Last week's MAINSTREAM Summit in Perth wasn't your average industry conference – it was an experience that brought together 708 of the brightest minds in asset management and reliability engineering from 16 countries.

The Power of Community

What made this gathering special wasn't just the impressive numbers (113 companies represented!), but the genuine connections forming everywhere. Maintenance Superintendents swapped insights with C-suite executives, while reliability engineers compared notes across industries. As Drew Troyer, Group Head of Asset Management from Rio Tinto put it:

"MAINSTREAM is the best Asset Management and Reliability Conference in the world."

Although the cutting-edge topics get people to attend MAINSTREAM, the most common feedback we hear is that people came for the content but left with something else entirely. And that something else is what happens in between: the unplanned, the impulsive, the spontaneous, and the serendipitous. It's the person you meet over water, coffee, or wine – from another company, industry, or country – who has exactly what you need.

Built on Real-World Challenges

The Summit's success comes from its foundation in actual industry pain points. A 30-person advisory team from organisations like BHP, Fortescue, Wesfarmers, AGIG and Woodside Energy shaped a program addressing genuine challenges.

The Conversations That Mattered

Five key themes dominated the discussions:

• Future Asset Management Workforce - Building tomorrow’s maintenance Leaders: the power of people and competencies

• Data Management and AI - Practical applications of emerging technologies in maintenance

• Decarbonisation's Impact - How the green transition is reshaping maintenance and reliability practices

• The Human Element - Mental health, workforce wellbeing, and creating psychologically safe workplaces

• Back to Basics - Amid technological advances, fundamentals still matter tremendously

Top 3 Sessions

The top-rated sessions:

• "Wrenches To Reliability: A Journey of Neurodivergence In The Workplace" - Rowan Watt's powerful story of progressing from diesel mechanic to reliability engineer after an ADHD diagnosis at 35

• "Proactive and Precision Maintenance with a Focus on FLAB" - Drew Troyer's reminder that fundamentals remain essential

• "Psychological Safety to Build Trust and Influence Cultural Change" - Marissa Cowcher's insights on how Aurizon increased survey participation from 66% to over 90%

‍The Partners Behind the Magic

MAINSTREAM was not possible without the 43 partners who made it happen. With floorspace completely sold out and Baker Hughes leading as Diamond Sponsors, these companies weren't just financial backers – they're innovators who tackle our biggest challenges with solutions and services that move us all forward.

And the expo wasn't just about serious business discussions. It was filled with laughter, stories shared over coffee, unexpected conversations that sparked new ideas, and those "aha!" moments that happen when brilliant minds connect. The partners were the catalysts that transformed challenges into opportunities and made this vibrant ecosystem possible.

DEI, Mental Health, Meditation and Fashion – Not Your Typical Engineering Conference

The MAINSTREAM Summit combines technical engineering topics with a strong focus on human factors in the workplace.

Mental Health Innovation Through Workwear

TradeMutt co-founders Dan Allen and Ed Ross transformed safety garments into mental health conversation starters, creating a more "accessible, fun, and optimistic" approach in an industry traditionally reluctant to discuss these issues. Their initiative expanded into TIACS, a free counselling service for trades workers.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A panel featuring speakers from major companies addresses DEI as "crucial for future success" while tackling practical implementation challenges in maintenance teams.

Brain Health and Cognitive Performance

This session addresses how brain fog, cognitive overload, and energy loss affect employees who "can't switch off and aren't coping with the constant onslaught of information." It introduces 'Brain Breaks' as a low-tech intervention to create opportunities to unplug and pause, improving brain function, clarity and performance. Participants learn to prepare for information overload, implement simple breaks into work environments, and maintain balance amid workplace challenges.

MAINSTREAM recognises that technical excellence requires supporting the people behind the machinery.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The hard stats speak volumes:

• 708 attendees

• 113 companies represented

• 16 countries

• 43 sessions

• 5 specialised tracks

• 30-person advisory team

• 28 years of trust and neutrality in the industry

The MAINSTREAM Difference

The Summit balanced serious learning with genuine fun across its diverse sessions and specialised tracks. As MC, Andrew Daddo, noted,

"Just when I think it can't be better... MAINSTREAM goes to the next level."

In the words of the organising team:

"As maintenance and asset management people, we make stuff work on an industrial scale. We revel in being the lifeblood that keeps economies going... Few things excite us more than making stuff do more than it was ever designed to do. Faster, safer, longer, differently, and more reliably is our love language."

MAINSTREAM respectfully acknowledges the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as the Traditional Owners of the land where the Perth Convention Centre stands and where MAINSTREAM was held, paying respect to their ancient and continuing cultures and connections to land and to Elders past, present, and emerging.

As the Perth edition of MAINSTREAM Summit 2025 concludes, it leaves behind not just memories and new connections, but actionable insights that will continue to shape asset management practices across industries. It's clear why this event has garnered such loyalty over its long history – it delivers substance, connection, and inspiration in equal measure.

So, open your minds to new ideas and your hearts to new people. Someone in this community has the answer to your greatest challenge.