The 2025 APGA Convention & Exhibition has come to a close, and we are still buzzing with energy, gratitude, and pride. Brisbane hosted one of the most vibrant, thoughtful, and collaborative gatherings our industry has seen in years. It was more than a convention. It was a demonstration of what can be achieved when an industry comes together with purpose, openness, and a shared commitment to progress.
Thank You to Our Community
To every delegate, exhibitor, speaker, trade pass holder, sponsor, and supporter—we offer our sincere thanks. The success of the Convention is a direct result of your willingness to contribute. You brought energy to the exhibition floor, insight to the technical sessions, and warmth to the social events. You helped shape an environment where collaboration thrived, and where learning was prioritised over competition.
It is your participation that defines the APGA Convention. Without your presence, your questions, and your conversations, the event would simply not be what it is.
Celebrating Excellence: Congratulations to Our Award Winners
A special acknowledgement goes to those who took the time to enter the APGA Awards. Your submissions represent the best of what our industry can offer - innovation, leadership, dedication, and courage. Preparing an award entry is no small task. It requires reflection, documentation, and a willingness to put your work forward for peer review.
To our award winners, congratulations. Your work stood out because it not only delivered results, but also demonstrated your commitment to raising the bar for the entire industry. We are proud to celebrate your achievements and thank you for helping inspire the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers.
A Culture of Openness and Contribution
This year’s Convention once again reaffirmed what sets our industry apart: a collective willingness to share knowledge, even when it’s not easy. In our plenary sessions, several speakers stepped forward to present on challenging topics, lessons learned from setbacks, case studies from high-stakes projects, and reflections on organisational change.
These presentations may have been difficult to deliver in a public setting. Yet they were shared anyway, in service of the broader community. This kind of transparency is not just admirable. It is essential. It helps us all improve and reinforces a culture where continuous learning is more important than perfect performance.
The Next Generation Leads the Way
We extend our deep thanks to the Young Pipeliners Forum (YPF), whose panel brought fresh perspectives and bold thinking into the spotlight. Their insights challenged assumptions, opened new lines of discussion, and reminded us all that the future of the pipeline industry is in very capable hands.
A Spotlight on Psychological Safety
One of the powerful sessions this year came from the panel on psychological safety. Rather than focus on technical systems or physical infrastructure, this panel explored the emotional and cultural dimensions of our workplaces.
Their contribution was timely and necessary. It reminded us that the human element of our work - how we lead, how we communicate, and how we support each other - is just as critical as our tools and technology. We thank the panellists for approaching this topic with both courage and compassion.
Operational Insight from the Pipeline Operators Group
The Pipeline Operators Group (POG) delivered a compelling stream of content across a range of complex topics. From redefining what is considered “unpiggable” to exploring advances in in-line inspection under difficult conditions, the POG sessions provided detailed, experience-based insight that can only come from those working at the front line.
To every member of the POG who presented, collaborated, or participated, thank you for sharing your operational knowledge with such clarity and generosity. Your expertise contributes directly to the ongoing improvement of the industry.
Connection Beyond the Program
Finally, a word on the social side of the Convention. The formal program may be the headline, but the conversations that happen at dinner, over coffee, or between sessions are just as valuable. These are the moments where trust is built, ideas are exchanged, and long-term relationships begin.
Thank you to everyone who attended the social functions, who brought energy to the room, who introduced themselves to someone new, and who helped make our community stronger. These events work because of you.
Looking Forward
The 2025 Convention was a celebration of everything the pipeline industry does well: technical excellence, collaborative spirit, and a deep sense of responsibility to each other. It was also a reminder that our strength lies in our ability to come together. Not just once a year, but through every working relationship and project we undertake.
We are already looking ahead to the next Convention, knowing that the momentum from this year will carry forward. With a community like ours, the future of the industry is in good hands.
Thank you once again to all who made it happen. We look forward to seeing you in 2026.
