Future-Proofing Universities: Insights from TEFMA25 Conference

Trendspek Co-Founders Derek Feebrey and Fiona Church joined education leaders at the TEFMA25 Annual Conference in Brisbane, 14-17 September. Across presentations, one theme was clear: Universities are under increasing pressure to do more with less — and asset managers are feeling it most.

In their presentation Future-Proofing Universities: Digital-First Strategies for Smarter Maintenance, Derek and Fiona shared practical insights into how leading institutions are moving away from reactive maintenance and towards evidence-based, data-driven planning.

The conversations carried through the week as we joined peers at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards 2025, where our collaborative project with Infracorr Consulting and The University of Sydney was recognised as an Outstanding Nominee for Project of the Year. 

This amplified an industry shift: that digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s becoming a new benchmark for leading Universities.

What we heard from University leaders

Across the two days of keynotes, five key challenges were raised:

• Environmental responsibilities: Designing and maintaining sustainable campuses that meet ecological goals.
• Technological change: Keeping pace with digital advancements and integrating new systems into legacy infrastructure.
• Financial constraints: Balancing shrinking budgets with the realities of backlog maintenance and rising operational costs.
• Governance and compliance: Responding to evolving regulations while managing risk.
• Stakeholder expectations: Meeting the diverse and sometimes competing needs of communities.
  

The global challenges for higher education

Beyond Australia, these challenges are also present on a global scale:

• In the UK, universities are facing a $13.8B deferred maintenance backlog, alongside a looming demographic peak by 2028 and reactive RAAC repair works (UK National Audit Office).
• In the US, APPA reports similar challenges of deteriorating condition metrics, budget cuts, and difficulty convincing decision-makers to allocate funds.
• Even in Australia, capital expenditure continues to fluctuate — from $26M in 2022 to $1.6B in 2024 — underscoring the volatility of funding cycles.

The path to digital transformation

Leading universities are embracing digital-first asset lifecycle management — from inspections and reporting to remediation and ongoing monitoring — to future-proof their campuses.

At TEFMA25, we shared how Trendspek is helping asset managers and facility teams shift from reactive to proactive management, creating safer, smarter, and more sustainable campuses.

Ready to Future-Proof your University?

Get in touch with us today.