World Demolition Summit 2025 in pictures

However, the World Demolition Summit (WDS), held in Nashville in November, proved that there is plenty of positivity to be found among the key players.

The Summit itself was a melting pot of contractors, OEMs, consultants and engineers from across the world, and provided a platform for those in attendance to take stock of the here and now, while also providing an in-depth outlook into what the future holds.

Over 500 delegates, a record for the event, descended on Music City Centre. Here are the highlights in pictures.

World Demolition Summit 2025

WDS 2025 attracted a record number of visitors.

Kicking off the first ever VIP Day, keynote speaker Michele O’Rourke, CEO of O’Rourke Wrecking Company, delved into how demolition contractors can lead beyond the jobsite by taking a different view to sustainability and focusing on purpose and community outreach.

Ray Gallant, VP Sustainability and Productivity Services, Volvo Construction Equipment, focused on the energy transition, and argued that many industries are focusing their attention on sustainable power, digitalization/AI and automation when thinking of sustainability.

Komatsu’s Product Marketing Manager Simon Saunders gave an overview of the company’s current and future approach to alternative power, and outlined its vision to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Collaboration was a key theme of WDS 2025, and Steelwrist CEO Stefan Stockhaus used VIP Day to discuss the benefits of the Open-S industry standard for automatic couplers as well as demolition trends.

With Caterpillar celebrating its 100th anniversary earlier this year, Chad Bixby Growth Industries Manager, discussed the future for the US-based OEM.

Kevin Boreen, Exodus Global CEO, and Jason Johnson, Director of Sales, OilQuick Americas, provided insights into some of OilQuick’s latest innovations.

Keynote speaker Steve Farner, International Vice President, LiUNA, outlined the growing workforce crisis in the industry and safety of modern job sites.

Kobelco’s Director of Product Development Dan Collins rounded out the inaugural VIP Day with a discussion on the company’s legacy in demolition.

The NDA’s President Ben Hayden opened the Summit.

Connie Clearwater of Priestly Demolition expertly guided delegates through the sessions.

With regulations high on the agenda for many at WDS 2025, the EDA’s Jose Blanco opened day one of the main conference with insight into European regulatory changes and the impact they will have on demolition companies.

Vetting of bids was the focus for Dominion Energy’s Director of Generation Projects Rick Boyd, with a particular focus on technical experience, safety, bid evaluation and selection process of power plant projects.

While many focused on the successful projects, Jason Curtsinger, PE Decommissioning Senior Manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority received praise from delegates for his dissection of the successes and failures of one of its projects.

Owner of Metzner Recycling Michael Metzner (right) and Volvo’s Segment Leader Peter Bauer (left) gave an in-depth overview of the world’s first fully electric deconstruction site in Erlangen, Germany.

Covering the technological aspects of sustainability, Mahesh Bailakanavar, Associate Principal, Thornton Tomasetti, outlined how AI can be used to streamline operations in demolition businesses.

RVA Group Managing Director Richard Vann delivered a comprehensive guide to delivering a successful tender package during the bidding process.

Discussing the challenges of sustainability initiatives in the industry, Simon Hébert, Senior Project Director, Delsan-AIM Environmental Services, argued that pushing for reuse of material is not efficient, comes with at price and will extend project schedules.

Cormac McLean, Managing Director of PDC Explosives Engineering, gave a though provoking presentation on the sustainable benefits of explosives on projects, such as faster timelines, lower Capex, enhanced safety, and minimal disruption.

Alex Hadden (left) and Alex Ellison (right) of UK contractor Brown & Mason talked the nuances of the skills shortage, and argued that culture, mentorship from within and fueling the next generation are important factors for the future of the industry.

In a standout presentation, Chris Dowdell, Senior Remediation Project Manager, Koch, highlighted how vision alignment between owners and contractors creates safer job sites, less interruption to facility operations, smoother execution, and stronger long-term partnerships.

Discussing her personal experience with illness, Kate Bester, Contracts Manager, Jet Demolition, delivered a powerful presentation on organisational resilience and how we must adopt a mindset of continuous readiness.

Closing out WDS 2025, Priestly Demolition President Ryan Priestly (right) and Cameco Senior Project Manager Andrew Turk (left) shared insights into the largest active uranium site cleanup and dismantling of the decommissioned UF6 plant in Canada.