The Australian Flexible Pavement Association’s International Flexible Pavements Conference returns in 2023. Roads & Infrastructure Magazine outlines what attendees can expect from the event.
The Australian Flexible Pavement Association’s 2023 International Flexible Pavements Conference marks the 19th rendition of the event, providing industry with a centralised source of information around current challenges and opportunities.
This year the conference’s main theme is centred around ‘Safely Paving the way to Carbon Zero’. The development of technology and best practice processes continues to accelerate the industry’s push towards sustainability, with the conference set to showcase these offerings.
This theme is about the ongoing effort to closing the loop of the circular economy by encouraging innovation and removing potential barriers.
This follows the success of AfPA’s Industry Technical Panel Events, highlighting the use of technologies such as EME2 that are helping to make an impact.
The 2023 conference will also highlight nine key themes, with sessions focusing on safer roads and safer people, resilient roads, governance and sustainability, as well as diversity and inclusion.
This will also include discussions and presentations centred on innovative solutions, pavement performance, construction practices, pavement preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation, and future roads.
The Plant and Equipment Exhibition and the information-packed technical program of the conference is expected to attract representatives from state road agencies, local government, road building and construction academic institutions from across the world.
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The event will also host industry speakers, representatives and exhibitors, meaning there’s something for everyone.
The event’s exhibitors include some of the sector’s largest service providers, such as Viva Energy, Puma Bitumen, Fulton Hogan, Caterpillar, Astec, Secmair Fayat, Sripath and Wirtgen just to name a few.
The conference’s opening day will see Bernard Salt – Managing Director of The Demographics Group and esteemed author – address attendees. Salt is a weekly columnist in The Australian and is set to focus on the past, the present and the future.
AfPA has announced Brett Connellan as the Opening Function keynote speaker, with Mary Coustas to MC the AfPA 2023 International Conference and National Industry Awards dinner.
Connellan will detail his inspirational story, following the surfer’s experience of being attacked by a great white shark. Coustas is a well-known writer and performer, known best for her role as Effie in the TV Sitcom Acropolis Now.
Ian Roberts has also been announced as the Diversity and Inclusion keynote speaker. A former rugby league, NSW State or Origin and Kangaroos player, Roberts was the second high-profile sportsman in a professional team game to come out while playing, and the first in Australia.
Key members of the Australian Flexible Pavement Association will also be in attendance, such as CEO Carlos Rial, Executive Director Technology and Leadership Anna D’Angelo and Executive Director Knowledge and Partnerships Tanja Conners.
The 19th International Flexible Pavements Conference 2023 will be held in Brisbane from 30 October to 1 November 2023 at the Brisbane Convention Exhibition Centre.
For more information on the conference, make sure to click here.
This article was originally published in the October edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.