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Artificial intelligence is set to influence many aspects of environmental practice, from data analysis and site investigation to regulatory decision-making and risk management. But what might AI mean for the contaminated land industry in Victoria over the next decade?
Join ALGA Victoria for a collaborative industry workshop that explores how AI could shape the way contaminated sites are investigated, remediated, regulated and redeveloped.
The event will revolve around a hypothetical future scenario: a large and complex, heavily contaminated industrial site in metropolitan Melbourne, proposed for precinct-scale mixed-use redevelopment in the year 2035. Through facilitated breakout discussions led by industry thought leaders, participants will consider how artificial intelligence might influence environmental data management, professional judgement and ethics, regulatory approvals, commercial transactions, and the allocation of risk and liability.
The workshop will bring together data managers; consultants, contractors and suppliers; ethics managers; regulators and auditors; environmental lawyers and insurers. Insights from the workshop will be synthesised into an ALGA industry bulletin to be shared with members, helping the sector to better understand both the opportunities and the challenges that AI may present.
Participants are invited to contribute their experience and perspectives to this forward-looking industry discussion.
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Your ticket includes a complimentary drink and a selection of appetisers. Please note that this is not a formal dinner event.
BYO! To minimise our use of plastic, we encourage delegates to bring their own reusable water bottles and coffee cups.
Due to the venue’s security measures, make sure you arrive on time.
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Please Note: This is a special workshop event for which discount codes will not apply. Thank you.
Matthew O’Brien is an environmental consultant with over 20 years’ experience across contaminated land, groundwater, environmental monitoring and environmental data systems. He is the founder of AI for Enviros, where he helps environmental consultants, councils and project teams apply AI to practical environmental challenges.
Matthew’s background includes contaminated site assessment and remediation, groundwater monitoring, major infrastructure projects, and environmental compliance reporting. He has worked across roles with WSP, HydroTerra, Tetra Tech Coffey and the University of Melbourne, including work on the Metro Tunnel Project and other complex monitoring and reporting programs.
His recent work has focused on applying AI to real-world environmental monitoring, including image-based pollution detection in waterways and stormwater infrastructure, and the use of drones, imagery and AI-assisted analysis for habitat mapping and site assessment.
At this event, Matthew is leading the Data Collection, Management and Integrity workgroup, bringing a practitioner’s view of how AI may affect field evidence, data quality, and data workflows in contaminated land practice.
David is CEO and Co-founder of EnviroAutomate, leading the development of an innovative SaaS platform that automates contaminated land and groundwater assessment reporting. With over 23 years of hands-on experience in environmental consulting, David understands the industry's challenges firsthand and built EnviroAutomate to solve them.
As a Senior Principal Environmental Scientist, David has delivered over a thousand site assessment reports, groundwater monitoring programs, and remediation projects for major clients including BP Australia, Cleanaway, Bostik, and ExxonMobil. His experience spans senior technical and leadership roles at BP Australia, Kleinfelder Australia, Resolve Environmental, local and state government, and his own consulting firm, Evolution Environmental.
David's deep technical expertise in contaminated land assessment, combined with his understanding of the constant pressure environmental consultants face around tight timelines, cost constraints, and regulatory compliance, directly informed EnviroAutomate's design. The platform transforms field data collection, laboratory data processing, and report generation - replacing weeks of manual work with automation and AI-assisted drafts ready for expert review.
Known for technical depth, clear communication, and client-focused delivery, David is passionate about empowering environmental consultants with technology that enhances their expertise rather than replacing it.
Megan is a doctoral candidate at Monash University’s Department of Philosophy. Her research focuses on the ethics of robots and artificial intelligence in agriculture and how these technologies can afford (and/or constrain) opportunities for character-based decision-making.
Julian is a Lecturer in Bioethics at Monash University and a Research Fellow with Melbourne Law School.
His work focuses on bioethics, technology ethics, and the societal impacts of new and rapidly evolving technologies including artificial intelligence.
Andrew Halliday is a senior regulatory professional working at the intersection of environmental regulation, digital systems and emerging technologies. With over 15 years of experience across the private and public sectors, he brings first‑hand insight into the challenges faced by regulators and regulated entities and leads design and delivery of solutions to address them.
Andrew has a multidisciplinary background spanning environmental science, enterprise IT, emergency management and regulatory program delivery. He leads the collaborative delivery of permissioning improvements that integrate governance, processes, systems and workforce capability to enable more consistent, timely and risk‑based regulatory decision‑making within complex legislative frameworks.
At this event, Andrew is facilitating the Regulatory, Auditing & Permissibility workgroup, bringing a pragmatic regulatory, people and systems‑focused perspective to discussions on the use of AI in contaminated land and regulatory decision‑making.
Jacqueline Plant is an environment and planning lawyer based in Melbourne with practising experience in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales.
She has extensive advisory and litigation experience including advising clients on contamination risks, remediation and rehabilitation obligations as part of compliance strategies, property transactions and major project developments. Her experience also extends to representing clients in enforcement and compliance proceedings (including internal and external reviews of regulatory notices) and in specialist planning and environment hearings and courts in disputed matters.
Jacqueline regularly interfaces with State and Commonwealth environmental regulators on behalf of clients and works closely with environmental consultants as part of her focus on delivering practical, solutions-based advice to help clients work through complex environmental issues. She has advised many clients on the changes introduced by, and the implications of the new Victorian environmental protection and circular economy legislative frameworks.
Jacqueline was named as a recommended environment and climate change lawyer in Doyles Guide 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
ARUP Offices
Sky Park
1 Melbourne Quarter
699 Collins Street
Docklands VIC 3008
ALGA Members $75.00
Non-members $95.00
Up to 2 CPD points
