The Scaffolding Association Australia prepares to host the Scaff25 Annual Conference & Awards Night in Sydney
The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) is preparing to host its highly anticipated Scaff25 Annual Conference & Awards Night on 14 November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour in Sydney. This event promises to be a significant gathering for the scaffolding and access sector, bringing together prominent industry leaders from around the globe to discuss critical themes such as safety, innovation, and collaboration.
A standout feature of this year’s conference is the impressive line-up of keynote speakers, each a respected figure within the international scaffolding community. Julio Black of AT-PAC will share his journey from small business challenges to global industry strength with a talk titled “Built from the Ground Up.” David Mackie, a noted safety industry expert, will address the evolving standards required to elevate subcontractors to trusted partners on tier 1 and government projects. David Crowley from the Scaffolding Association of New Zealand (SARNZ) will focus on apprenticeship pathways and trade standards in scaffolding, while Clive Dickin, Chair of the UK’s National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), will provide insights into the evolution and future direction of access and scaffolding through his presentation “The Evolution of the NASC: Past, Present and Future of Access and Scaffolding.”
Rob Thiess, Chair of the SAA, underscored the calibre of speakers assembled: “These speakers represent the very best of our global scaffolding community. Their expertise and experience will help shape conversations that are critical to the future of our industry, from training reform and safety to international cooperation.”
The conference agenda extends beyond keynote addresses, featuring important updates from the SAA leadership. Attendees can expect progress reports on the much-anticipated Mast Climber Guidelines, initiatives to tackle scaffold tampering through the Stop Scaffold Tampering Campaign, and the development of Best Practice Guidelines aimed at raising industry standards and safety. As the day concludes, the SAA Awards Night will celebrate the outstanding scaffolding projects completed in Australia during 2025, shining a spotlight on innovation and excellence within the local industry.
The event is structured to provide maximum value for participants, combining the Annual General Meeting, conference sessions, and awards into a comprehensive day-long programme. Tickets are complimentary for SAA members and partners, offering accessible opportunities for industry professionals to engage and expand their networks. Discounted accommodation rates are also available to support attendance.
While other industry-related events are scheduled around the same period, such as the Working at Height Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and the 25th Annual Rail Safety Conference in Sydney, the Scaff25 event is uniquely focused on scaffolding—a sector with specific challenges and opportunities that demand dedicated attention. These converging events across construction and safety reflect a wider industry commitment to enhancing standards, promoting innovation, and ensuring safer worksites.
In addition, forums such as the ISACA Sydney Conference and the National Safety Conference reinforce the broader ecosystem of professional gatherings that cater to varied but interconnected facets of workplace safety, digital assurance, and infrastructure development. Against this backdrop, the SAA’s Scaff25 event offers an essential platform for scaffolding industry stakeholders to address their unique operational and regulatory developments in a global context.
Taking place in the vibrant venue of Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, the Scaff25 Annual Conference & Awards Night is poised to be a landmark occasion fostering knowledge exchange, strategic collaboration, and the celebration of outstanding achievements in Australia’s scaffolding industry. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, with all industry professionals encouraged to participate in this pivotal event.