OPITO Global, the annual industry leadership forum focused on safety, skills and competence across safety-critical sectors, will return this year to Kuala Lumpur, on 13-14 October 2026.
The event will bring together leaders from safety-critical industries including energy, mining and major industrials to advance conversations on the future of workforce safety.
Asia Pacific is entering a period of accelerated expansion across multiple sectors. Southeast Asia’s onshore wind capacity is predicted to hit 26 GW by 2030 while offshore wind capacity across the wider Asia Pacific region may approach 160GW by the end of the decade. At the same time, LNG infrastructure and downstream operations continue to scale, and mining activity is accelerating to meet global demand for critical minerals, with Asia Pacific accounting for over 50% of the world’s rare earth reserves and more than 40% of global nickel in 2025.
As industries grow and diversify, so too do the operational risks and workforce requirements that underpin them. This is placing renewed focus on the need for recognised training, consistent competency frameworks and globally aligned safety standards that can support performance across sectors and geographies.
Organised by OPITO, the global skills authority for the safety-critical industries, this year’s conference will centre on the theme “A Shared Future of Safety”, opening up discussion on how increased collaboration on safety can prepare industries for emerging risks and new technologies. Key to this is the ability for skilled workers to diversify and move between sectors, with recognised safety and competency standards to support each individual sector’s workforce needs.
Drawing on OPITO’s 50 years of experience in developing global safety standards and qualifications, OPITO Global will act as a platform for knowledge exchange between sectors operating in comparable risk environments. From LNG and downstream facilities to offshore wind installations and large-scale mining operations,, many industries share common hazards and competency requirements – reinforcing the value of aligned frameworks and recognised qualifications.
Stephen Marcos Jones, CEO of OPITO, said: “As Asia Pacific strives to meet its growing industrial ambitions, the question of workforce mobility becomes central to long-term safety and performance. Skills transferability, while recognising the needs of different sectors, must be structured, and standards recognised across industries in the region. Competence frameworks must also evolve alongside new technologies and operating environments.
“OPITO Global 2026 provides an important opportunity for safety-critical industries to address these issues collectively. A workforce that is diversified, mobile and resilient is crucial for maintaining the highest standards that safety-critical industries demand.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, reinvesting in the future workforce sits at the heart of OPITO’s ethos. Proceeds from OPITO Global will be reinvested into expanding regional STEM partnerships and delivering wider social value initiatives that support the development of long-term talent pipelines across the sector.
These investments are focused on improving access to careers in energy and safety-critical industries by advancing STEM education in the Asia Pacific region, while nurturing greater workforce diversity and building a sustainable, future-ready skills pipeline.
For more information and to register, visit https://opitoglobal.com/