Why Factory Built Is the Future of Design presented by prefabAUS. 

For too long, "prefabricated" construction has been dismissed as substandard—cheap, ugly, and limited. This perception isn't just outdated, it's dangerous. It's actively preventing Australia's design community from accessing the only construction methods proven to deliver the environmental performance, quality, and precision our climate future demands.

This panel showcases Australia's manufacturing renaissance — bringing together leaders demonstrating that factory construction isn't about reducing design ambition, it's about amplifying it whilst fundamentally transforming our environmental impact. When you can achieve millimetre-perfect tolerances, when you control environmental conditions during construction, when you integrate advanced building physics and circular economy principles from day one, you unlock both architectural possibilities AND environmental performance that traditional site-built construction simply cannot match.

Our panelists represent South Australian design innovation with prefabrication at the forefront:

Ben George, Design Manager, SHAPE Australia

Ben George is a Registered Architect and Design Manager at Modular by SHAPE with 22 years’ industry experience. With a background in construction, architecture and modular delivery, he brings a practical perspective on prefabrication, design coordination and buildability.

Alessandra Yokota, Head of DfMA, 5North

Alessandra Yokota is Head of DfMA at 5North, where she leads the integration of design for manufacture and assembly into Australia's next generation of robotically manufactured, prefabricated homes. With over a decade across the AEC industry, she embeds digital and industrialised construction approaches, shifting traditional design thinking to value-driven, collaborative digital design. 5North believes "Everyone deserves an address" and her work supports 5North's mission to deliver sustainable, high-quality homes at the speed and scale Australia needs.

Mehdi Amirkhani, Senior Lecturer, Adelaide University and Co-Director, Zero Energy Mass Custom Home (ZEMCH) Network Australia

Dr Mehdi Amirkhani is a Senior Lecturer at Adelaide University whose work focuses on factory-built construction, modern methods of construction, building performance, and workforce capability development. His research and collaboration with government and industry advance innovation, productivity, sustainability, and the future of construction through applied research, education, and industry engagement.

Damien Crough, Executive Director, prefabAUS 

PrefabAUS is the peak industry body for prefabricated building in Australia. prefabAUS provides the industry perspective on how this transformation creates high-skilled Australian manufacturing jobs whilst establishing the circular economy principles that will define sustainable building for the next century.

Event schedule

4:45pm Arrive and Register

5:00pm Welcome drinks

5:30pm South Australian prefab sector. Does the policy match the promise? Damien Crough and Lance Worrall

5:45pm Panel Discussion: Why Factory Built Is the Future of Design 

6:30pm Networking drinks 

7:30pm Event close

Questions? Contact Emily