2026 Conference

Agenda

The 2026 FTMA National Conference will be the biggest gathering yet of manufacturers across the frame and truss industry in Australia, extended to the greater industry including for the first time attendees across transport solutions, drug and alcohol testing, forklift safety, load tracking, among others.

This year, the conference will feature the first ever dedicated Trade Exhibition. This is the biggest frame and truss-focused trade expo in Australia with 3 hours of exhibition time for 45+ exhibitors and featuring interactive town hall-style Innovation Exchange sessions.

This year’s theme, ‘At the Crossroads’, reflects the key decisions facing our industry as we move into the next phase of growth and innovation.

We’ll hear from experts and discuss from leaders across Australia, how we reframe for growth as a sector, covering the pressing questions we face as an industry:

Upgrade to greater automation or hold steady?

Continue with MGP framing or transition to more LVL?

Focus on detached dwellings or move into multi-res and mid-rise markets?

It’s a pivotal moment for both manufacturers and timber producers, with opportunities to rethink, reframe, and grow.

The full agenda will be announced in 2026, but we have already locked in our keynote, Michael McQueen and crowd favourite, Tim Woods.

Keynote Session: Preparing for What’s Beyond the Crossroads

In this special keynote session sponsored by MiTek, award winning speaker, Michael McQueen will focus on future proofing business owners navigating change and disruption.

Tailored just for our frame and truss industry, this session will look at how to thrive in an age of uncertainty. It’s been rightly said that the pace of change has never been this fast, but it will never again be this slow. We are living in a transformative era and smart leaders know that now is the time for audacity, adaptability, and agility.

Enormous opportunities lie ahead for those that can identify the trends of tomorrow and gear up for them today.

Attendees will leave this session with a clear action plan for navigating the crossroads and emerging stronger than ever.

Speakers

Michael McQueen

Keynote Speaker

Michael McQueen understands what it takes to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Recently ranked #12 among the world’s top futurists, Michael is widely recognized for having his finger on the pulse of change, helping clients ranging from Google to Toyota and Mastercard navigate uncertainty and stay ahead of the curve.

A bestselling author of 10 books, Michael’s latest release was named by Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant as one of the top five must-read new leadership books.

Tim Woods

IndustryEdge

We are thrilled to announce that the respected and dynamic Tim Woods of Industry Edge will be gracing our 2026 National Conference as a speaker! Known for his insightful dissection of FTMA’s FATSO Reports and Trussted Insights over the past several years, Tim brings a quarter of a century of experience in the fibre, wood products, and pulp and paper industries. His solid foundation in research, policy, strategy, and project management make his presentations a much-anticipated event.