Where the leaders shaping Australia's housing
future come together.

Bringing together institutional investors, super funds, government, developers, operators and housing providers, the Living Sectors Summit focuses on the decisions that will determine how housing is funded, approved, delivered and operated at scale across Build-to-Rent, PBSA, Co-Living, Retirement Living, Land Lease Communities and Social & Affordable Housing.

This is not a sector-specific conference. It is the only event designed to connect the capital, policy, planning, development and operational decisions required to deliver more housing and create investable, scalable housing platforms.

Attendees
475 +
Speakers
0 +
Partners
0 +
Roundtables
0 +
Hours of Networking
0 +

Meet our Speakers

Johnny Caddick

Managing Director, Moda Living (UK)

Dan Batterton

Head of Housing, Legal & General (UK)

Rebecca Oelkers

CEO, Brisbane Housing Company

Adrian Harrington

NSW Chair , Housing All Australians

Deborah Coakley AM

Managing Director – Real Estate, QIC

Senator Andrew Bragg

Shadow Minister for Housing & Homelessness, Parliament of Australia

Alex Crossing

Regional Head APAC, CBRE IM

Stephen Gaitanos

Founder & Joint CEO, The Living Company

Pretar Caroline Harris

Chief Investment Officer, Housing Australia

Adam Pillay

Executive Director, Investment Management, Asia Pacific, Greystar 

Christian Grahame

Head, Home

Scott Langford

CEO, Housing Australia

TWO DAYS DESIGNED AROUND REAL HOUSING DECISIONS

DAY 1:

Capital, policy and supply system

A shared macro lens on how Australia actually gets more housing built, with sessions on institutional capital, government policy, planning reform, delivery constraints, financing models and operating platforms.

DAY 2:

Winning Strategies Across Australia's Fastest-Growing Housing Sectors

Day 2 takes a deeper look at the operating models, investment structures and growth strategies driving success across social & affordable housing, build-to-rent, PBSA, co-living, retirement living and land lease communities.

ONE SUMMIT. SIX LIVING SECTORS.

Build-to-Rent

Build-to-Rent

Co-Living

Co-Living

Student Accommodation / PBSA

Student Accommodation

Retirement Living

Retirement Living

Land Lease Communities

Land Lease Communities

Social & Affordable Housing

Social & Affordable Housing

The Living Sectors Summit is built around the practical decisions that shape housing outcomes. Across two days, it brings together investors, government, developers and operators to look at how living sector assets are funded, approved, delivered and operated, with discussion spanning build-to-rent, co-living, student accommodation, retirement living, land lease and social and affordable housing.

Built with the market, for the market

As Australia's housing market becomes increasingly institutionalised, the Summit has evolved to reflect the decisions shaping the sector's future.

01

Capital allocation

Greater focus on capital allocation, investment strategy and housing platform growth.

02

Dedicated streams

Dedicated content streams covering social & affordable housing, BTR/PBSA/co-living and retirement living/land lease.

03

International insight

More international perspectives from mature housing markets including the UK.

04

Roundtables

Expanded interactive roundtable programme.

05

Senior representation

Increased representation from super funds, global investors, government and major operators.

06

Industry connections

Larger exhibition and networking programme designed to facilitate meaningful connections.

Why Attend

Global and local perspectives

Global and local perspectives across institutional housing, including UK market lessons and Australian market leaders.

Cross-sector discussion

Cross-sector discussion spanning capital, policy, planning, development, operations and platform strategy.

Sector-specific deep dives

Sector-specific deep dives into social and affordable housing, BTR / PBSA / co-living, and retirement living / land lease.

Interactive roundtables

Interactive roundtable sessions designed for more practical, discussion-led learning.

Senior networking

Networking with senior investors, developers, operators, policymakers and advisors from across the living sectors ecosystem.

Exhibition access

Exhibition access to a broad mix of partners, suppliers and service providers supporting the market.

WHO ATTENDS

The Living Sectors Summit is designed for senior decision-makers across Australia’s institutional housing ecosystem, including:

  • Institutional investors, super funds, fund managers & private capital
  • Banks, lenders & alternative finance providers
  • Residential developers & living-sector specialists
  • BTR, PBSA, retirement living & land lease operators
  • Community housing providers & housing associations
  • Federal, state & local government agencies
  • Planners, development authorities & delivery agencies
  • Construction, engineering, design & project management firms
  • Technology, operations & asset-management solution providers
  • Legal, advisory, valuation & professional services firms

“Congratulations for organising and running another highly successful Living Sectors Summit. It’s great to see the Summit go from strength-to-strength. Well done for bringing everyone together and cementing the Future Place LSS as the go-to conference in the sector.”

Mitchell Schauer

Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Corporate Finance & Private Capital, Jarden

“It has been a pleasure working with the Advisory Committee and organisers of the Living Sectors Summit. The summit continues to grow and has become a positive place to make connections, draw on experience and share learnings across different living sector assets.”

Courtney Raven

Operations Director Indi, Investa

“The Living Sectors Summit has become a key event on the annual calendar for all parts of the living sector to come together meet, get the latest information and learn from each other. The 2 day format and quality of speakers and delegates ensures unparalleled content and networking – great value in terms of time and money.”

Christian Grahame

Head of Living, Home

“Sponsoring the Living Sectors Summit was an easy decision because it brings together such a high-calibre mix of BTR, student, co-living, seniors, and affordable housing leaders. The quality of conversations and depth of engagement with decision-makers was exceptional. We left with meaningful connections and clear opportunities we wouldn’t have found elsewhere. It was one of the most strategically aligned events we supported this year.”

Nick Ashley

Commercial Director, Kogan

“The Living Sectors Summit is more than a conference, it’s where the future of Australia’s housing supply is being shaped across the living platform bringing together capital, policy, innovation, and delivery.”

Kate Melrose

NED, Charter Hall Social Infra Fund, Evolve Housing, Chair, UDIA Land Lease

“The Living Sectors Summit was an outstanding opportunity to connect with peers across the entire living spectrum. The quality of networking was exceptional, genuine, engaged conversations with decision-makers, operators, developers, and capital partners who are actively shaping the market. It’s rare to find an event that brings together such a diverse but aligned group, and the connections made here have already led to valuable follow-ups.”

Paul Savitz

Director, Living Capital Markets, ANZ, Cushman & Wakefield

“The Living Sector Summit captured exactly where our industry is heading: scale, sophistication and global ambition. As Australia’s living sector matures, from PBSA and BTR to retirement and beyond, we’re seeing unprecedented alignment in the way capital, policy and innovation are converging. Opening the Summit on the first panel was a privilege, and the depth of insight shared across markets reinforced why this event has become essential for anyone shaping the future of housing. It’s where serious ideas meet serious action and where the next chapter of our sector begins"

Anouk Darling

CEO, Scape

“I so appreciated the chance to participate in this great event and learn more about the similarities and differences between the US and Australian housing systems. We share much in common and appreciate the willingness to share effective solutions to increase housing options globally.”

Sharon Wilson Geno

President, National Multifamily Housing Council, USA

“The Living Sectors Summit is not just another conference. It’s a call to action. The conversations we had aren’t just thought bubbles forgotten at the end of the conference – the ideas and solutions ripple outward to shape strategies, partnerships, and investments that will define Australia’s housing future.“

Adrian Harrington

NSW Chair, Housing All Australians

“The Living Sector Summit has always provided an avenue to meet other industry participants across the Living Sector to understand the latest trends, to share ideas, knowledge and market insights - No other sector collaborates like the Living Sector and the Summit helps to bring the industry together for the benefit of all those involved.”

Luke Mackintosh

Partner, Advisory Project & Infrastructure Advisory, BDO

“It was great to connect with so many leaders who are genuinely committed to shaping the future of living in Australia. Thank you to the organisers Living Sectors Summit and the excellent panel for the opportunity to contribute.”

Tom McDonald

Director, Springtree

“The Living Sectors Summit has been a great opportunity to connect with leaders across the ecosystem – both in Australia, but also globally. Having everyone in one place for 2 days sharing ideas, observations and opportunities builds understanding and connections to move forward.”

Mark Dawson

Partner | National Housing Sector Lead, Urbis

“The Living Sectors Summit is a fertile meeting ground where relationships are forged, and ideas shared, to help ignite partnerships that will ultimately deliver the housing supply that our communities desperately need.”

Tony Massaro

Partner Real Estate, KordaMentha

“This event brings industry, government and capital together, both domestic and international, with the important common goal of growing and strengthening Australia’s institutional residential sectors”

James Greener

Head of Living Sectors, Charter Hall

“The most complete event for the living sector in Australia that will save you an enormous amount of time networking, gathering data and understanding the facts.”

Jorn Wisselink

Co-Founder & CEO, Wildaroo Ventures

“LSS 2025 was an outstanding event that brought together the key players shaping Australia’s institutional residential markets. The discussions on affordability, capital flows, and emerging housing models were insightful and highly relevant. I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to and learn from such a diverse group of industry leaders.”

Benjamin Martin-Henry

Head of Private Assets Research Pacific, MSCI

“The 2025 Living Sector Summit built on the success of last year’s summit and continues to be the annual coming together of new ideas and key industry players. It was a very informative two days, and the calibre and breadth of industry discussion is unmatched.”

Jeremy Quinn

Principal, Franklin St

“What a difference a year makes. The optimism, energy and renewed commitment from institutional investors toward Build to Rent was unmistakable at the Living Sector Summit this week. It is still early days, but the asset class has already reached $30 billion and has the potential to grow into a trillion-dollar sector in the years ahead.”

Rory Hunter

Founder & CEO, Model

WHAT'S NEW IN 2026

We’re building on everything that makes the Summit unmissable: the senior-level audience, the market-leading content, and the unrivalled networking.

SITE VISITS

Offering a first-hand look at leading living sector developments across Sydney.

EXPANDED NETWORKING AND SOCIAL EVENTS

Connecting leaders across every part of the living ecosystem.

DEDICATED EXHIBITION FLOOR

Showcasing the latest solutions, products and services.

TWO-DAY CONFERENCE

Featuring Australia’s foremost developers, owners, operators, investors, and policymakers.

2026 Event Themes

Expect a curated mix of keynote insights, panel discussions, roundtables and networking opportunities, covering:

Institutionalisation of housing

Capital allocation trends, super fund participation, global investment appetite and portfolio strategies across living sectors.

Policy, planning & supply reform

Aligning government ambition with delivery capability, planning reform, approvals, zoning and infrastructure constraints.

Funding & capital structures

Debt, equity, blended finance, co-investment models and risk allocation across market-rate and social housing.

Development & delivery at scale

Standardisation, MMC, modular construction, cost certainty, procurement strategies and time-to-market.

Operating platforms & performance

Staffing, compliance, technology, asset management, resident experience and margin preservation.

Sector-specific realities

Social & affordable housing funding and partnerships. BTR, PBSA & co-living yield dynamics. Retirement living, land lease care and longevity economics.

Workforce, ESG & long-term outcomes

Sustainability, reporting, social impact and long-term asset performance across institutional living platforms.

Agenda

Day 1 | Wednesday 11th November, 2026

08:30

Registration opens

09:00

Opening remarks

09:05

Chair's opening remarks

Adrian Harrington, NSW Chair , Housing All Australians

How Australia Funds, Delivers and Operates Housing at Scale

09:10

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Scaling housing as an institutional investment platform: Lessons from Legal & General’s UK journey

Drawing on Legal & General’s decade-long journey investing around A$10bn and delivering c.20,000 homes across single-family, multi-family, affordable housing and student accommodation, this keynote will explore what it takes to build a diversified housing platform at institutional scale. Rather than a UK market overview, the session will offer a candid look at what changes as portfolios mature, where economies of scale begin to emerge, how different living sectors can learn from each other across development, design, operations, data and customer experience, and what Australia can take from the UK as its own living sectors continue to institutionalise.

  • What changes as housing platforms scale from early portfolios to 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000+ homes
  • Where different living sectors can learn from each other across development, design, operations, data and customer experience
  • What Australia can learn from the UK’s market maturity, including where economies of scale emerge and where sub-scale ownership becomes challenging
Dan Batterton, Head of Housing, Legal & General (UK)
09:40

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS | From concept to category: Building a scalable BTR platform

Drawing on Moda Living’s journey as one of the UK’s leading build-to-rent platforms, this keynote will explore what it takes to move BTR from an emerging concept into an investable, scalable and operationally mature asset class. The session will examine how Moda has approached capital alignment, development delivery, brand, resident experience and operational excellence, while offering lessons for Australia as its own BTR sector moves from early-stage projects into larger portfolios and more sophisticated operating platforms.

  • How BTR has evolved in the UK from an emerging residential model into an institutional investment category
  • What it takes to align capital, development delivery and operations behind a scalable BTR platform
  • Lessons for Australia as the local BTR sector matures, including what operators need to get right on brand, service, resident experience and long-term performance
Johnny Caddick, Managing Director, Moda Living (UK)
10:00

PANEL | Australia's Housing Delivery Challenge: What must change to unlock supply at scale

Australia’s housing challenge cannot be solved by capital, policy or delivery capacity in isolation. This opening panel will explore what needs to change to unlock housing supply at scale, from planning reform and policy certainty through to institutional investment, risk allocation and delivery models that can attract long-term capital. Bringing together government and global capital perspectives, the discussion will examine how Australia can create the right conditions for more investable, scalable and deliverable housing across the living sectors.

  • Where policy settings, planning systems and delivery constraints are still limiting the pace of housing supply
  • What institutional capital needs to see before it can commit at greater scale to Australian housing
  • How government, investors, developers and operators can better align risk, incentives and outcomes across the living sectors
Panellists include:
Senator Andrew Bragg, Shadow Minister for Housing & Homelessness, Parliament of Australia
Sally Capp, Chief Strategy Officer, Hickory Group
Craig Caracher, Founder & Joint CEO, The Living Company
10:30

PRESENTATION | The Capital Blueprint: How housing platforms will be funded over the next decade

As housing delivery becomes more capital-intensive and operationally complex, banks have an increasingly important role to play in helping the living sectors scale. This presentation will explore how lenders are assessing the opportunity across BTR, PBSA, social and affordable housing, retirement living and land lease, where financing models are evolving, and what will be needed to attract more long-term institutional capital into the sector.

  • How banks assess risk, return and financeability across the major living sector asset classes
  • What is making these sectors easier or harder to fund compared with traditional commercial real estate
  • How lending models, partnerships and credit structures need to evolve to unlock more institutional capital and deliver housing at greater speed and scale
Nicholas Campbell, Head of Living, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
10:50

Morning networking & exhibition viewing

11:30

Breakout Streams

Sessions within each track run concurrently, allowing participants to attend the track that best aligns with their interests.

Capital & investment strategy
11:30

Chair’s introduction


Chair
Nicholas Campbell, Head of Living, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
11:30

PANEL | Follow the Money: Where institutional capital is investing across Australia's Living Sectors

Institutional capital is becoming more active across Australia’s living sectors, but the rationale, structure and pace of deployment still differs significantly by sub-sector. This panel will explore where investors are placing capital across retirement living, BTR, PBSA, social and affordable housing and land lease, what is driving conviction in each asset class, and how different groups are thinking about platform scale, risk, returns and long-term opportunity.

Stephen Gaitanos, Founder & Joint CEO, The Living Company
Alex Crossing, Regional Head APAC, CBRE IM
Lee Tredwell, Senior Director, Head of Australia, Invesco Real Estate
Deborah Coakley AM, Managing Director – Real Estate, QIC
Moderator:
Tim Church, Co-Head Investment Banking Australia, Morgan Stanley

12:00

PRESENTATION | Benchmarking build-to-rent: Inside the proposed MSCI Australian BTR index

A focused presentation exploring the proposed MSCI Australian BTR Index and what it could mean for the next stage of sector growth. The session will unpack what the index is designed to measure, why BTR is being prioritised, what data is needed from owners and operators, and how improved benchmarking could help super funds, global capital and other institutional investors assess performance, compare risk and deploy capital with greater confidence.

Benjamin Martin-Henry, Head of Private Assets Research, Pacific, MSCI

12:20

PRESENTATION | New pathways to home ownership and affordable rental supply: a market-based model for housing delivery

As housing affordability pressures intensify, new funding and delivery models are needed to accelerate both home ownership and affordable rental supply. This presentation will explore how C1 Capital Group is bringing together private capital, lenders, builders, developers, government and CHPs to create a scalable, investment-led platform designed to help eligible buyers purchase sooner while supporting the delivery of affordable rental housing at commercially attractive returns.

Tim Gavin, CEO, C1 Capital Group

Planning, development & delivery
11:30

PANEL | Beyond Planning Reform: Why housing projects still don't get built

Planning reform is only one part of the housing supply challenge. The bigger test is whether projects can move from policy ambition and approved schemes into viable, deliverable outcomes on the ground. This panel will bring together perspectives from government, market analysis, development and urban transformation to examine what is genuinely helping projects move forward, where delivery is still getting stuck, and what needs to change if more housing is to be built at speed and scale.

Clay Preshaw, Executive Director, Planning System Reform
Leanne Boyle, Head of Development, Built
Brian Haratsis, Executive Chairman, Macroplan
Aras Labutis, Head of Urban Transformations, Coronation Property

12:00

Unlocking Housing Supply: Why Delivery Innovation Matters Now

As pressure grows to bring more housing online faster, attention is shifting to the delivery models that can improve speed, feasibility and repeatability in practice. This presentation will explore why innovation across design, construction and project delivery is becoming more important, and how approaches such as volumetric modular construction, integrated delivery and mixed-use planning can help unlock housing supply at greater scale.

Michael Romano, Executive Director – Development, Freecity

12:30

Networking lunch & exhibition viewing

13:30

Interactive Roundtable Session

This interactive session is designed to spark candid, peer-driven discussion across key areas shaping the future of the living sectors. Attendees will participate in two 30-minute focused roundtable conversations, each led by a subject matter expert or industry peer.

  • Each roundtable will be capped to ensure open dialogue
  • Session topics will be shared in advance to support selection and preparation
  • Between each 30-minute session participants will be given 5 minutes to relocate to the next roundtable

Roundtable 1. Making residential projects stack again
From feasibility pressure to viable delivery models across BTR, PBSA, land lease, retirement living and social and affordable housing.

Roundtable 2. Capital is selective: What investors want in 2026
How operators and developers can attract institutional capital in a more disciplined market.

Roundtable 3. From asset to operating platform
Why operational capability, margin control and service consistency are becoming central to long-term asset value.

Roundtable 4. The resident experience arms race
What residents now expect, what drives leasing velocity and retention, and where operators should avoid over-investing.

Roundtable 5. Avoiding fragmented systems and building a connected digital operating model
How operators are reducing inefficiency and improving performance by connecting the systems that sit behind leasing, maintenance, compliance and resident experience.

Facilitated by: Mark Davis, Founder & CEO, Keyvision

Roundtable 6. Energy costs, resilience and electrification
Reducing operational risk, managing rising energy costs and improving sustainability outcomes across living sector assets.

Roundtable 7. ESG without the greenwash
How operators and investors are responding to growing compliance, reporting and stakeholder scrutiny.

Roundtable 8. Mixed-tenure models that actually work
How market, affordable, social, student, retirement and specialist housing models can be combined without creating delivery or operating complexity.

Roundtable 9. Beyond the gym: The role of wellness in resident experience and asset differentiation
A practical discussion on how fitness and wellness spaces can be designed and operated to add value to both residents and assets.

Facilitated by: Amolaya Rattanathasaniya, Head of Marketing, Technogym

Roundtable 10. Building the workforce needed to scale housing platforms

Finding, retaining and enabling the operational talent needed to support a growing sector.

Roundtable 11. Smarter buildings, better returns
How building systems, IoT, access control, metering and asset-level data are improving operational efficiency and resident outcomes.

Facilitated by: Sam Khalef, CEO, MYBOS

Roundtable 12. Procurement under pressure
Managing costs, supply chain risk and project timelines in a volatile delivery environment.

Roundtable 13. Modular and prefabrication: Hype or solution?
Can modern construction methods solve the sector’s feasibility, speed and delivery challenges?

Facilitated by: Stuart Marshall, Director – Global Sales, Stack Modular

Roundtable 14. Excel, Guesswork, Copycat, or Science: How Do You Set Rents?
You have the data. But most of it sits idle. A discussion on how to increase yield at scale.

Facilitated by: Greg Einfeld, Director, Price Wizard

Roundtable 15. Data centres and the future of residential infrastructure
How data demand, digital infrastructure and AI-driven power requirements are reshaping investment, planning and asset strategy.

Roundtable 16. Reactive repairs to proactive asset management: using data to drive safer, more efficient housing operations
How leading housing providers are using real‑time data and compliance insights to move from reactive maintenance to proactive asset strategies, reduce costs, and improve resident safety at scale.

Facilitated by: Daniel Tregurtha, Sales Director, Detector Inspector

Roundtable 17. The new planning and approvals landscape
How developers are navigating changing government priorities, planning reform and housing policy settings.

Roundtable 18. Tenant wellbeing as a commercial strategy
How tenant wellbeing is being used as a deliberate commercial lever to support leasing performance, retention, customer satisfaction and long-term asset value.

Facilitated by: Filomena Bashara, Development Manager – ESG & Innovation Lead, Freecity & Ken Fong, Director of Human-Centred Design, E-LAB Consulting

Roundtable 19. Building communities after occupancy
How operators are using programming, partnerships and resident engagement to create loyalty, retention and stronger communities.

Roundtable 20. Resident rewards and ancillary revenue: Adding value without undermining trust
Explore how resident reward platforms, membership models and curated service partnerships can benefit tenants, site teams and asset owners.

Facilitated by: Nick Ashley, Commercial Director, Kogan

14:40

Networking break & exhibition viewing

Capital Deep Dive

15:10

The Next Housing Investment Frontier: Retirement Living, Land Lease & Affordable Housing

As capital looks beyond traditional real estate sectors, retirement living, land lease and social and affordable housing are attracting growing attention as the next wave of institutional opportunity. This panel will explore what is drawing investors into these sectors, how funding and partnership models are evolving, and what still needs to change for more capital to be deployed at scale across these housing categories.

  • Why retirement living, land lease and social and affordable housing are drawing greater institutional interest
  • How capital structures, public-private partnerships and delivery models are evolving across these sectors
  • What will determine whether more long-term capital can be deployed into these markets at scale
Pretar Caroline Harris, Chief Investment Officer, Housing Australia
Mitchell Schauer, Managing Director - Head of Real Estate Corporate Finance & Head of Private Capital, Jarden
Tom Roche, Executive Director – Property, Plenary
Paul Yeo, CEO, Lincoln Place
Moderator:
Tony Moussa, Head of Capital & Funds Management, Freecity Group
15:40

PANEL | The Operating Platform Advantage: Driving performance, margin and growth at scale

As living-sector portfolios grow, operational performance is becoming just as important as development and capital strategy. This panel will explore how operators are managing the day-to-day realities of scaling living assets, from margin pressure and compliance complexity through to platform design, team capability and the systems needed to run assets more efficiently across larger portfolios.

  • How operators are protecting margin while managing rising service expectations and operating costs
  • What compliance, governance and risk management look like as living portfolios scale
  • How platforms, processes and operating models are being built to drive greater consistency and efficiency across assets
Panellists:
Beatrix Kiss, Head of Operations, Nation
Yasmin Booker, Associate Director | BTR Asset Manager, Barings
Phil Shelley, Co-Founder and COO, MODEL
Courtney Raven, Operations Director, Indi, Investa
16:10

PANEL | AI, Data and the Future Housing Operating System

As living-sector assets become more operationally intensive, AI and data are starting to influence how platforms make decisions across leasing, maintenance, pricing, resident experience and portfolio performance. This panel will explore where operators are beginning to build real advantage through better use of resident, building and asset-level data, and what a more data-driven operating model could mean for owners, operators and residents.

  • How operators are collecting, governing and using resident, building and portfolio data more effectively
  • Where AI and automation are improving leasing, maintenance, pricing and day-to-day operating efficiency
  • What a more data-driven operating model means for platform performance, resident experience and long-term asset value
Panellists include:
Mirko Gropp, General Manager – Digital, Data & Technology, The Living Company
Greg Spicer, CEO, Rezpage
16:40

Connecting Residents, Teams and Buildings: The Digital Foundations of Better Living Sector Operations

As living assets become more operationally intensive, the ability to connect resident experience, day-to-day operations and building performance is becoming increasingly important. This presentation will explore how digital platforms are helping owners and operators improve communication, streamline workflows, manage maintenance and bookings more effectively, and create stronger, more connected communities across living sector assets.

Elliott Bouher, CEO, Generator Tech
17:00

PANEL | The Future of the Living Sectors: Who Wins and Why?

As Australia’s living sectors continue to mature, the next phase of growth will not be shaped by demand alone, but by which models can scale most effectively from a capital, operating and customer perspective. This panel brings together leaders from across social and affordable housing, PBSA, retirement living, BTR and land lease to explore where the market is heading, which sectors are best positioned for long-term success, and what will separate the winners from the rest.

  • Which living sector models are best placed to attract capital, scale operationally and deliver long-term performance
  • How different sectors are thinking about demand, customer expectations, operating complexity and platform growth
  • What will separate the strongest living sector businesses over the next decade, from strategy and execution through to resilience and relevance
Panellists:
Rebecca Oelkers, CEO, Brisbane Housing Company
Charles Moore, CEO, BaptistCare
Rory Hunter, Founder and CEO , MODEL
Andrea Richards, CEO, Liven Communities
Moderator:
Paul Savitz, Director, Living Sectors Capital Markets, Cushman & Wakefield
17:30

Chair’s closing remarks

Adrian Harrington, NSW Chair , Housing All Australians
17:35

End of Day 1 & networking drinks

19:30

Living Sectors Leaders Dinner

The Living Sectors Leaders Dinner brings together senior industry figures for a refined yet relaxed dining experience—designed to spark candid conversations, share insights, and lay the groundwork for future partnerships and innovation across the sector.

Day 2 | Thursday 12th November, 2026

08:30

Networking coffee in exhibition area

Social & Affordable Housing
09:00

PRESENTATION | Scaling social & affordable housing - capital, partnerships and delivery

As governments, CHPs and private capital look to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, the challenge is shifting from proving need to building delivery models that can scale. This presentation will explore what it takes to align capital, partnerships and execution behind a more repeatable pipeline of social and affordable housing, and where the biggest opportunities and constraints still sit in the current market.

Chris Smith, CEO, Foundation Housing
Alex Crossing, Regional Head APAC, CBRE IM
Lee Tredwell, Senior Director, Head of Australia, Invesco Real Estate
Deborah Coakley AM, Managing Director – Real Estate, QIC
Moderator:
Tim Church, Co-Head Investment Banking Australia, Morgan Stanley

09:20

PANEL | From subsidy to scale: Delivering social & affordable housing through mixed-tenure models

As governments, CHPs and private capital look for more scalable ways to deliver social and affordable housing mixed-tenure models are attracting growing attention as a way to move beyond grant dependency. This panel will explore which structures are starting to work in practice, where cross-subsidy and institutional capital are helping unlock viable delivery, and what still needs to change for these models to scale with confidence.

James King, CEO, Unison Housing
Mark Hayward, Executive Group Director - Homes, Housing Choices Australia
Brad Braithwaite, CEO, Hume Community Housing
Adam Adkin, State Director, WT

Retirement Living & Land Lease Communities
09:00

PRESENTATION | Why retirement living and land lease are becoming core institutional asset classes

As demographic demand grows and traditional real estate sectors face increasing pressure, retirement living and land lease are attracting greater attention from institutional capital. This presentation will explore why these sectors are moving more firmly into the institutional mainstream, what is driving investor confidence, and how operators are thinking about scale, income resilience, customer demand and long-term platform growth.

John Carfi, Managing Director & CEO, Ingenia Communities
Alex Crossing, Regional Head APAC, CBRE IM
Lee Tredwell, Senior Director, Head of Australia, Invesco Real Estate
Deborah Coakley AM, Managing Director – Real Estate, QIC
Moderator:
Tim Church, Co-Head Investment Banking Australia, Morgan Stanley

09:20

PANEL | Scaling retirement living and land lease: Capital, delivery and operating models that work

As retirement living and land lease continue to attract more capital, the focus is shifting from sector appeal alone to the platform, partnership and delivery models that can actually support long-term growth. This panel will explore how leading groups are thinking about integrated platform strategy, capital structures, development pipelines and operational scalability, and what will separate the models that can grow sustainably from those that cannot.

Peta Carruthers, Head of Capital Solutions, Stockland
Belinda Bentley, Managing Director, 9Springs
Manuel Lang, Chief Corporate Officer, GemLife

10:00

Morning networking and exhibition viewing

10:40

Breakout Streams

Sessions within each track run concurrently, allowing participants to attend the track that best aligns with their interests.

BTR / PBSA / Co-Living
10:40

PRESENTATION | Scaling Build-to-Rent Platforms in Australia

As Australia’s build-to-rent sector moves from early projects into larger portfolios, the challenge is no longer just proving demand but building platforms that can scale operationally and commercially over time. This presentation will explore what it takes to grow a BTR platform in Australia, from development and delivery through to operating model, resident offer and the fundamentals that support long-term performance.

Matt Berg, Founder & Co-CEO, Local Residential

11:00

PANEL | From delivery to performance - what makes a PBSA asset actually work?

As Australia’s PBSA market matures, long-term performance is being shaped by far more than location and development timing alone. This panel will explore how decisions made during design, delivery and early operations influence leasing velocity, stabilisation, resident experience and asset performance, and what owners and operators need to get right if PBSA assets are to perform strongly over the long term.

Adam Pillay, Executive Director, Investment Management, Asia Pacific, Greystar 
Tomas Johnsson, CEO, UniLodge Living Group
John Schroder, CEO, Campus Living Villages Group
Anouk Darling, CEO, Scape

11:20

FIRESIDE CHAT | Co-living in Australia - niche product or scalable housing solution?

As housing affordability pressures intensify and rental preferences continue to evolve, co-living is attracting growing attention as a potential answer to both demand and delivery challenges. This discussion will explore whether the model is genuinely scaling in Australia or still proving itself, where it may offer advantages over BTR, and what needs to change across planning, operations and investor confidence for co-living to become a more established part of the housing mix.

Mark Conroy, Partner, EY
in conversation with
Rhys Williams, Co-Founder & CEO, UKO

- 11:50

PRESENTATION | Smarter Student Accommodation Operations: Using Data and Technology to Lift Performance at Scale

As PBSA portfolios become larger and more operationally complex, the ability to use data, systems and resident insights more effectively is becoming a key driver of performance. This presentation will explore how operators can improve the student journey, streamline operations and make better decisions across leasing, engagement, retention and portfolio management.

Travis Knipe, CEO, StarRez

Retirement Living Deep Dive
10:40

PRESENTATION | Operating retirement living sustainably at scale

As retirement living portfolios grow, operators are under increasing pressure to balance resident expectations, service quality and compliance requirements with the need for long-term financial sustainability. This presentation will explore what it takes to operate retirement living assets successfully at scale, from managing margin and complexity through to building the systems, teams and operating discipline needed to support sustainable portfolio performance.

Kevin McCoy, CEO, Levande

11:00

PRESENTATION | The Second Echo: Investing Beyond the Baby Boomer - Are We Building for Today's Retiree or Tomorrow's?

As Australia’s seniors living market matures, attention is beginning to shift beyond the baby boomer generation and towards the customer who comes next. This session will explore how demographic change, longevity, wealth, migration and evolving lifestyle expectations are likely to shape future demand, and what that means for the product, community and experience being planned and delivered across retirement living.

James King, CEO, Unison Housing
Susan Duffy, Director, Channel Group
in conversation with
Karan Dhingra, Associate Director – Strategic Analytics, Invesco

- 11:20

PRESENTATION | Designing and Delivering Retirement Living for Long-Term Operational Performance

As retirement living projects become more complex, the decisions made during planning, design and delivery are having a growing impact on how assets perform once operational. This presentation will look at how developers and operators can make better early-stage decisions to support service quality, efficiency and long-term sustainability across retirement living portfolios. Reserved for partner

12:10

Networking lunch & exhibition viewing

13:10

Session opening remarks

As demand for diverse, resilient, and scalable living assets grows, international investors are increasingly turning to Australia’s Build-to-Rent, student accommodation, co-living, and retirement sectors.

  • Exploring the macro trends, demographic shifts, and risk-adjusted returns attracting global capital to Australia’s living sectors
  • Understanding the barriers international investors face—from planning frameworks to local delivery partners—and how they’re navigating Australia’s regulatory and market landscape
  • Examining how investment goals are intersecting with government policy and community outcomes, and what’s needed to ensure long-term alignment.
Panellists:
Tony Massaro, Partner, Real Estate, KordaMentha
13:20

PANEL | The next decade of housing: Capital, policy and operating platforms

As Australia’s housing market continues to institutionalise, the next decade will be shaped by how effectively capital, policy and operating platforms align. This panel will bring together perspectives from government-backed capital, institutional investment and a scaled operator to explore where the housing market is heading, which models are best placed to attract long-term capital, and what needs to change if Australia is to move from fragmented activity to a more mature and investable housing ecosystem.

  • Which housing models and operating platforms are most likely to attract capital at scale over the next decade
  • What policy settings, market signals and delivery conditions will be needed to unlock more long-term investment
  • How capital providers and operators are thinking about platform scale, performance and risk as the market matures
Pannelists:
Scott Langford, CEO, Housing Australia
Deborah Kelly, Investment Director, Australian Super
Christian Grahame, Head, Home
14:00

PRESENTATION From drawings to data: How design and construction decisions shape operational excellence

As living sectors move from delivering buildings to running operating assets, decisions made during design and construction are having a lasting impact on cost, performance and resident experience. This session will explore how project data created during design and delivery can be carried through into operations, and how that is helping owners and operators run assets more efficiently across BTR, PBSA, retirement living, land lease and social and affordable housing.

  • How design and construction decisions influence long-term operating cost, efficiency and asset performance
  • Where better capture and transfer of project data can improve maintenance, compliance and day-to-day operations
  • How data and emerging AI tools are strengthening the link between how assets are delivered and how well they perform over time
Andrew Van Meel, National Director & BIM Advisory Lead, WT
14:20

FIRESIDE CHAT | The rise of the living-sector opco: Why management platforms are becoming investment targets

As living sectors scale, the operating company is becoming a more important part of the value equation. This panel will explore why capital is increasingly looking beyond the underlying asset and into the management platform itself, examining how operating capability, resident experience, leasing performance, data, compliance, brand and margin control are shaping investment appetite. The discussion will consider whether Australia is likely to see further consolidation of OpCos across PBSA, BTR, retirement living, land lease and affordable housing, and what this means for owners, operators and investors as the living sectors mature.

Tomas Johnsson, CEO, UniLodge Living Group
Harsh Narang, Managing Director, Rava Partners
Mitchell Schauer, Managing Director - Head of Real Estate Corporate Finance & Head of Private Capital, Jarden
14:50

PANEL | How living sector deals actually get done

As capital becomes more selective and project feasibility remains under pressure, getting living sector deals done is requiring more creativity, discipline and alignment across investors, lenders and developers. This panel will explore how transactions are being structured in the current market, where pricing and returns expectations are landing, and what is making deals harder or easier to execute across Australia’s living sectors.

  • How returns, cap rates and pricing expectations are being negotiated in the current market
  • What funding structures and JV models are being used to get living sector deals over the line
  • How feasibility pressure is influencing capital decisions, deal terms and transaction appetite
Panellists include:
Iain Wood, Director, Conscious Investment Management
Charles Daoud, Director, Traders In Purple
15:20

End of Summit

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PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Organisations offering solutions across the housing asset lifecycle will gain significant value. If you are involved in the following areas, we’d like to hear from you:

  • Capital markets, finance & advisory services
  • Banks, lenders & alternative funding providers
  • Planning, zoning & regulatory advisory firms
  • Architecture, design & engineering practices
  • Construction, MMC & modular specialists
  • Project management & cost consultancy
  • Technology platforms (PropTech, EAM, resident platforms)
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  • Sustainability, ESG & impact advisory firms
  • Fit-out, FF&E & residential systems suppliers
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    ICC Sydney, 14 Darling Dr, Sydney NSW 2000

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