A formal three-course welcome dinner in Melbourne marked the commencement of the program. Delegates were warmly received by industry experts and Holmesglen Associate Directors, Ross Digby and Des Perkins, who personally guided participants throughout the training. The networking dinner fostered meaningful connections and established a professional and welcoming tone for the program. In Sydney, a dedicated networking and panel event titled Women in Tunnelling in Australia was delivered. The session highlighted gender diversity within the tunnelling industry and provided participants with the opportunity to engage with women leaders and professionals working in the field. One of the participants from Bhutan also was in the panel speaking of her experiences and challenges in the regional context when it comes to inclusivity. Speakers included Sabrina Kost (ARX Oceania), Helen Baxter Crawford (SMEC), and Sara Haider (Transport for NSW).
Networking engagements were conducted on 5 May in Melbourne, 13 May in Sydney, and 16 May 2025 in Canberra for participants of the Tunnel Boring Course. These networking dinners were structured to enable participants to engage in small group discussions focused on what they aimed to gain from the study tour, while also fostering professional connections and gaining insights from the presenters who attended the events. Site visits were also planned as a part of the program, providing participants with the opportunity to go underground and observe a tunnel boring machine in operation in the Snowy Project, allowing participants to directly observe tunnelling activities in a live project environment. The support provided by the Australian Tunnelling Society was a major factor in the success of the program, together with the enthusiasm of guest speakers and site visit hosts.
The final wrap-up networking session was held in Canberra, providing delegates reflected on their experiences, shared key takeaways, and expressed appreciation for the quality and collaborative spirit of the training. The session reinforced connections formed throughout the program and provided an engaging conclusion to the two-week journey, with representatives from DFAT, Palladium, and Holmesglen
Participants reflected positively on the networking events, noting that they provided valuable learning opportunities and facilitated lasting professional connections. The Women in Tunnelling session was described as particularly impressive and encouraging, with participants highlighting their interactions with women engineers working in tunnelling, transportation, and hydropower construction projects.