prefabAUS Mass Timber Focus Forum - Melbourne

Join us for our final Melbourne event for 2023!

A follow-up from the panel session at Offsite 2023, this Forum will provide the opportunity to have a more in-depth discussion of the current opportunities and challenges for mass timber after a few short and sharp presentations.

Whether you are a mass timber enthusiast or not, you won't want to miss this event and a chance to catch up with colleagues before the year end.

Meet the speakers

Nick Hewson, Arboralis presenting: Weather protection during construction

Nick launched Arboralis in 2023 in response to a growing demand for high quality design and support for timber structures and prefabricated buildings. Nick has 18 years of experience across the construction sector, from structural consultancy, through materials manufacture, to prefabricated buildings and construction. He has been instrumental in the design and delivery of many mass timber buildings, across Australia, and his native UK. He is also a co-founder of Timber DiaLog, a new community looking to bring together industry to share knowledge and experience to help increase uptake.

Jacqui Bates, XLam presenting: XLam’s Band Beam – how to include more CLT in your projects and the benefits it brings

Jacqui leads the XLam Design & Technical team, focussing on providing clear & concise technical documentation for XLam CLT panels and leading research & development efforts. Jacqui has worked in the building product manufacturing industry for the past 25 years, focussing on product development, testing, compliance, and certification. She is well versed in NCC/BCA fire & Green Star, thermal, weather proofing, environmental and acoustic requirements.

Karl-Heinz Weiss, Weiss Insights presenting: “Hype or Hope”, is there a role for timber in addressing the industry’s biggest challenges?

Karl-Heinz Weiss is a Research Associate at University of Melbourne – Infrastructure Engineering Department, Professor of Practise, Architecture at Monash, Arts Design and Architecture (MADA) and Founder and Director of Weiss Insights where he provides consultancy services for the construction, development, and engineered timber sector.

Karl-Heinz is globally recognised for his ground-breaking work in the application of engineered timber for construction as Co-founder of KLH UK, delivering the landmark projects of Stadthaus Murray Grove, London and Open and City Academy Norwich, UK.

In addition, he was instrumental in introducing engineered timber into the Australian market – in particular, the ground-breaking multi-story timber Forte’ and Library at the Dock in Melbourne, 25 King Street in Brisbane and International and Daramu House in Barangaroo, Sydney.

Event MC: Paul Kremer

Paul Kremer’s work covers a diverse portfolio of prebuild and panelised construction technology. His work at XLam supported the establishing the first Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) plants in Australia and New Zealand.

Paul is an accomplished CEO and holds several academic appointments including, as an Adjunct Associate Professor in Engineering at Deakin University and Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne in Infrastructure Engineering.

Paul’s contribution on several prefabricated construction steering committees culminated in the development of important frameworks for education and training programs, which are significantly transforming and modernising the construction sector. His industry/research interests include construction law in the emerging technologies sector and prefabricated construction systems/strategy development and integration.