Immersive Technologies Driving Industry Transformation: Manufacturing & Construction Showcase

As the manufacturing and construction industries undergo the most significant transformation since the industrial revolution, immersive technologies are emerging as critical enabling technologies, presenting profound opportunities to redefine everything from design to remote operations and safety.

The Queensland XR Hub’s Manufacturing & Construction Showcase brought together industry innovators, leaders, and pioneers to share insights, explore real-world challenges and opportunities, and build connections to drive these sectors forward.

The showcase, held on 24 July 2025 at The Precinct in Fortitude Valley, was filled with vibrant discussions, inspiring talks and provocations, and hands-on technology demonstrations from showcase exhibitors.

The showcase also featured an opportunity to explore real-time collaboration in a digital twin, with an immersive multi-user experience hosted by HTC VIVE’s VIVERSE for Business – a spatial computing platform designed to help organisations build immersive, customisable virtual environments for collaboration, training, and engagement.

Here’s what attendees had to say about the day:

“I loved today, because we involved a lot of different parts of the industry.”
Kate Raymond, Master Electricians Australia

“I think it’s been the organisers, really, who are the heroes of this event, but it’s great also to bring like-minded people together.”
Ronan Sweeney, Simovation Interactive Technologies

“The XR Hub have created today, and today is all about learning what companies are available, what their skillsets are, and what the needs are of the, in this case, the manufacturing industry. And that’s what we need, we need that communication so we know who’s there and what skills are available.”
Guy Wallis, The University of Queensland

“I just think it’s great to see a group of people who are passionate about these XR technologies come together and really stimulate lots of conversations. I love the idea that they were positioned as provocations, I think we need more of that.”
Tracy Martin, The University of Queensland

“Today was a great experience, to be able to learn from cross-sects of partners to really understand how different parts of the community and different ecosystems are struggling with the use of XR, and the opportunities that we can use to deploy this technology.”
Samantha Prime, Clinical Excellence Queensland

“It’s a really important part of what we do. We get to present at these kind of events to show off what we do, to people who might be able to use what we do, as well as network with other people working in the industry, and find out what other tech is happening.”
Tanya Fraser, Nexefy

“It’s been absolutely fantastic. We’ve had a lot of support from the community here, not only the XR Hub team members themselves, but also being able to be connected with other VR development studios, creators, and getting really great insight into what their vision for the future of VR is as well, and just sharing those ideas. It’s been absolutely amazing.”
Hayden Morison, Next World

The program featured an outstanding lineup of expert presenters & exhibitors, whose work is reshaping the future of the manufacturing and construction industries:

Presenters

Richard Simpson, Founding Director & CEO, Meta Moto
Mark Ransley, Head of Spatial Computing, XYZ Reality
Herman Van Der Merwe, Pre-Sales Manager AU & NZ, Siemens Digital Industries Software
Karen Sanders, XR Strategist, Queensland XR Hub
Kate Raymond, CEO, Master Electricians Australia
Benjamin Yue, APAC Channel Partner Manager, Reality Labs, Meta
Hayden Morison, CEO, Next World
Ryan Bright, Founder & CEO, Bright People
Emma Murtagh, Business Director, Real Serious Games
Ben Breitenstein, Immersive Software Designer, Composit
Quinn Sunderland, Director, Advocacy, Communication & Engagement, Manufacturing Skills Queensland
Nandun Abeynayake, Head of Product ANZ, HTC VIVE
Ian Walls, Head of Sales ANZ, HTC VIVE