AFAC, Australia’s largest emergency management conference returns to Perth, bringing together experts from across the region to explore integrated resilience and future-ready response.
From 26 to 29 August 2025, the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre will host AFAC25 powered by INTERSCHUTZ, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading emergency management event. Organised by AFAC (the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council), this year’s conference is set to attract thousands of professionals across fire, rescue, emergency management, defence, and critical infrastructure sectors.
Themed “From local to global: leveraging systems, capability and connection,” AFAC25 responds to the growing need for coordinated, adaptive response in an era marked by compounding climate risks and evolving public safety challenges. The event offers a unique space for operational leaders, researchers, frontline responders, and policymakers to converge, exchange insight, and align strategies.
Running across four days, the event includes the AFAC Conference, the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) National Conference, and the Women and Firefighting Australasia Conference. This multi-stream approach ensures a rich, multidimensional agenda that reflects the complexity and diversity of the sector.
AFAC25 will feature more than 100 speakers, including international experts and domestic leaders. Sessions will cover a broad range of themes, from disaster risk reduction and climate resilience to digital transformation and cross-sector capability building. Keynotes and panels are designed to foster systems thinking and enable practical takeaways for both high-level strategy and on-the-ground action.
The accompanying exhibition, running from 26 to 28 August, remains a cornerstone of the event. Hundreds of global and local vendors will showcase the latest in fire suppression systems, emergency communications, drone technology, disaster response tools, and training solutions. Live demonstrations and technology showcases will offer attendees hands-on engagement with the tools shaping tomorrow’s emergency services landscape.
A standout feature of this year’s event is the Professional Development Day on 29 August, dedicated to interactive workshops and skill-building sessions. Designed to promote interagency collaboration and leadership development, this day underscores AFAC’s commitment to nurturing talent and advancing capability within the sector.
This year also marks the introduction of new Spotlight Sessions on the Expo floor. These short-format presentations will highlight real-world applications of innovation in emergency logistics, firefighting robotics, community resilience programs, and mental health support for responders. These sessions offer informal, yet deeply informative, opportunities to engage with leading voices across specialisms.
AFAC25 will also feature a dedicated Emerging Leaders stream, aimed at professionals under 35 and those new to the sector. This initiative is designed to foster mentorship, peer learning and long-term engagement, ensuring the next generation of emergency management professionals are equipped to lead with confidence and insight.
The event comes at a critical moment. With climate-related disasters intensifying and public expectations for safety and preparedness rising, the event serves as a vital forum for forging alliances and advancing shared goals. It continues to be recognised as a national benchmark for knowledge exchange, policy discussion, and professional development within the emergency services community.
