Event Summary
Join the Concrete Institute of Australia and fellow industry professionals for an informative breakfast exploring sustainability in concrete. Held at Stamford Plaza Adelaide, this event offers an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas and hear about practical approaches supporting a more sustainable built environment.
Our first guest presenter - Jason Chandler from EPD on Demand, will discuss how concrete has long been recognised as one of the most resilient building materials available, and highlight its critical role in a climate challenged future. Its inherent strength, mass, and durability make it uniquely capable of withstanding natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, and cyclones - events that are increasing in frequency and severity. Beyond structural resilience, modern concrete technologies enable significant reductions in operational emissions through improved thermal performance, passive design compatibility, and long service life. When buildings last longer, require fewer repairs, and maintain stable internal temperatures, their lifetime environmental footprint drops substantially.
But resilience alone isn’t enough - sustainability claims must be backed by accurate, transparent, and scientifically robust data. As the sector moves toward lower carbon binders, recycled materials, and performance based specifications, the importance of high quality LCAs, and EPDs becomes paramount. Poor data leads to poor decisions, and in some cases, flawed comparisons can produce absurd conclusions. If the “greenest” option appears to be cutting down a tree, then it’s time to reassess the assumptions, datasets, and system boundaries that produced that outcome. True sustainability requires honest accounting, rigorous methodology, and a willingness to challenge simplistic narratives so that materials like concrete can be evaluated fairly for the vital role they play in building a safer, lower carbon world.
Our second guest presenter - Jacob Potter from dSquared Consulting specialises in strategic sustainability planning, focussed on decarbonising the built environment and driving the net zero emissions transition with real world solutions.
This includes providing strategic advice on using design to drive emission reduction outcomes, embedding circular economy outcomes thoroughout design development and in operation, developing carbon neutral plans for organisations and buildings, and facilitating collaborative stakeholder engagment sessions with government, businesses, and the community.
Prior to our presentations, delegates will enjoy a full buffet breakfast that includes filtered coffee, a wide selection of artisan teas and juice, traditional cooked breakfast, a selection of fresh and poached seasonal fruits, yoghurt, gourmet cold cuts and cheeses, cereals and muesli, Artisan loaves, jam and spreads, house-made muffins and pastries and the opportunity to network with your colleagues and peers within the Adelaide concrete community.
Program
8.00am Registration
8.30am Breakfast Buffet opens
9.00am Welcome and Introductions
Guest Speaker Presentations
10.00am Q&A and closing comments
10.30am Event Close
Registration (inc GST) $77.00 CIA Professional, Company & Academic Members $55.00 CIA Retired, Life, Honorary & Student Members $88.00 Non Members
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