The National Festival of Design returns to Canberra
Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October 2026. Four days of trade show, conference, networking and the National Design Awards.
Designing the Future: Housing, Innovation and Business Resilience.
The Vault at Fyshwick, Gandel Hall at the National Gallery of Australia, and the Dairy Road Precinct.
Sixteen CPD points across the four days.
Designing the Future
Housing, Innovation and Business Resilience
As Australia continues to face a national housing crisis, the National Festival of Design 2026 will bring together the design and construction industry to explore practical solutions, emerging opportunities, and the future of business in a rapidly changing market. This year's conference theme focuses on how designers, building professionals, students, and business owners can adapt, evolve, and lead through challenging economic and housing conditions.
From sole traders through to larger practices and multidisciplinary studios, the conference will deliver practical business education, industry insights, regulatory updates, innovation, technology, and strategies designed to help professionals strengthen and futureproof their businesses while contributing to better housing outcomes for Australia.
Across the National Trade Show, two-day conference program, networking events, and the National Design Awards, delegates will hear from industry leaders, government, innovators, and business experts on the opportunities emerging within housing, affordability, sustainability, modern construction methods, artificial intelligence, off-site construction, business growth, and the changing expectations of the Australian consumer.
The National Festival of Design 2026 is not simply about responding to the housing crisis — it is about reshaping the future of the industry and equipping professionals with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to thrive within it.
Program
ON THE DAY
Thursday 22 October · National Trade Show · The Vault, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick
4:00pm to 9:00pm Free entry, no ticket required. The national trade floor, CPD workshops across three stations, live entertainment, drinks and canapes.
CONFERENCE DAY ONE
Friday 23 October · Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia
8:00am Registration
9:00am MC Welcome
9:10am Welcome to Country
9:20am History of Canberra: Setting the Tone - Tone Wheeler
9:50am The Economic Landscape - Tim Reardon, Chief Economist, Housing Industry Association
10:20am Panel: Australia's Housing Future - Adrian Piani, CEO, Australian Building Codes Board; Darren Disney, Master Builders Australia; James Bennett, Executive Branch Manager, ACT Government. Moderated by Chris Knierim, CEO, BDAA
11:30am Building Methods: Modular and Prefab - Lance Worrall
12:00pm Bamboo in Hybrid Construction - Jennifer Snyder, House of Bamboo
12:30pm Reimagining the Future of Healthy Homes - Talina Edwards, Envirotecture
1:45pm Designing for Resilience - Ben Alexander
2:15pm Trust The Process - Shane Martin, Nexus APAC
2:45pm Faking It: What AI Really Means for the Design Profession - Professor Toby Walsh
4:00pm Product Conformance and Digital Traceability - Neil Savery
6:30pm to 11:00pm National Networking Event - Stream, Dairy Road Precinct. Free to attend.
CONFERENCE DAY TWO
Saturday 24 October · Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia
8:00am Registration
9:00am MC Welcome
9:10am After the Customer: Building a Business That Lasts - Jim Penman, Jim's Group
9:40am Panel: Sole Trader Syndrome and Scaling Your Practice - Frank Geskus, Brenden Creed and Elie Sleiman. Moderated by Chris Knierim, CEO, BDAA
10:10am The Quantum Leap - Danielle Dal Cortivo, Kayo Consulting
11:00am The Net-Zero Home and Electrification - Jenny Edwards, Light House ArchiScience
11:30am Electrifying the Heaviest Thing You Will Ever Own - Dr Saul Griffith, Rewiring Australia
1:30pm The Retrofit Revolution - Dr Mike Louw, University of Canberra
2:00pm Passive House - Linden Thorley
3:00pm BDAA Survey Results on Fees - Chris Knierim, BDAA CEO
3:30pm Same Craft. New Capacity. Where AI Actually Fits in a Design Practice — James Hickey, JHC Consulting Group, with Samuel Kassis, Atria Designs
4:00pm Conference Close
6:30pm Red Carpet Cocktail Party - The Vault
7:00pm to midnight National Design Awards Gala Dinner - The Vault, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick
ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
Sunday 25 October · Departing central Canberra
11:00am A guided tour of Canberra's landmark buildings - led by Tone Wheeler. Seventy-five places only.
Event Partners:
