Building on recent strides towards a more collaborative industry, the Australian Constructors Association announces the return of Foundations and Frontiers in 2025.
By Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association.
It’s 2025 and time to rethink the rules. Construction has been stuck in a ‘winner takes all’ mindset for too long. Gains for one party have often come at the expense of another. This zero-sum approach has fuelled inefficiency, mistrust and missed opportunities. But what if we flipped the script? What if collaboration replaced conflict, and construction became an industry where workers, government and businesses could succeed together?
Foundations and Frontiers
In 2024, the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) launched the Foundations and Frontiers forum (FF24) – a bold step toward rewriting the future of construction. Inspired by global summits like COP and Davos, FF24 wasn’t just another industry event; it was a game-changer. Sector leaders came together, setting the stage for Australia’s first-ever National Construction Strategy (NCS) – a plan to transform how the industry works. The NCS will focus on four critical areas:
- Procurement – harmonising procurement practices to improve productivity and deliver better value outcomes.
- Workforce – identifying new skills to increase productivity and strategies to attract and retain the future workforce.
- Data – determining the data needed to measure productivity improvements and developing methods for its collection, anonymisation and sharing.
- Innovation and modern methods of construction (MMC) – identifying current best practices, exploring ways to increase their adoption, and addressing barriers to innovations and MMC. ACA is spearheading this stream.
Building on this success, ACA has announced the second Foundations and Frontiers forum (FF25), coming to Brisbane on 6 August 2025. Held on the sunken court at Nissan Arena, FF25 will track progress since the NCS’s launch and spark more momentum for positive change.
Not your typical conference
FF25 isn’t about long speeches or endless PowerPoint slides. It’s designed to be fast, interactive and energising. Think TED-style talks, hands-on discussions and creative formats that keep the conversation lively and solutions-focused.
Last year’s highlights included the ‘Construction Great Debate’ on market intervention and the ‘Deal or No Deal’ session on managing risks – both huge hits with attendees. FF25 will take these successes further, with more innovative sessions to challenge traditional thinking and ignite fresh ideas.
Driving change
FF25 is more than just a one-day event – it’s a movement for lasting progress. The day before the forum, industry leaders will gather for roundtable discussions on critical issues. Their insights will guide the conversations at the main event, ensuring the focus stays on practical, actionable outcomes.
A forum for everyone
FF25 is for anyone passionate about improving the construction industry – not just CEOs and executives. Whether you’re a contractor, supplier, consultant, union member or financier, you’re welcome here. The event will bring together people from all corners of the industry, alongside representatives from unions, state and federal governments, and other key stakeholders.
Last year’s FF24 was called “transformative” and “the best interactive event I’ve attended,” drawing 600 participants eager for change. FF25 promises to be even bigger, with more opportunities to collaborate and drive change.
Inside Construction is a proud partner of Foundations and Frontiers. Visit the event website for more information.
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