Zak World of Façades Zak World of Façades
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Zak World of Façades Australia

edition

207

Date

26 February 2026

Venue

Australia

City

Melbourne

Official page Watch the Event

Speakers & Panelists

Conference Agenda

Every speaker for the day, grouped by session. Select a topic to see who is presenting, the session focus and the talk points.

Session 1

08:00 — 08:50 Delegate Registration & Networking
08:50 — 09:00 Welcome Address
10:20 — 11:00 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

Session 2

12:55 — 13:45 Networking Lunch Break

Session 3

15:20 — 15:50 Networking Tea / Coffee Break

Session 4

17:25 — 17:30 Vote of Thanks & End of the Conference

James Christophidis

Senior Associate

Denton Corker Marshall

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

09:00 — 09:25

Gumji Kang

Managing Director - Australasia

Snøhetta

Topic

From Idea to Interface: Turning Narratives into Built Form

Talk points

Narrative as constraint: Building on cultural, environmental, and experiential intentions as design parameters that directly govern façade articulation, spatial thresholds and material tactility
Form through forces: Letting climatic drivers become generative rather than corrective, ensuring the envelope is a story told through performance
Material as meaning: Use texture, transparency, and assembly logic to make the concept legible

09:25 — 09:45

Anne-Laure Chappat

Facades Lead - Victoria

Meinhardt Façade Technology

Topic

Paula Fox Melanoma Cancer Centre – An Iconic Cellular Veiled Façade

Talk points

How the façade is conceived as a veil-like form made up of curved glass and a dynamic white frit pattern that is inspired by healthy layers of skin cells
Engineering the high-performance envelope that supports energy-efficient operation while maintaining comfort and privacy through the perforated aluminium cladding and frit
Although simple in its conception, how the façade is actually complex in its realisation

09:45 — 10:05

Sammy Hui

Managing Partner

DYM Australia

Topic

Differentiated Technological Innovation Driving Architectural Glass Model of Excellence to New Standards

Talk points

Creativity and quality – Jumbo size, 3D curved, digital print, cast glass and super flat glass applications
High-performance and beauty – Advanced technology for function, colour, flatness outlook for design freedom
Innovation and sustainability – Energy efficiency game changer engineering

10:05 — 10:20

Michael Lette

Market Development Manager - Façades

Design Solutions Group, Lysaght and Fielders

Topic

Elevating Façades: Freedom in Design, Confidence in Compliance, Efficiency in Delivery

Talk points

Unmatched design flexibility - Bold or subtle – achieve design outcomes through flexible profiles, precision detailing, and smooth integration on complex geometries
Engineered for complete compliance - Fully designed to Australian Standards (AS) and the National Construction Code (NCC) to deliver structural confidence, performance, and risk-free specification
Efficient, durable and future ready - Optimised for speed and precision through offsite manufacturing and quick installation, reducing labour costs, improving timelines, and supporting sustainable, long-lasting outcomes

11:00 — 11:25

Rob Buck

Associate – Façade Engineering

Arup

Topic

Form, Function, and Finish: Finding the Quality Balance in Façade Design

Talk points

Prevailing view is that we should strive for better quality in façade design, whether this be with improving the form, the performance requirement, or the aesthetic of the façade, but at what cost?
Improving quality can lead to significant waste and is this acceptable when appreciable qualities of embodied carbon have been used in the creation of the material? On the flip side, the excuse of minimising waste should not be a reason for accepting sub-standard material
How façades could be optimised to maintain quality while being conscious of the embodied carbon used to create the façade

11:25 — 11:40

Andreas Geyer

Managing Director

seele

Topic

Cutting Edge Façade Technology in the Context of Ambitious Architecture

Talk points

Prada, Singapore: Award winning façade design
Queensland New Performing Arts Venue: From design to installation
The Henderson: Project of superlatives

11:40 — 12:10

Viggo Haremst

Partner | Design Director - APAC

Henning Larsen

Topic

Designing Global Change: A Life-Centric Approach

Talk points

A look at innovation driven architecture

12:10 — 12:55

Moderator

Oliver Ng

Managing Director

BG&E Façades

Panelist

Stefan Brey

Technical Director

BG&E Façades

Panelist

Bobby Wei

Associate Director

Bates Smart

Panelist

Blair Stratton

Director

RED Fire Engineers

Panelist

Pete Kennon

Director

Studio Kennon

Topic

PV & Solar Façades: From Design to Delivery

Talk points

Design to Engineering Integration: Translating architectural intent into high-performance, PV-enabled façade systems
Installation & Long-Term Performance: Key challenges in delivery, installation, durability and lifecycle maintenance
Fire Safety, Compliance & Sustainability: Addressing fire and code requirements, PV safety and low-carbon material strategies

13:45 — 14:10

Johan Hermijanto

Studio Director

Bates Smart

Topic

Crafting Our Cities with Terracotta

Talk points

High-performance, low-carbon, natural
An age-old material reinvented for today
Bringing warmth and craft back into urban life

14:10 — 14:20

Fan Lee

Founder

Anometal Aluminum

Topic

Solar-Powered, Long-Lasting Active Self-Cleaning Technology for Anodized Aluminium

Talk points

Unveiling a new, next-generation anodized aluminium cladding with an anodic oxide layer that harnesses sunlight to continuously break down pollutants, keeping façades cleaner for over 25 years with minimal maintenance
How its ultra-hydrophilic surface (WCA = 8.9°) helps with any remaining particles to effortlessly wash away with rain or wind, ensuring the façade stays brighter, fresher, and visually pristine year-round

14:20 — 14:30

Philippe Juliard

International Development Manager

Forster Steel Systems

Topic

Framing Safety & Style: Best Practices for Steel Façades, Windows & Doors

Talk points

Balancing aesthetics, performance and protection
Applied sustainability
Case studies of modern and heritage buildings

14:30 — 14:50

Elissa Stirling

Regional Manager – Victoria

Inhabit

Topic

From Risk to Resilience: Addressing Two Critical Façade Risks Through Design

Talk points

Dominant openings and risks associated with awning windows
Condensation and the use of weather barriers in external façades

14:50 — 15:05

Cedric Pinto

Senior Specification & Sales Manager - Southern Australia

EQUITONE

Topic

Circular Façade: From Strategic Planning to Real World Applications

Talk points

Understanding the role of circularity in reducing embodied carbon and conserving resources
Implementing a '4R' Framework (Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle) for long-lifecycle material use
Industry collaborations and innovations driving closed-loop systems in façade materials

15:05 — 15:20

Jesse Clarke

Technical Innovation Manager - Oceania

Pro Clima

Topic

It’s All a Façade

Talk points

The role of cladding for the performance of rainscreen systems
The science and history of pressure equalised façades
Importance of fully tested AS 4284 façade systems

15:50 — 16:10

John Czechowski

Senior Associate

Gray Puksand

Topic

Design to Shape Perception

Talk points

Central Park Tower and CIT Woden are vastly different projects that share a common design approach to the façade expression
Central Park Tower: Design approach, challenges and successes encountered in delivering this significant commercial repositioning which is likely the tallest ACP reclad in the southern hemisphere
CIT Woden: How a precinct scale development that is a catalyst for the renewal of Woden Town Centre delivers on the highest sustainability targets and connection to country within a cohesive design language

16:10 — 16:30

Brian Hubbs

Principal | Specialist

RDH Building Science

Topic

A Pool With a View – Integrating HVAC inside an Iconic Façade

Talk points

High-performance all-glass enclosures are familiar, and indoor pools are ubiquitous, but all-glass point-supported pool façades supported on iconic precast structures without visible HVAC ducting are unthinkable. Unique challenges posed by pools in building enclosure design will be illustrated by several forensic case studies of natatorium failures across North America
The lessons learned from these investigations have led to several rules of thumb that have governed modern natatorium design. However, when iconic design conflicts with precedent, a shift in the design paradigm is required
How advanced computational fluid dynamics modeling can be integrated with building enclosure design to mitigate the risk of condensation and comfort issues. Other aspects of the design – including point-supported glazing, precast structural elements, and concealed HVAC systems in the context of a high-performance natatorium enclosure

16:30 — 16:45

Allan Ramsay

Business Development Manager

Knotwood

Topic

The Beauty & Longevity of Aluminium for Façade Designs

Talk points

Capability & methodology
Applications & profiles
The benefits: Durability, installation & maintenance

16:45 — 17:25

Moderator

Tom Donald

Director

Eckersley O'Callaghan

Panelist

Elizabeth Carpenter

Managing Principal

fjcstudio

Panelist

Vera Tchikina

Associate

Rickard Engineering

Panelist

Gareth Winstanley

Director

Fairlite Consulting

Panelist

Alison Potter

Design Principal

HDR

Topic

The Scope and Competency of Façade Engineers in Context of the DBPA

Talk points

This panel will explore how the Design and Building Practitioners Act and its regulations have reshaped the role, responsibilities, and professional expectations of façade engineers in New South Wales and how the rest of Australia can take a cue from the same
Evolving definition of ‘regulated designs’, the boundaries of façade ‘Design Practitioners’ scope, and what constitutes adequate competency, documentation and assurance
Practical challenges such as coordination with architects and structural engineers, evidence-based design, construction phase oversight and certifier expectations

How it was

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