World Demolition Summit programme revealed

Photo: D&RI/KHL Group

The World Demolition Summit (WDS) is expanding to a three-day format for the first time, combining a new VIP Day, two days of conference sessions, and the prestigious World Demolition Awards & Gala Dinner.

Delegates will hear from industry leaders and specialists representing organisations from across the globe, with presentations and panels focused on technology, sustainability, safety, leadership, and innovation.

The event is expected to attract several hundred professionals from across the global demolition, recycling, and decommissioning sectors.

This year’s WDS will be staged at the Music City Center, in downtown Nashville.

2025 World Demolition Summit Programme

Monday 3 November – VIP Day

12:30 – 17:00: Exclusive VIP networking & sponsor presentations, including keynotes from:

• Michele O’Rourke, CEO, O’Rourke Wrecking Company – Sustainability is stewardship: How demolition contractors can lead beyond the jobsite
• Steve Farner, International Vice President, LIUNA

19:00 – 21:00: VIP Welcome Reception (invitation only)

Tuesday 4 November – Conference Day One

07:45 – 12:00: VIP Guided Tour (including project site visits and Nashville attractions)

• Morning tour of Nashville
• Includes demolition projects
• Includes Nashville’s key tourist sites

Meet: Foyer at Caption by Hyatt Downtown Nashville – The Gulch - 07:45

Return: Music City Center & Foyer Caption by Hyatt – 12:00

12:00 – 13:30: Registration & Networking Lunch, sponsored by Volvo CE

13:30 – 13:40: Opening welcome & housekeeping (Conference Chair Connie Clearwater, Priestly Demolition, and Programme organiser Lewis Tyler, KHL Group)

13:40 – 13:45: Official welcome from Ben Hayden, President of the NDA

13:45 – 14:15: José Blanco, EDA – European regulatory changes and their impact on demolition companies

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

14:45 – 15:15: Panel Part 1: Technology & Sustainability (panel TBC)

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 & Networking Break, sponsored by Volvo CE

15:45 – 16:15: Panel Part 2: Technology & Sustainability (panel TBC)

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 – Jason Curtsinger, Tennessee Valley Authority – Concrete stack squatting and an innovative felling technique

17:15 – 17:45: Michael Metzner, Metzner Recycling, and Peter Bauer, Volvo CE - First full electric deconstruction site report 

17:45 – 17:50: Closing remarks

17:50 – 20:00: Opening & Welcome Drinks Reception, sponsored by Shearcore

Wednesday 5 November – Conference Day Two & World Demolition Awards

08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast Networking, sponsored by Kocurek

09:00 – 09:15: Welcome – Conference Chair Connie Clearwater, Priestly Demolition

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

09:45 – 10:15: Richard Vann, RVA Group - Getting the scope right (further details TBC)

10.15 – 11.00: Coffee Break & Networking (sponsored by Volvo CE)

11.00 – 11.30: KEYNOTE – Simon Hébert (Delsan-AIM) – Presentation topic to be confirmed

11.30 – 12.00: Cormac McLean (PDC Explosives Engineering) - Sustainable Demolition: Can we blast our way to Net Zero? 

12.00 – 13.15: Lunch Break & Networking (sponsored by Volvo CE)

13.15 – 13.45: Alex Hadden & Alex Ellison (Brown and Mason) - Experience & Exuberance: Leveraging Personal & Professional Legacies to Drive the Future of Demolition

13.45 – 14.15: Chris Dowdell (Koch) - Why a contractors’ culture and values are important to owners

14.15 – 15.00: Coffee Break & Networking (sponsored by Volvo CE)

15.00 – 15.30: Kate Bester (Jet Demolition) Grit and Grace: How an oncology ward taught me about control, humility and resilience

15.30 – 16.00: Ryan Priestly (Priestly Demolition Inc) & Andrew Turk (Cameco) - The deconstruction of the UF6 Building 27 at the Cameco Conversion Facility

16.00 – 16.15: Closing remarks

18.30 – 19.45: Pre-awards Drinks Reception (sponsored by Demarec)

19.45 – 22.00: World Demolition Awards & Gala Dinner

22.00 – 23.00: Post-dinner drinks (sponsored by Tiny’s Construction).

The Summit is organised by Demolition & Recycling International (D&Ri) in partnership with the European Demolition Association (EDA), and supported by the US National Demolition Association (NDA) and the UK National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC).

Volvo Construction Equipment returns as headline sponsor.

Please note, timings, speakers and topics may be subject to change.