Overview
Over two days, an array of leading experts will explore the big issues shaping the steel industry today, and into the future. Insightful presentations and panel discussions will cover topics including federal budget, AI in the industry and tarrifs and migration.
ASA Conference Session Details | 25 May 2026 | Day 1 – Monday
| 8.00 am | Registration & Coffee |
| 8.50 am | Welcome David Roberts, President, Australian Steel Association; MC: Ross Greenwood, Sky News |
| 9.00 am | Australia’s Heavy Industry Transition Kirsten Embery, A/g General Manager, Green Metals Branch, Heavy Industry Transition Division, DISR |
| 9.40 am | Federal Budget 2026 – What It Means For The Economy & Business Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics |
| 10.00 am |
Panel Session: Economic Crosswinds – Credit, Insolvency, Energy, Tariffs & Migration – What’s Next for Australian Industry? Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics; |
| 10.20 am | Morning Tea & Networking |
| 10.50 am | National Building Products Coalition – Supply Chain, Specifications & Procurement Alignment Dyan Johnston, General Manager – Policy & Advocacy, Master Builders QLD |
| 11.25 am | Trade Settings In Practice David Latina, Commissioner, Anti-Dumping Commission |
| 11.45 am | Lunch |
| 12.50 pm | Keynote Session Fireside Chat with Damien Fleming, Former Australian Test Cricketer |
| 1.25 pm | Major Projects Panel: The Steel Behind The Build – Tier 1 Procurement, Supply Chain Risk & Imported Fabrication – Lessons From Melbourne’s Major Infrastructure Build And Beyond Catherine de Fontenay, Productivity Commissioner; Trevor Hall, Founding Partner & CEO, HC Energy; Director, Transport & Infrastructure Research, RBC Capital Markets; Ben Davidson, Partner, Mallesons |
| 2.15 pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 2.45 pm | Steel Sovereignty Starts Here – Alter Steel Pinkenba – Low-Carbon Reinforcement at Industrial Scale Grant Johnston, Managing Director, Alter Steel |
| 3.05 pm |
Panel Session: Green Steel Execution (Q&A) Don Johnston, Co-Founder, Green Steel of WA; |
| 3.35 pm | Close Day One David Buchanan, CEO, Australian Steel Association |
| 5.15 pm | Bus Leaves For Penfolds Magill Estate |
ASA Presentation Breakfast | 26 May 2026 | Day 2 – Tuesday
| 8.00 am | Registration & Coffee |
| 8.30 am | Welcome & Plated Breakfast David Buchanan, CEO, Australian Steel Association |
| 9.00 am | Leadership & High-Performance Culture (Business + Sport) Grant Kelley, Chairman & Owner, Adelaide 36ers |
| 9.30 am | Commodity Shockwaves – Iron Ore, Coking Coal, Gas & Energy – The Demand Signals Driving the Next Move Vivek Dhar, Head of Commodities and Sustainability Research, Commonwealth Bank |
| 10.10 am | Q&A |
| 10.30 am | Morning Tea |
| 11.00 am | Keynote: AI in Heavy Industry – Productivity, Procurement, Risk Aamir Qutub, CEO, Enterprise Monkey |
| 11.40 am | Close of Conference David Buchanan, CEO, Australian Steel Association |
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