News

Enter the immersive, avatar-driven nima conference

Justin Stanton

Editor, DC+

3 November 2025

As the nima Virtual Conference 2025 looms into view, it’s time for attendees to register and customise their avatars on the immersive platform.

Screenshot of the virtual world for the nima conference — Join the DC+ editor at the nima virtual conference! Less formal attire is available for your avatar…

Taking place on Thursday 6 November, the conference agenda focuses on the Information Management Initiative. The opening keynote address will be delivered by Dr David Hancock MBA, construction director and infrastructure practice lead at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. The closing keynote will be delivered by Malcolm Taylor, expert adviser to Crossrail International.

The conference takes place on an upgraded immersive platform. The conference’s main stage, networking rooms and informal break-out spaces in the cafe will all “replicate the flow and feel of a real-world event – within a browser-based environment that requires no installation or technical preparation”, nima said. However, attendees are encouraged to explore the platform functionality and create their avatars in advance of the event (check out the DC+ editor’s avatar above – less formal attire is available for your avatar).

The platform has been designed for universal access: participants can access via browsers, whether on desktop, tablet or smartphone.

As well as being able to watch live presentations, demonstrations and panel discussions in the shared virtual auditorium, attendees’ avatars can:

walk up to others for real-time conversations, mimicking in-person networking;

join or initiate private chats, group dialogues and live Q&A;

participate in interactive networking; and

observe non-verbal cues like gestures, movement and presence, often absent in traditional digital formats.

Purpose-built for engagement

Nima senior vice-chair and conference chair Fiona Moore said: “This is not merely a virtual substitute for an in-person event – it is a purpose-built digital venue offering the engagement, interaction and presence of a physical conference. It sets a new benchmark for how digital events can support professional communities across disciplines and borders.

“Unlike traditional webinars or video streams, each attendee at the nima Virtual Conference 2025 will enter the environment as a customisable avatar, with full spatial navigation, visibility of others in the ‘nima world’ and the ability to interact in real-time. Attendee-controlled avatars will be able to engage using voice, video, chat, gestures and even emojis, creating a rich, dynamic and participatory atmosphere.”

In between the two keynote speakers are six panel sessions and two head-to-head discussions. Among the 30-plus speakers are the likes of AtkinsRéalis major projects adviser Steven Boyd, Skanska head of digital construction Alex Plenty, University of Nottingham professor of information management Sarah Davidson, Class of Your Own founder and CEO Alison Watson and RLB Digital head of information management strategy, Emma Hooper.

Panel topics focus on the commercial imperative for change, how nima plans to collate metrics about information maturity and the benefits such metrics bring, and how nima should drive information management education.

DC+ will be chairing the opening panel session, entitled: Why change? The increasing importance of information management. Joining this journalist will be Mott MacDonald CDO Simon White, Built Environment Connective founder Alexandra Bolton, Egnyte director of Middle East Mohammad Alfaour and AtkinsRéalis associate director Teresa Gonzalez Rico.

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