Program

2025 National Congress Program

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm The Star Brisbane Rooftop

Opening Night

7:00 am - 8:30 am

Registration

Registration and light breakfast served

8:45 am - 9:00 am

Open and welcome

MC opening Welcome to country President’s address and launch of State of the Land

9:00 am - 10:00 am

State of the Land Presentations and Panel Discussion

Hear from our National President as we launch our annual State of the Land report; our annual deep dive of the nation’s residential market. Join Col, land supply guru Colin Keane and market master, Eliza Owen as they unpack the current state of play in housing and likely implications for the year ahead and capital city housing markets.

Col Dutton Col Dutton
Colin Keane Colin Keane
Eliza Owen Eliza Owen
10:00 am - 10:45 am

Economic Overview

Join us as we dive into an economic overview including a run down of GDP, inflation, interest rates, household consumption, wages and implications for the housing market. We’ll also explore the global and local economic outlook and the implications for your next project.

Dr Matthew Peter Dr Matthew Peter
10:45 am - 11:30 am

Preparing for the future – how do our cities and places measure up?

As Australian cities are increasingly cited as the solution to the housing crisis, and as governments adopt an ‘up not out’ philosophy to housing, the focus on the liveability of our highly urbanised environment is increasing. Hear from Mitchell Silver, urban planner and former commissioner for the New York City Parks Department, as he examines the evolution of our cities and the important role parks and recreation facilities play in shaping a liveable urbanised environment.

Mitchell Silver Mitchell Silver
Bob Sharpless Bob Sharpless
11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Lunch

12:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Study Tours

7:00 am - 8:15 am

Registration

Registration and light breakfast served

8:20 am - 8:30 am

MC opening and acknowledgements

8:30 am - 9:30 am

The Changing Geopolitical Landscape and the implications for housing

The challenges facing governments and economies around the world are evolving and immense. Join one of Australia’s most experienced Foreign Ministers as she unpacks the challenges and opportunities emerging technologies, shifts geopolitical and economic power and climate change present for the property industry and the critical role the private sector needs to play.

9:30 am - 10:30 am

International Showcase

Take a peek behind the curtain of some outstanding international projects, paving the way for innovation in development. Hear insights from those closest to the projects of each stage from concept to delivery, and their vision for the future.

10:30 am - 11:15 am

Morning Tea

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Arresting our Skills and Productivity Decline

In the midst of a housing crisis gripping the nation, efficient delivery of much needed accommodation is being hamstrung by a skills shortage. Hear from Brett Schimming, CEO of BuildSkills Australia, he shares insights and data on the reality of the situation of the skills shortage, and Buildskills’ outlook on when we are likely to see improvement for the industry. Brett will be joined by two industry leaders who will provide their perspective on the impact of the current challenges on the residential property market and the critical steps that must be taken now to safeguard the construction industry’s ability to deliver.

Brett Schimming Brett Schimming
Cameron Leggatt Cameron Leggatt
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm

The Importance of Out and Up

Australia has limited land supply available in places that people want to live with connected infrastructure. As the “up vs out” argument grows louder, join author of Sprawl: A Compact History Robert Bruegmann as he shares his thoughts on the importance of ensuring our cities have a range of diverse housing typologies to accommodate growing populations, and how we must ensure adequate planning systems to support the development of both high density residential, and detached dwellings.

Robert Bruegmann Robert Bruegmann
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Property Landscape Panel

Hear from a panel of industry experts as they share their business insights and deliver their forecast for the next 12 months. Hear their priorities and pain points and their views of the critical housing levers which should be at the top of all political parties’ agendas ahead of a likely Federal Election in May 2025.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Closing Keynote

Anna Meares is widely regarded as one of the greatest track cyclists that Australia has ever produced after having won 11 world championships and six Olympic medals including two gold over a 14-year cycling career. Following her retirement from competitive cycling in 2016, Anna has gone on to take up several leadership roles, culminating in her role as Chef de Mission in Paris 2024. Join Anna as she talks through her leadership journey, media wrangling skills and positioning teams for success.

Anna Meares OAM Anna Meares OAM
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm

Congress Close & Wrap Up

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm The Star Brisbane Ballroom

Gala Awards for Excellence