The hum began early on the first morning at ICC Sydney, as a steady rhythm of voices and footsteps moved through the halls while exhibitors adjusted final displays and visitors pressed toward the floor. Screens flickered, robots whirred, and the sharp scent of new materials hung in the air. This was the return of the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, and with it, a wave of energy that pulsed through the industry.
The event’s significance was reflected in its large attendance numbers. It was symbolic of how far the sector had travelled in just a few years, from pandemic response to performance science and a focus on compliance and wellbeing.
“One of the highlights was reconnecting with people we first engaged with years ago,” iQCheckPoint head of strategy and growth Steven Tanusoki said. “Since our first year at the expo, we built new features into our products based on real industry needs gathered from face to face conversations we had. Those connections we made last year returned this year to sign on with us, demonstrating a great testament to product evolution and long-term industry relationships.”
ISSA Oceania manager Lauren Micallef captured that sentiment when she said the enthusiasm was palpable from the moment the doors opened, adding that the breadth of discussion revealed just how fast the industry continues to evolve.
At the heart of the first day stood the ISSA Hygieia Network keynote by leadership expert Sonia McDonald. Her message, drawn from her presentation ‘The Hourglass of Resilience’, centred on the kind of strength that arises not from endurance alone but from the ability to bend and refocus. “Great humans make great leaders, so show courage before adversity appears,” she told the audience. Her words set a tone of action and renewal that threaded through the rest of the program.
Nicole Scott from Whiteley said it was fantastic to see so many women connecting and engaging at this year’s show. “We’ve had great conversations and real interest in our products. I think having a show like this is just great to have those conversations and it makes an impact that we’re not maybe able to do in our normal business hours.”
That spirit of connection flowed into the morning’s panel on overwhelm and resilience, where Lorraine Rogic, Linda Lybert and Kathryn Groening spoke candidly about the pressures of professional life. Rogic reminded the crowd that resilience is a skill everyone holds but must choose to use. “We’ve all got resilience,” she said. “It’s about tapping into it and giving yourself permission to use it.” Reflecting on the day’s atmosphere, Lybert added that the show’s intimate scale made networking effortless and meaningful, bringing everyone together to connect, share ideas and experience the industry’s best innovations in one place.
As the day progressed, conversations on the show floor echoed those same ideas of adaptability and trust. At one end, the Business Solutions Theatre hosted a lively exchange on green cleaning and consumer transparency. Jennifer Semple, whose work centres on sustainability standards, offered a sharp perspective: “If there’s no transparency around why a claim was made, then you have a right to ask questions.” Her statement drew murmurs of agreement from an audience eager to ground sustainability in fact, not marketing.
Elsewhere, in sessions on healthcare cleaning, robotics and verification, the dialogue deepened. Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, Alissa Shida and Dr Greg Whiteley examined the shift from visual assessment to measurable validation. “We need systems that tell us how clean things are,” Whiteley said, “using ATP testing and fluorescent markers to gather reliable and defensible numbers.” His point spoke to a larger cultural turn within the industry from assumptions of cleanliness to evidence of it.
In the discussion titled Invisible risks, visible impact, Liezl Foxcroft, Linda Lybert, Professor Brett Mitchell and Carrie Spinks drew attention to the crucial role of cleaning in healthcare and aged care environments. They emphasised that while the sector acknowledges its importance, the true influence of skilled, targeted cleaning on reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections receives far less appreciation than it deserves.
The spotlight then moved to artificial intelligence in the session Robots & Care: The future of AI in healthcare and aged care cleaning. Tom Culver, Joe Azzi and Tom Pembroke explored how intelligent systems are beginning to shape cleaning practices, sharing both the emerging breakthroughs and the operational realities of introducing advanced automation.
“Humanoids will reach a level where their sensory technology allows them to see and detect what humans cannot, even odours and particulates on floors. That capability is almost here,” Culver said.
As the sun lowered over Darling Harbour, the crowd gathered once more, this time for celebration. The annual ISSA Excellence Awards recognised innovations from biodegradable wipes to advanced robotics and sensor-based systems. Each award reflected the same balance of creativity and practicality that had defined the day.
Micallef closed the evening with a note of gratitude, saying that day one had revealed the power of shared knowledge and the curiosity that drives progress. Her confidence set the stage for what would follow.
Where ideas turn into action
When the doors opened again the next morning, the sense of purpose was unmistakable. If day one had been about ideas, day two turned them into practice. The morning began with workshops that dove straight into the mechanics of compliance, regulation and risk. Lorraine Rogic returned to lead an in-depth session on upcoming legislative changes affecting the cleaning sector, spanning workplace safety, HR and environmental obligations. It was a pragmatic guide for business leaders seeking to stay ahead of shifting frameworks and it drew a full house.
Not far away, a workshop led by Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, Doug Hoffman and Jason Green examined what they called the evolution of healthy spaces. Macgregor-Skinner framed it plainly: the industry cleans for health, safety and wellbeing. Hoffman described buildings as living systems – dynamic environments where air, surfaces and contaminants interact. Green added that data and analytics now play a defining role in shaping safer, low-allergen environments. Together, they made a compelling case for cleaning as an integrated science rather than a maintenance function.
By midday, the Business Solutions Theatre filled again for a debate titled One Size Fits None: Standardisation vs Customisation in Cleaning Services. Matt Marsh, Kim Puxty and Peter Rundle explored how providers can uphold consistency while still adapting to client needs. Rundle captured the balance required in modern service delivery: “What is said versus what people can afford are two different things,” he observed. “You have to read, interpret and find a way to deliver the service customers are looking for within the price parameters.”
In the afternoon, attention turned toward mould, a subject rising in relevance as climate volatility increases. In their session, ‘Mould Matters: Navigating the New Standard for Safer Buildings’, Macgregor-Skinner and Hoffman outlined how updated safety frameworks are reframing moisture management. “We do not wait for the flood or the heavy rain,” Macgregor-Skinner said. “It is dampness and where it comes from that we must define.” The simplicity of that statement carried weight, turning a technical issue into an urgent call for proactive design and response.
A sector moving with purpose
By late afternoon, conversations spilled from the theatres to the walkways. Delegates compared notes, shared insights and arranged follow-up meetings that would carry the spirit of the event into the months ahead. The expo closed with one final recognition, the People’s Choice Award, presented to the team at Pudu Robotics.
As the crowds thinned and the lights dimmed, Micallef reflected on the significance of the two days. She spoke of purpose and unity, of an industry that continues to evolve in intelligence and care. “It was a moment of collective purpose,” she said. “The capacity to innovate, lead and raise standards felt amplified.”
Chris McInerney of RapidClean echoed that feeling. “This expo brings the industry together in a way nothing else does. As exhibitors, we get to learn from leaders, see new ideas in action and share our own experiences. The sessions are inspiring, the energy is real and the event is run beautifully. We’ll definitely keep coming back.”
That sentiment was felt in every part of the expo. From leadership to logistics, from materials science to workplace culture, the conversation expanded beyond cleaning to something larger – the shared responsibility for public health and sustainable progress.
Cleanstar managing director Garth Michalson described the Expo as one of the most rewarding events his team had been part of. “It gives the Oceania cleaning and hygiene community a real platform to exchange ideas, see new technologies firsthand and celebrate the progress we’ve made as an industry,” he said. “Every year, the Expo reminds us how strong and innovative this sector is and how collaboration drives that progress forward.”
Garry Carroll from Restore Solutions had this to say: “The ISSA Show has been fantastic, absolutely flat out from start to finish. There were people everywhere, real energy in the hall. We never had more than a two minute break. There were just people on people at our booth. It’s such great value and an incredible opportunity to connect.”
The 2025 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo was more than a meeting of suppliers and clients. It was a showcase of what the industry can become when collaboration replaces competition and learning moves from the stage to the everyday. The mood across ICC Sydney hinted at something more enduring than two days of dialogue. It suggested a future defined by intelligence, integrity and care.
And as the last machines powered down and the final delegates stepped into the spring evening, that future already felt within reach.
