L-R Frank Gili, Oz Ali, Dima Ivanov, Dr Aneeq Sarwar

The Sydney AGM and Member Forum was held in March, and featured a strong program of informative presentations.

Dima Ivanov, CEO of PowerStats Limited, shared an update on market statistics, including comparisons between the Australian and South‑East Asian markets. He also outlined plans to streamline the model registration process to remove uncertainty around equipment classification and provided an update on a new AI‑driven PowerStats app that will further improve access to industry data.

Osama (Oz) Ali, Team Leader of the CMEIG Engineering Working Group (EWG), presented an update on EWG activities. He highlighted ongoing “legacy” issues such as glass impact ratings, lifting with excavators and non‑road diesel engine emissions, alongside emerging challenges including electrification, autonomy and interoperability, cybersecurity, AI and sustainability. Oz also noted the growing importance of the AS 20474 Earth‑Moving Machinery – Safety series, published in 2025, which is quickly becoming a key reference for the industry.

Dr Aneeq Sarwar, Senior Manager – Workforce Planning and Policy at AUSMASA, addressed emerging skills challenges across the mining, construction and automotive sectors. His presentation highlighted the workforce impacts of electrification, decarbonisation, automation and digitalisation, with electrification driving strong demand for EV, high‑voltage and multi‑skilled technicians. He emphasised the need for coordinated industry‑led workforce planning and modernised training systems to support future roles in areas such as autonomous operations, critical minerals, and advanced digital diagnostics.

The forum concluded with Clea Smith, CEO of Tradeswomen Australia, who spoke on the challenge of retaining women in construction and mining trades, where women represent only 3–4% of the workforce and experience higher apprenticeship drop‑out rates. Clea outlined how improved retention delivers productivity and workforce stability benefits, and highlighted Tradeswomen Australia’s Apprenticeship Scholarship Program, delivered in partnership with organisations such as CMEIG. The program provides financial support, mentoring, and wrap‑around assistance, achieving completion rates above 90% and supporting more inclusive and resilient industry workplaces.