Australia boasts some of the world’s most successful large‑scale mass timber buildings, yet we still struggle to get these projects off the ground.

On Tuesday 5th May JCB hosted a discussion at MPavilion to ask: Is the future timber?

Our discussion panel included experts including Chis Botterill | JCB, Atreyu Delacy | TTW, Anna Charalambous | Icon, Jeremy Church | Next Timber, Chris Gilbert | ASH. It will be moderated by JCB’s Samuel Williams.

We’ll explore why mass timber matters, and what it offers beyond carbon savings – from faster construction to richer, more meaningful spaces. We’ll challenge common misconceptions, and present case studies where timber has proven a better choice than concrete and steel.

Our speakers unpacked the risks, the realities, and the opportunities ahead: how to build industry confidence, how to advocate for timber on projects, and how emerging design and procurement innovations are reshaping what’s possible.

We magined what a bold, regenerative timber future for Australia might look like and what it will take to get there.