The programme for this year’s Property Conference is now live, with an incredible lineup of speakers, from IBO World Super Bantamweight Champion Mea Motu, to industry innovators Sam Stubbs of Simplicity, David McGuinness of Willis Bond and Carmen Vicelich of Valocity.
Taking place in Wellington on 11-13 September, The Property Conference (TPC) will feature one day of pre-conference site tours around some of the Capital’s newest builds.
First up, delegates can choose to join one of the two site tours taking place; a walking tour of Wellington CBD will take in BNZ Place, a project said to ‘redefine the Wellington waterfront’, before wandering the via Argosy’s latest 6 star Green Star project, 8 Willis Street, then concluding at 80 The Terrace, where LT McGuinness has undergone a significant seismic strengthening and upgrade project. The other site tour will take delegates around Wakefield Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility providing access for patients across the Wellington region and lower North Island that has recently undergone a ~$166m redevelopment.
Post-tour, guests are invited to join us for a few beverages at the official TPC Welcome Function at Harbourside Function Venue, sponsored by WT.
Conference Day One
Following a brew from the Ecoglo Coffee Cart, the conference will kick off bright and early on Thursday 12 September, with MC Miriama Kamo hosting sessions from Hon Nicola Willis and opening keynote Hon Alexander Downer, who will provide an in-depth analysis of the current geopolitical landscape and its future implications.
The morning will continue with an economic forecast from economist Tony Alexander, and a panel discussion with industry leaders Amelia Linzey, Group Chief Executive of Beca; Phillippa Harford, Partner at Morrison and Todd Lauchlan, Managing Director of JLL New Zealand.
Fittingly, we’ll hear from David McGuinness, Managing Director of Development at Willis Bond, who will present a case study of our venue, Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, before breaking for lunch and getting to enjoy the venue for ourselves.
The afternoon on day one remains a packed agenda, with Thomas Hale, Urban Design Principal Lead at Warren & Mahoney offering insights into the future of urban landscapes. He will discuss the trajectory of New Zealand’s cities, drawing lessons from international models. This session addresses the crucial role of infrastructure in revitalising cities, presenting a holistic approach to shaping vibrant, sustainable urban environments for the future.
Following Thomas’ session, we’ll enjoy our second panel discussion on innovating construction for a sustainable future, featuring Chris Haines, Director at Rider Levett Bucknall, before Property Council’s Head of Advocacy, Katherine Wilson, gives us the latest Property Council Report Card.
The day will conclude with an empowering session from keynote speaker Jess Stuart on navigating from burnout to peak performance.
Always a highlight, the Yardi Networking Party is (quite literally) taking centre stage at the St James Theatre on Thursday evening, with a spectacular evening in the works.
Conference Day Two
The start of day two will pack a punch, with IBO World Super Bantamweight Champion Mea Motu sharing her empowering journey from survivor to world champion, transcending the boxing ring’s confines and personifying the power within.
Next up, our panel of industry experts, including Lisa Oliver, Project Director and Sustainability Lead at Holmes Group, Eric McDonnell, Principal & Director of Mass Timber, Holmes Group and Phoebe Moses, Carbon Navigator, Beca will discuss the practical aspects of timber building, delving into challenges and opportunities, the panel explores innovative strategies to make timber construction a viable option.
Prepare to be challenged and inspired as the conference programme takes you on a journey of change, adaptation, thinking outside the box and rapid transformation with sessions from Kerin Russell-Smith, Director of Russell Group; Sam Stubbs, Managing Director of Simplicity and Shane Brealey, Managing Director of Simplicity Living.
We will wrap up the week with a farewell lunch featuring speaker Carmen Vicelich who will challenge your thinking on the evolving landscape of work. As we embrace technological advancements and adapt to changing dynamics, Carmen will explore the future of work, offering strategies for individuals and organisations to thrive in a rapidly shifting environment. From remote work trends to the gig economy, she examines emerging paradigms and their implications for the workforce.
With the conference done and dusted by 2:15 pm, you’ll have plenty of time to make your way to the airport (or a local watering hole) and enjoy a beverage with your new-found friends. Or, why not make a weekend of it and enjoy everything the Capital has to offer – after all, you can’t beat Wellington on a good day!