Open to all: Studio Woodworkers Australia's maker symposium

Studio Woodworkers Australia’s symposium is coming up soon and features a packed program of speakers, presentations, workshop tours and an exhibition at JamFactory Adelaide. Symbiosis runs 7–8 November with events that follow on.

The first day, Friday 7 November, will feature individual presentations by prominent industry figures Peter Walker, Evan Dunstone, Adam Markowitz, Rhys Jones, and Paul Haar. Collectively these speakers will present their insights as designer makers, architects, educators and business owners.

A following panel discussion will introduce the topic of Makers, Migration and Meaning. This theme will explore the diverse journeys that lead to establishing a viable career as a contemporary woodworker, examining how different educational backgrounds, cultural contexts, and professional experiences shape the modern maker’s path.

The panel will be moderated by Gray Hawk, well known Adelaide maker and mentor. Panellists include Tobias Staheli, former Khai Liew employee prior to establishing spatialExpressions; Miheer Fyzee whose background in engineering and industrial design has equipped him with product development expertise; and Takeshi Iue who draws on diverse graphic skills as well as his own cultural heritage.

On Saturday 8 November, Symbiosis will take makers on tour with floor talks from exhibiting makers at the JamFactory, a behind-the-scenes tour with Stu Colwill, and visits to three of Adelaide’s standout woodworking studios – Gray Hawk Design and Mixed Goods and Jon Goulder.

An exhibition of work by Studio Woodworkers Australia members will run alongside the event. There’s also an opportunity to join into a steambending workshop led by Ross Annels which takes place directly after the symposium.

One and two day tickets are available at https://studiowoodworkers.org.au/symposium-2025/