Next year’s World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) is poised to be one of the biggest and best timber conferences on record, with more than 950 oral and poster presentations accepted for the June 22-25 conference.
That is, according to WCTE2025 Conference Chair Professor Keith Crews, who revealed that early bird registrations for next year’s conference are now open.
“This will be the most prestigious international event in the field of timber technology for construction, timber structures, and timber architecture design,” said Professor Keith Crews, also director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advance Timber Hub.
The conference, slated for Brisbane, will be hosted by the University of Queensland, with support from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advance Timber Hub. It will address the conference theme, ‘Advancing Timber for the Future Build Environment’.
With the world’s eyes on the Queensland government, which is currently deciding on venues ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, Professor Crews said WCTE2025 will embrace three focus areas—architectural, engineering, and practitioner skills—ahead of the Games.
“The conference will highlight the advances and carbon benefits of timber construction, particularly for Queensland government stakeholders as they plan the 2032 Olympic venues and athlete accommodation,” Professor Crews said.
In addition, “the program will focus on the importance of research and development undertaken by the timber design and construction community in response to the increased demand from engineering and architectural firms, developers, and investors, who now emphasise timber engineering as the preferred solution for many projects.”
“Themes include material performance and durability, sustainability and timber in a circular economy, timber engineering and structural performance, timber architecture and biophilic design, education, innovation, challenges, and examples and construction case studies.”
Professor Crews, WCTE 2025 Chair, is supported by WCTE 2025 Deputy Chair, Professor Greg Nolan, of the University of Tasmania, and Kelly Rischmiller, executive secretary of the University of Queensland/Australian Research Council (ARC) Advance Timber Hub.
The committee is developing an extensive social program that includes “a uniquely Australian way” to offset the conference’s carbon footprint by contributing to the creation of a full coral tree in the Great Barrier Reef.
To achieve this, part of the participants’ registration fees will be allocated to the Reef Restoration Foundation’s Resilience and Recovery Program. The WCTE 2025 Coral Tree has now been installed, and delegates will be given ongoing updates on its progress via the conference web page leading up to the conference.
“Delegates will be encouraged to visit the Great Barrier Reef during their time in Queensland … and pay a visit to the WCTE 2025 Coral Tree,” Professor Crews told Wood Central earlier this month. “The restoration foundation bolsters coral reef resilience and speeds up the natural recovery process, slowing the rate of change and allowing species to adapt to the changing environment.”
- Visit the dedicated website to learn more about the World Conference on Timber Engineering, including the terms and conditions for abstract submissions.
