Lord Mayor Joins Melbourne Build 2as Major S-Up Is Revealed

28 Aug, 2026

Melbourne Build Expo, Victoria’s largest construction and design event, will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) on 25-26 November 2026, bringing thousands of construction professionals, government representatives, architects, engineers, developers, contractors and suppliers together for two action-packed days of insight, innovation, networking and new business opportunities.

In a major programme highlight, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will join the panel discussion ‘Melbourne 2050: Designing a Global City for the Next Generation’, helping lead a timely conversation on the ideas, investment and collaboration needed to shape Melbourne’s future.

For the first time, Melbourne Build Expo will be co-located with InstallerSHOW Melbourne, Fire Safety and Security Event Australia, creating one of the most comprehensive built environment events in Australia. Together, the four shows will create one of Australia’s most comprehensive gatherings for the built environment – connecting construction, HVAC&R, fire safety and security professionals under one roof and opening up even more opportunities to learn, collaborate and do business.

The combined event is expected to welcome 20,000+ attendees, 350+ exhibitors and 500+ speakers, giving visitors unrivalled access to influential decision-makers, industry pioneers, government representatives and the latest products and solutions transforming the sector.

Lord Mayor to Join the Conversation on Melbourne’s Future

As Australia’s largest and fastest-growing city, Melbourne faces defining decisions around housing, infrastructure, sustainability and liveability. The Lord Mayor will bring an important city-shaping perspective to the programme, joining industry leaders to explore how Melbourne can become an even more connected, resilient and globally competitive city for future generations.

“Melbourne is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing city, and our future depends on continued innovation, investment and development. Events like Melbourne Build play an important role in bringing together the industry’s brightest minds, showcasing new technologies, and helping drive the conversations that will shape the homes, infrastructure and communities our growing city needs.” – Nicholas Reece, The Lord Mayor of Melbourne

Meet the Leading Voices Shaping the Built Environment

The Lord Mayor will be joined by an outstanding line-up of government and industry leaders taking to the stage to share fresh perspectives on major projects, policy priorities, emerging technologies and the opportunities set to define the sector’s next chapter.

Newly confirmed speakers include:

Jill Riselely, Deputy CEO – Infrastructure Victoria
Alison Dilger, Director of Sustainable Systems – Aurecon
Ruth Wilson, Principal – Architectus
Matthew Lee, Executive Director – Co-head of Australian Data Centres – JLL
Frank McMahon, Regional Director – Multiplex
Nemesia Kennet, Senior Director – Development Victoria
Andrew Arendsen, Group Director – Transport VicSA – AECOM
Yazan Mughrabi, Security Practice Lead – Google
Sally Capp AO, Chief Strategy Officer – Hickory

…with many more influential voices from across construction, infrastructure, design, technology, fire safety and security still to be announced.

A Conference Programme Built Around the Industry’s Biggest Questions

Across 15 CPD-accredited summits, Melbourne Build and its co-located events will tackle the biggest opportunities and challenges facing Victoria’s built environment, HVAC&R, fire safety and security sectors. From major infrastructure and housing affordability to low-carbon delivery, data centres, AI, diversity and the future of Melbourne’s growth, the programme will give attendees practical insight into what is changing – and what comes next. Featured sessions include:

Melbourne 2050: Designing a Global City for the Next Generation
The Pipeline Ahead: Major Projects on the Horizon
Melbourne in the Making: Meet the Leaders Behind the City’s Major Builds
The Future Outlook for Housing in Victoria and Australia
Designing the Next Generation of Healthcare Infrastructure
From Design to Delivery: Making Low-Carbon Projects Work in Practice
Modular Construction: Speed, Flexibility, and Quality
The New Frontier of AI in Construction: What’s Next?
How AI & Data Analytics Is Improving Cost, Risk and Performance
Embedding Sustainability in Legislation: Too Far or Not Far Enough?

Be Part of Melbourne Build 2026

With a world-class conference programme, major industry networking events, dedicated feature areas and high-profile co-located events, Melbourne Build Expo 2026 is the place to connect with the entire built environment and discover opportunities shaping Australia’s fastest-growing construction market.