Programme schedule revealed for 2025 World Demolition Summit in Nashville

The 2024 World Demolition Summit in Stockholm, Sweden. (PHOTO: D&Ri/KHL)

Now in its 17th year, the WDS is the flagship event for the global demolition industry. The 2025 edition will open with a networking buffet on the afternoon of Tuesday 4 November, before moving into a series of technical presentations, keynote addresses and industry panel sessions.

The main conference programme will conclude on 5 November, with a gala dinner and the 2025 World Demolition Awards.

In addition to the main conference on the 4 and 5 November, this year’s event will also feature a VIP element. Beginning on 3 November, the VIP programme includes special presentations, exclusive networking opportunities and a site visit on the morning of the 4th November. Details of the VIP Programme will be announced in due course. 

The schedule for the main WDS conference is outlined below, detailing two days of technical presentations, keynote speeches and expert panel discussions from leading figures the demolition equipment sector. While speakers and timings remain subject to change, the following agenda provides an overview of what delegates can expect from the 2025 summit in Nashville.

November 4, 2025 - Main Conference Day 1 (All delegates)

12:00 – 13:30 | Registration & Networking Buffet

13.30 – 13:40 | Event welcome & housekeeping

13:40 – 13:45 | Official WDS 2025 Welcome from the NDA

13:45 – 14:15 | Jose Blanco, European Demolition Association
Presentation Title: European regulatory changes and its impact on demolition companies

14:15 – 14:45 | Rick Boyd, Dominion Energy
Presentation Title: How owners view risk on demolition projects

14:45 – 15:15 | Panel Discussion: Technology & Sustainability
Part 1 - How technology advancements are transforming machinery and what it means for demolition and recycling companies.
From heavy equipment and attachments, to site management and safety, what will the latest advances in electrification, artificial intelligence and robotics mean for onsite workflows and practices.

15:15 - 15:45 | COFFEE BREAK

15:45 – 16:15 | Panel Discussion: Technology & Sustainability
Part 2 – How technology is impacting material identification, sorting, handling and processing, and how it’s shaping the circular economy.
From the demolition site to the marketplace, how creating cost-efficient value chains for recycled materials will impact demolition and recycling activities and contribute to sustainable practices.

16:15 – 17:15 | Keynote speaker - Jason Curtsinger, Tennessee Valley Authority
Presentation Title: Concrete Stack Squatting and an Innovative Felling Technique

17:15 – 17:20 | End of day remarks

17:30 – 19.30 | WDS 2025 Official Opening & Welcome Drinks

November 5, 2025 - Main Conference Day 2

08:00 – 09:00 | Breakfast

09:00 – 09:05 | Introduction

09:05 – 09:15 | Morning Welcome from our Conference Chair, Connie Clearwater of Priestly Demolition

09:15 – 09:45 | Mahesh Bailakanavar, Thornton Tomasetti
Presentation Title: Integration of AI and ML Technologies into Demolition to Promote Sustainability, Risk and Safety Management

09:45 – 10:15 | Richard Vann, RVA Group
Presentation Title: Getting the scope right: Why clarity at the start saves time, money and disputes- the devil is in the detail

10:15 – 11:00 | COFFEE BREAK

11:00 – 11:30 | Keynote speaker Simon Hebert, Delsan-AIM
Presentation Title: TBC

11:30 – 12:00 | Cormac McLean, PDC Explosives Engineering
Presentation Title: Sustainable Demolition: Can we blast our way to Net Zero?

12.00 – 13:15 | LUNCH BREAK

13:15 – 13:45 | Alex Hadden & Alex Ellison, Brown and Mason
Presentation Title: Experience & Exuberance – Leveraging Personal & Professional Legacies to Drive the Future of Demolition

13:45 – 14:15 | Chris Dowdell, Koch Industries
Presentation Title: How to be great: what industrial clients pay a premium for

14:15 – 15:00 | COFFEE BREAK

15:00– 15:30 | To be revealed!
Presentation Title: TBC

15:30 – 16:00 | Ryan Priestly, Priestly Demolition Inc, and Andrew Turk, Cameco
Presentation Title: The deconstruction of the UF6 Building 27 at the Cameco Conversion Facility

16:00 – 16:15 | Closing Remarks

18:30 – 19:45 | Drinks Reception

19:45 – 22:00 | World Demolition Awards & Gala Dinner
Celebrating excellence in the demolition industry with awards and networking.