building, the discussion will examine leadership, delivery challenges, stakeholder coordination, innovation and the practical insights gained from delivering some of Australia’s most significant recent infrastructure projects.
Watch NowAgenda
CEO’s Welcome and Introduction
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Adrian Dwyer
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
Welcome to Country
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Uncle Allan Murray
Chairperson, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
Ministerial Address
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The Hon. Catherine King MP
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Keynote Interview
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The Hon. John Graham MLC
Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
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Moderator
Adrian Dwyer
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
The Productivity Challenge: Government Reform
The panel will explore Australia’s productivity challenge through infrastructure planning, energy transition and major project delivery. Bringing together senior public sector leaders from across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, the discussion will examine opportunities to improve coordination, streamline delivery and strengthen long-term economic outcomes amid growing infrastructure and fiscal pressures.
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Kim Curtain
Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW
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Tom Gellibrand
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure NSW
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Angela Moody
Productivity Commissioner and Chair, Queensland Productivity Commission
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Kate O’Sullivan
Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria
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Moderator
Michael Hogan
Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
The Productivity Challenge: Industry Delivery
This panel brings together private sector leaders to discuss the key challenges shaping productivity across Australia’s infrastructure pipeline. The conversation will explore delivery efficiency, investment settings, procurement, market capacity and coordination between government and industry. Panellists will examine what practical changes are needed to support faster project delivery, stronger economic outcomes and long-term infrastructure investment.
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Lorie Argus
Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Airport
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Paul Crowe
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Plenary Group
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Michelle Jablko
Chief Executive Officer, Transurban
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Gordon Taylor
Executive General Manager – Major Projects, Transgrid
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Moderator
Jessica Edwards
Division Director, Infrastructure and Energy Group, Macquarie Capital
Keynote Interview
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Shemara Wikramanayake
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie Group
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Moderator
Adrian Dwyer
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
The Future of Water Security
This panel brings together leaders from across the water sector to discuss the infrastructure, investment and policy challenges shaping Australia’s future water security. The conversation will explore water resilience, the growing role of desalination as an independent supply source, and the infrastructure needed to meet rising population and commercial demand. Panellists will also examine long-term planning, investment certainty and how the sector can respond to increasing pressure on existing water networks and supply systems.
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Darren Cleary
Managing Director, Sydney Water
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Francois Gouws
Managing Director, TRILITY
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Adam Lovell
Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia
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Philip Narezzi
Chief Executive Officer, Sydney Desalination Plant
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Moderator
Fiona Thompson
General Manager, Insights, Communications and Creative Services, NSW/QLD/ACT, RPS
Macquarie Capital Economic Update
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Ric Deverell
Chief Economist and Head of Macro Strategy, Macquarie Group
Inside Australia’s Award-Winning Projects
Bringing together the leaders behind the three most recent winners of the National Infrastructure Awards’ Project of the Year Award, this panel will explore the realities of delivering complex, city-shaping infrastructure projects at scale. Drawing on lessons from Sydney Metro, Melbourne Metro and the Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building, the discussion will examine leadership, delivery challenges, stakeholder coordination, innovation and the practical insights gained from delivering some of Australia’s most significant recent infrastructure projects.
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Hugh Lawson PSM
Acting Chief Executive, Sydney Metro
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Kieran McIvor
Chief Operating Officer, VIDA Metro
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Emma Skulander
Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure and Asset Management, NSW Health and Chief Executive, Health Infrastructure
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Moderator
Melanie Kurzydlo
Vice President, Buildings and Infrastructure, Bureau Veritas
Keynote Address and Q&A
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Dr John Coyne
Director – National Security Program, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
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Moderator
Boronia Morison
Head of External Affairs, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
Fireside Chat
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Kieran Gilbert
Chief News Anchor, News24
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Moderator
Adrian Dwyer
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
Watch Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interviews
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed industry leaders about what the biggest challenges and opportunities are for their business in the coming year.
Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interview | Macquarie Capital
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed our Platinum Sponsor, Macquarie Capital, to describe the current state of play across Australia’s infrastructure sector and which Practical Productivity measure would be most impactful for their sector.
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Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interview | Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed our Gold Sponsor, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, to describe the current state of play across Australia’s infrastructure sector and which Practical Productivity measure would be most impactful for their sector.
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Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interview | Bureau Veritas
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed our Silver Sponsor, Bureau Veritas, to describe the current state of play across Australia’s infrastructure sector and which Practical Productivity measure would be most impactful for their sector.
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Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interview | Sydney Water
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed our Silver Sponsor, Sydney Water, to describe the current state of play across Australia’s infrastructure sector and which Practical Productivity measure would be most impactful for their sector.
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Partnerships 2026 Sponsor Interview | Transgrid
In the lead up to Partnerships 2026, we interviewed our Silver Sponsor, Transgrid, to describe the current state of play across Australia’s infrastructure sector and which Practical Productivity measure would be most impactful for their sector.
Watch NowHost or Sponsor Events
If you are an Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Member and would like to host or sponsor an event, please contact:
Damon Luu
Head of Events