2025 National Manufacturing Summit Registration Open
Weld Australia Calls for Stronger Local Content Mandates and Industry-Led Reform
Weld Australia is proud to announce that registrations are now open for the 2025 National Manufacturing Summit, set to take place on 24 July at the Shangri-La Sydney, with a Welcome Dinner on 23 July. This year’s Summit, themed Manufacturing Australia’s Future: Local Strength, Global Impact, comes at a critical time for Australian industry and will focus on bold, actionable steps to revitalise the nation’s manufacturing sector.
The Australian manufacturing industry stands at a crossroads. Once a powerhouse contributing 28% of national GDP, the sector now accounts for just 5.9%, signalling the urgent need for comprehensive reform and strategic investment. The 2025 Summit will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, educators, and the broader manufacturing workforce to set the agenda for transformative change.
According to Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, “The decline in Australian manufacturing is not inevitable—it’s a policy choice. With the right frameworks in place, our industry can not only recover but lead. This Summit is our opportunity to demand enforceable local content policies, invest in sovereign capability, and map a future built on innovation, skills, and sustainability.”
“The 2025 Summit will examine the policy and legislative frameworks required to support a thriving, globally competitive manufacturing sector. With federal and state governments looking to reindustrialise key parts of the economy, the Summit will push for clear, enforceable minimum local content thresholds across all significant public and private projects.”
“The time for token gestures is over. We need enforceable, specific local content policy—not empty targets—to ensure Australian materials and expertise are prioritised in the build-out of our future industries,” said Crittenden. “The Summit is where those who care about the future of Australian manufacturing come to shape it.”
The Summit program will explore how Australian manufacturing can lead across five key national priorities:
Just some of the expert speakers include: