Inside AMINZ Construction Day: Fast Five with Heidi van Eeden

We are excited to announce the programme for AMINZ Construction Day 2025, taking place on 19 November 2025. We speak with Quantity Surveyor and AMINZ Council Member, Heidi van Eeden, to ask our fast five questions about what you can expect from the programme, what makes it different to previous years, who should attend, and more.

Kia ora Heidi, what can we expect from this year’s Construction Day?

For me, Construction Day is about equipping our members with practical takeaways and clear, actionable information they can use to approach their projects with confidence. There is often a lot of uncertainty in the construction sector, so this is a chance to cut through the noise with insights that really matter. We will cover a range of highly relevant topics to help attendees understand the current landscape, new legislation, and how to apply it in their day-to-day work. 

How is this year's programme different from previous years?  

This year, we’re focussing on the practical day-to-day realities of the sector. For example, we have one session on practical AI application with a demonstration by Dr Naseem Ameer Ali, Keynote Speaker, and Associate Professor at Massey University. We also have an overview of the last 30 years of construction mediation a session shining a spotlight on liquidated damages, and a discussion on the current state of construction – looking at national and global trends impacting the sector, on-the-ground insights from project, contracts and disputes. 

Who should attend Construction Day?

Project managers, quantity surveyors, in-house counsel, adjudicators, lawyers, engineers, mediators, and anyone involved in construction disputes. If you have been involved in a construction job that has gone sideways, this day is for you! 

Which session are you most looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to a few sessions. The keynote presentation, AI, and Oscar Read’s session on Managing Risks in Construction Contracts. His session will cover the role of delayed liquidated damages clauses and the post-termination impact. This will be a great insight into construction case law and particularly relevant for right now given our current economic climate. 

What’s one key insight or skill attendees should expect to walk away with? 

Attendees will leave with the confidence to perform their roles effectively and correctly, informed by up-to-date knowledge of sector developments and best practice. And of course, the chance to network with peers at the end of the day is great. I’m really looking forward to it! 

Learn more and register to join us for AMINZ Construction Day 2025 at the Grand Millennium Auckland, or online.