Australia’s housing system is at an inflection point. Rapid population growth, demographic change and sustained affordability pressure are forcing a rethink of how housing is delivered and who it is designed for. This keynote examines why land lease communities are gaining momentum as a scalable, flexible and community-led housing solution—and how their role within Australia’s housing system is evolving.

The session will unpack how policy settings, capital flows and shifting consumer preferences are reshaping the land lease sector and positioning it as an increasingly important contributor to housing supply and choice.

Key themes include:

• Demographic demand: How downsizing baby boomers and value-driven buyers are broadening demand for land lease living
• Affordability and equity: Why land lease is emerging as a viable alternative amid record house prices and rental stress—and what this means for investment and development
• Policy and planning: How federal and state reforms are influencing zoning, infrastructure delivery and future housing pipelines

Hari Hara Priya Kannan, Chief Data Scientist, The Demographics Group

Land lease communities have moved beyond niche status to become a credible, income-focused living sector asset class. Backed by resilient cashflows, strong demographic demand and growing policy recognition, the model is attracting increasing interest from institutional and private capital seeking long-term, defensive returns with social impact.

This session examines why land lease is earning its place alongside other core living sectors, how investors are underwriting risk and growth today, and what the next phase of maturity means for capital deployment, valuations and deal flow.

Key themes include:

• Investment fundamentals: How yield stability, occupancy resilience and inflation-linked income are driving risk-adjusted returns
• Capital positioning: How super funds, REITs and private equity are approaching land lease and what they need to see to scale
• Policy, planning and regulation: How government settings are shaping land availability, financing and development feasibility – and where reform could unlock further growth
• Outlook to 2026+: What demand, regulation and demographics signal for valuations, transactions and portfolio expansion

Panellists include:

Manuel Lang, Chief Corporate Officer, GemLife

Paul Yeo, CEO, Lincoln Place

Stuart Strong, Joint Managing Director, Hometown Australia Communities

Jonathon Steggles Mendez, Founder & Managing Director, Vivacity Property

Moderated by:

Kate Melrose, Next Generation Living Advisor & Founding Chair, UDIA NSW

In this fireside chat, Simon Owen — CEO & Managing Director of Eureka Group Holdings and former long-serving CEO of Ingenia Communities Group shares an insider’s account of Ingenia’s transformation from a fragmented portfolio into one of Australia’s leading diversified living-sector platforms.

Drawing on more than a decade of leadership across land lease, seniors living and lifestyle communities, Owen unpacks the strategic decisions, capital partnerships and cultural reset that underpinned the company’s growth, offering practical lessons in disciplined execution, customer-led design and building an institutional-grade asset class.

Simon Owen, CEO & MD, Eureka Group Holdings

Susan Duffy, Founder & Director, Channel Group

As institutional interest in land lease accelerates, understanding the investment logic behind early capital deployment is critical. In this session, Stephen Gould, GM of Living Sectors Investment at Mirvac, will unpack the strategic drivers behind Mirvac’s investment in Serenitas, what fundamentally attracted the group to the land lease model, and how customer outcomes sit at the centre of long-term value creation. The discussion will provide a candid institutional lens on risk, return and resident experience as the sector matures.

Key discussion points:

• The Serenitas decision: What made the investment compelling and how Mirvac assessed the risk, scale and growth potential
• Sector conviction: The structural fundamentals that positioned land lease as an attractive living sector allocation
• Underwriting the customer: How resident affordability, lifestyle and community outcomes support durable income and growth
• Looking forward: What do institutional investors need to see next for land lease to reach its full portfolio scale potential?

Stephen Gould, General Manager, Living Sectors (Land Lease & BTR) Investment, Mirvac

As capital tightens and housing demand accelerates, new financing and partnership models are reshaping how land lease communities are funded and scaled. This session examines how developers, investors and operators are structuring smarter capital strategies, joint ventures and operating models to drive sustainable growth and attract long-term investment.

Key themes:

• Land lease risk-return profiles vs other living sectors
• Site acquisition and land sourcing strategies
• Joint ventures and partnership models
• Fund-to-operate approaches
• Attracting institutional capital while managing policy and market risk

Panellists include:

Sam Bates, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley

Joe Williams, Senior Vice President – Real Estate Private Equity, Brookfield Asset Management

Justin Ayre, Division Director, Real Estate, Macquarie Asset Management

Tom McDonald, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Springtree

Lee Tredwell, Senior Director, Head of Australia, Invesco Real Estate

Moderated by:

Tony Massaro, Partner, Real Estate, KordaMentha

In this session we hear an insider’s view of how different capital models influence not just returns, but communities, leadership and long-term value in land lease living.

Key points:

• Land lease as both real estate and social infrastructure
• Family capital vs private equity vs public markets
• Aligning growth, governance and community trust
• Building resilient platforms for the future
• Capital contribution to sustainable growth

Manuel Lang, Chief Corporate Officer, GemLife

Brad Couper, Managing Director, MA Financial

Vertical land lease development represents the next evolution of Australia’s land lease housing model, responding to land scarcity, affordability pressures, and growing urban density – subject to regulatory approval. By combining the financial accessibility of land lease with medium-density, apartment-style living, vertical models can unlock new sites, broaden resident choice, and deliver scalable housing solutions closer to jobs, transport, and services.

Key drivers and opportunities include:

• Unlocking scarce urban land by enabling land lease communities in infill and metropolitan locations where traditional horizontal models are no longer viable
• Improving affordability and access through lower entry price points while retaining the core land lease value proposition
• Responding to demographic demand, particularly downsizers and retirees seeking low-maintenance, well-located, community-oriented living near major services
• Enhancing scalability and investor appeal by increasing yield per site and aligning land lease with modern planning, density, and sustainability objectives
• An opportunity for policy and planning frameworks to evolve alongside this next generation of land lease, ensuring legislation reflects how Australians increasingly want to live in well-located, community-based housing

Jonathon Steggles Mendez, Founder & Managing Director, Vivacity Property

Natalie Kwok, COO, Vivacity Property

The success of life science real estate depends on a deep understanding of what occupiers need at every stage of their growth journey—from startups in incubators to global pharmaceutical firms scaling up advanced manufacturing. This panel will explore the range of real estate solutions required by life science companies, including wet and dry labs, R&D hubs, biomanufacturing plants, logistics and cold storage facilities, corporate offices, and innovation precincts. Experts will discuss how occupier needs evolve as companies move from early-stage research to full-scale production and commercialisation, and what developers, investors, and landlords must consider to deliver facilities that attract and retain tenants. The conversation will also address how to design flexible, future-proofed real estate solutions that can support the sector’s rapid innovation and changing demands.

• Understanding Occupier Needs at Each Stage of Growth: How startups, scale-ups, and established life science companies have different real estate requirements across R&D, clinical trials, manufacturing, and commercialisation.
• The Full Spectrum of Life Science Real Estate: Exploring the role of labs, R&D spaces, manufacturing plants, logistics hubs, corporate offices, and science precincts in the ecosystem.
• Flexibility & Future-Proofing Facilities: How design, leasing models, and infrastructure planning can support long-term tenant success and adapt to the evolving needs of the sector.

Join fast-paced, interactive roundtables designed to connect you with peers facing the same challenges and opportunities. These facilitated discussions cut through theory to focus on the issues shaping the sector right now, giving you practical insights, fresh perspectives and ideas you can take straight back to your business.

Roundtable 1: Land acquisition, planning and regulations: Navigating the complex and very important piece of the Land Lease sector

Facilitated by: Andrew Bodiam, Acquisition Manager, Vivacity Property

Roundtable 2: Achieving excellence in Land Lease design

Phillip Nielsen, General Manager Architecture & Design, GemLife

Roundtable 3: Operations: Creating long-term value propositions for residents at lower cost

Roundtable 4: Investment: Unlocking capital to scale land lease communities while balancing risk and returns across the various different operating models

Roundtable 5: Embedded Networks: Utilising digital communication technologies for a connected and enhanced resident experience

Roundtable 6: Utilising solar and batteries to keep costs down and encourage sustainability

Roundtable 7: Managing rising construction costs and workforce constraints

Roundtable 8: Modern Methods of Construction: Examining how Modular and Offsite are transforming how we build

Facilitators include:

Andrew Bodiam, Acquisition Manager, Vivacity Property

Phillip Nielsen, General Manager Architecture & Design, GemLife

Rising land prices, planning complexity and construction cost escalation are putting pressure on land lease project viability. This session brings together leading developers and operators to share practical strategies for securing the right sites, navigating approvals and delivering communities efficiently in an increasingly competitive market.

Key themes include:

• Site selection and demand: Using customer demographics, pricing sensitivity and catchment data to guide site acquisition and product mix
• Planning and approvals: Navigating zoning, regulation and infrastructure constraints to accelerate delivery
• Construction efficiency: Managing post-COVID cost escalation through modular, offsite and smarter design approaches
• Delivery capability: Securing the right architects, contractors and partners—particularly in regional markets
• Infrastructure alignment: Coordinating energy, water, transport and communications to support scalable growth
• Sales-led development: How sales and marketing insights are shaping what, where and how developers build

Panellists include:

David Laing, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Springtree

Suzanne Jensen, General Manager – Development, Palm Lake Group

Matt Fedrick, General Manager – Development, Millbray

Susan Duffy, Founder & Director, Channel Group

Moderated by:

Michael Imbesi, Land Lease Communities Specialist & Director, ImbecoGroup

Fast, high-impact and future-focused, this Innovation Spotlight features four rapid-fire case studies followed by a sharp panel discussion showcasing how leading developers and partners are redefining land lease communities. From on-site renewables and EV charging to smart mobility, embedded networks and shared amenities, the session explores how integrated infrastructure and digital innovation are enhancing resident experience, improving resilience and lifting long-term asset value.

Attendees will gain practical insight into what’s being deployed today, what’s delivering real returns, and how to design communities that are more connected, sustainable and investment-ready.

• Renewable integration: Harnessing solar, battery storage, and microgrid models to lower costs and carbon footprints

• Smart mobility: Planning for EV readiness, car-sharing, and walkable design in new and existing communities
• Social infrastructure: Embedding community hubs, wellness spaces, and active transport links to enhance liveability
• Scalable innovation: Leveraging technology and partnerships to future-proof developments and attract institutional capital

Land lease residents are evolving. Today’s buyers are more diverse, value-driven and lifestyle-focused, with rising expectations around design, amenities, affordability and community connection. This session explores how resident needs are shifting—from downsizers to active retirees—and how leading operators are responding with smarter design, flexible offerings and communities built for long-term living.

• Changing buyer profiles: How shifting demographics are influencing design preferences, pricing, and community layouts

• Lifestyle-led design: Creating spaces that foster wellness, connection, and active living for modern retirees and families
• Affordability meets aspirations: Balancing value with premium amenity expectations, sustainable design principles and costs
• Greater choice and flexibility: The rise of hybrid, multigenerational and intergenerational models that offer residents a greater autonomy and diversity of living options within a single community
• Designing for whole of life: From club house and amenities through to operational efficiency by designing and building today, for 10-20 years’ time

Panellists include:

Tao Bourton, CEO, Everland Communities

Sabrina Gatto, QLD Development Manager, AVID

Angus Johnson, Executive General Manager – Development, Lincoln Place

Holly Brennan, , Head of Sales and Marketing, Serenitas

Moderated by:

Shannon Skow, Head of Policy & Engagement, Land Lease Living Industry Association of NSW

Pelican Waters Resort is a flagship example of how land lease living is being reimagined at the premium end of the market. Developed by Palm Lake Group, the community blends true resort-style living with the operational efficiency of a master-planned land lease model.

Built around championship golf, wellness and aquatic facilities, dining and high-end design, this case study explores Palm Lake’s shift toward hospitality-led placemaking—where lifestyle, amenity and long-term resident wellbeing drive differentiation, demand and value beyond the traditional land lease playbook.

Suzanne Jensen, General Manager – Development, Palm Lake Group

Operational excellence is now the key differentiator in land lease living. As communities grow, leading operators are using smarter systems, data and asset management to lift resident experience while protecting long-term value. This session explores how strong operations translate directly into higher retention, better performance and sustainable profitability.

Key themes include:

• Asset and maintenance optimisation: Using predictive maintenance and lifecycle planning to improve reliability and control costs
• Sustainability in operations: Embedding efficient, compliant and future-ready practices across communities
• Digital operations: Leveraging technology and data to streamline service delivery and resident communication
• Community and retention: Building trust, belonging and loyalty through transparent, resident-focused management
• Health and wellbeing: Designing programs and spaces that keep residents active

Panellists include:

Dan Smith, CEO of Communities, GemLife

Liam Greentree, Director, CBRE

Andrea Richards, CEO, Liven Communties

Daniela Hardwick, Halcyon Communities/Stockland, National Manager – Community Operations Governance and Integrity

Moderated by:

Gillian Moore, General Manager - Member Support Services, Land Lease Living Industry Association of NSW