Another VMBSG Annual State Conference has come and gone, and once again, it seems they just keep getting better!
Held on 15 and 16 October in Yarrawonga-Mulwala, this year’s conference brought together around 140 delegates from across Victoria for two days of professional development, networking, catching up with old friends and making plenty of new ones.
And while the presentations and professional development are at the heart of the conference, it’s the people who make these couple of days so special.
More Than Just a Conference
One of the real highlights this year was the social side of the event.
With around 140 people from all corners of Victoria, it was wonderful to see how easily everyone mixed, moving from group to group, catching up, sharing stories and enjoying plenty of laughs along the way.
There were no barriers between long-standing members, newcomers, experienced professionals or those just starting out. People genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, and that says a great deal about the VMBSG community and the building surveying profession.
It was particularly encouraging to welcome so many first-time conference attendees.
More councils and organisations are recognising the value of sending their team members along to experience the conference for themselves. In some cases, regular attendees are choosing to remain at work so their colleagues can take advantage of the learning and networking opportunities. It’s a wonderful investment in the next generation of the profession.
At the other end of the scale, VMBSG continues to welcome retired members who return year after year.
In fact, a couple of members attending this year’s conference were also at the very first VMBSG conference back in 2001, 25 years ago!
It says a lot about the friendships and connections built through VMBSG over the years. People may retire from their jobs, but they certainly don’t retire from the friendships they’ve made along the way.
Celebrating Our 2026 Award Recipients
Three very deserving members of the profession were recognised with awards at this year’s conference, and the surprise and excitement as their names were announced made the presentations particularly memorable.
John Anagianis Award – Henry Nguyen
Henry Nguyen from Latrobe City Council was announced as the recipient of the 2026 John Anagianis Award for Rising Excellence.
Henry had absolutely no idea he was about to receive the award, despite sitting right beside his boss, newly elected VMBSG Vice President Mason Tennant, who had successfully kept the news a closely guarded secret!
Women’s Network Emerging Leader Award – Maddy Wood
But Mason had another secret to keep!
Maddy Wood, also from Latrobe City Council, was announced as the recipient of the Women’s Network Emerging Leader Award.
Having two award recipients from the same team is a wonderful achievement and reflects the encouragement, support and leadership Mason provides to those working alongside him.
Maddy was unable to attend this year’s conference, so her award was accepted on her behalf by Mason.
Women’s Network Contribution to the Industry Award – Tina Nguyen
Tina Nguyen was recognised with the Women’s Network Contribution to the Industry Award.
One of the loveliest moments of the conference was seeing Tina’s face when her name was announced. Her surprise, excitement and sheer delight were wonderful to witness.
Congratulations to Henry, Maddy and Tina on their well-deserved recognition!
Sharing Knowledge and Experience
This year’s conference theme, Judgement Calls in Complex Building Issues: Navigating Constraints, Existing Conditions and Competing Priorities, brought together an excellent range of presenters and topics.
From building industry reform and risk-based enforcement through to water-damaged buildings, fire safety, legislative reform, seismic and wind design, legal considerations and emergency response, the program encouraged plenty of discussion and the sharing of practical experience.
A particular highlight was keynote speaker Dr Nicole Bijlsma, whose presentation explored the implications of water-damaged buildings for building surveyors.
The conference also featured an emergency response panel discussion, drawing on the firsthand experiences of building surveying professionals who have been involved in major emergencies and disaster recovery across Victoria.
VMBSG sincerely thanks all those who contributed to this year’s professional development program:
Todd Bentley, Steven Baxas, Gene Isaacs, James Cox, Dr Nicole Bijlsma, Anita Dorfer-Mehanic, Elizabeth Flanagan, Leanne Wilson, Suada Ramic, Paul Horton, Kim Lovegrove, Ziggy Lovegrove, Jordan Bartlett and Daniel Silfo.
Thank you also to Brett Turner, who moderated the emergency response panel discussion, and panellists Chris Watson, Barry Nicholl, Leanne Platt and Chris Dal Santo for sharing their experiences and insights.
And a special thank you to Maryanna Grzan, our wonderful conference MC, for keeping the program moving throughout the day.
There is an enormous amount of knowledge and experience within the building surveying profession, and the willingness of people to share that knowledge with colleagues is one of the great strengths of VMBSG.
The conference program is also a valuable resource, containing information about our presenters, presentation topics, sponsors and more.
View the VMBSG 2026 Annual State Conference Program
Friday Golf Results
Golf has been part of the VMBSG conference tradition for many years, and Friday morning once again provided an opportunity for some friendly competition and plenty of laughs on the course.
It was a particularly close finish at the top, with just 0.31 of a stroke separating first and second place!
Congratulations to our winning teams.
Final Team Results
| Place | Team | Players | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Team 2 | Brenton Carter, Jacob Surgeon, Gene Isaacs, Peter Phillips | 60.63 |
| 2nd | Team 7 | Jeff Whitehead, Harvey Nguyen, Theo Blanas, Rob Mitchelmore | 60.94 |
| 3rd | Team 4 | Rob Hicks, Leanne Wilson, Anton Burggraf, Ange LaMantia | 61.00 |
| 4th | Team 8 | Chris Dal Santo, Ian Foster, Ryan Elliot | 64.30 |
| 5th | Team 6 | Warren Brooker, Leanne Platt, Mason Tennant | 70.00 |
| 6th | Team 3 | Trent Corme, Brandon Bonavia, Daniel De Lacy | 72.00 |
| 7th | Team 5 | Chris Watson, Mervyn Mumford, David Crowe | 74.00 |
| 8th | Team 1 | Glen Harvey, Jordan Bartlett, Darren Frost | 74.04 |
Winning Team Prizes
With thanks to Russell Kennedy:
- 1st Place: $100 Russell Kennedy voucher
- 2nd Place: $75 Russell Kennedy voucher
- 3rd Place: $50 Russell Kennedy voucher
Individual Golf Prizes
- Longest Drive: Rob Hicks – prize courtesy of Damien Wadsworth & Associates
- Closest Second Shot: Daniel De Lacy
- Nearest to the Pin: Ian Foster – prize courtesy of Damien Wadsworth & Associates
The remaining three nearest-to-the-pin prizes went unclaimed this year.
Congratulations to all our golfers, and thank you to Russell Kennedy and Damien Wadsworth & Associates for supporting this much-loved part of the conference.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters
Conferences of this size simply wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and industry partners.
VMBSG sincerely thanks our major sponsors:
- Platinum Alliance Partner: Russell Kennedy
- VMBSG Gold Partner: Damien Wadsworth & Associates
- Conference Gold Sponsor: ASA Building Consultants
- Silver Sponsor: Lovegrove & Cotton
- Bronze Sponsor: e-Vis / Greenlight
Thank you also to Government Shared Services, Ryt Business Solutions, Smarterlite, Weir Legal & Consulting, United Building Consultants and Maddocks Lawyers for their support of this year’s conference.
Whether through sponsorship, prizes, refreshments, advertising or their ongoing support of VMBSG, each contribution helps make events like this possible.
A special mention also goes to Mat Sherwell, who supported this year’s conference and managed to join delegates for a short visit while working in the area. It was great to see him, even if only briefly, and his continued support is very much appreciated.
And Finally, Thank You!
An event of this size takes an enormous amount of planning and organisation, both in the months leading up to the conference and throughout the event itself.
Thank you to the VMBSG Committee of Management for the time, work and commitment that goes into delivering the conference and supporting the organisation throughout the year.
Special thanks also to Erna Lay and Tracy D’Souza from the Building and Plumbing Commission, who were more than happy to jump in and lend a hand whenever needed across the two days, and who also captured some fantastic photos!
And, most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended.
From the first-time delegates to those who have been coming for decades, it’s the people who make the VMBSG Annual State Conference what it is.
Seeing everyone learning, sharing ideas, reconnecting with colleagues, making new friends and enjoying themselves makes all the work behind the scenes worthwhile.
After 25 years of conferences in Yarrawonga, the sense of community within VMBSG is clearly as strong as ever.
Here’s to making the next one even better!