Our Speakers

As President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Jacob brings a national perspective on the forces shaping the industry from policy headwinds and regulatory pressures to the opportunities emerging in a market in transition.

“The national landscape: headwinds and opportunities”

Cain brings a sharp lens on the local landscape and together they will discuss and identify the opportunities that will define the next chapter for South Australian professionals.

One of the world’s leading AI researchers, Professor Toby Walsh has addressed the United Nations, heads of state, parliamentary bodies and the National Press Club on the profound opportunities – and real risks – of artificial intelligence. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, named on the international “Who’s Who in AI” list, and author of five books on AI for general audiences (including his latest, The Shortest History of AI), Toby’s keynote will cut through the hype and give real estate professionals a grounded, expert view of what AI means for their business, clients and career.

“AI: Boom or Doom? What real estate professionals need to know”

With four decades in real estate and an Order of Australia Medal to his name, Chris Hanley is one of the most compelling voices in the industry. Founder of the world- renowned Byron Writers Festival, sought-after keynote speaker across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and a mentor to generations of agents, Chris draws on deep experience and lateral thinking to explore what the past reveals about the path ahead.

“Looking back to look forward.”

Population growth, migration, workforce strategy – the building blocks of a thriving South Australian economy are also the foundations of a thriving real estate market. Sam unpacks the economic and demographic forces shaping our state, and what a truly Future Fit South Australia looks like for the property industry.

“Future fit South Australia.”

In a profession defined by external pressures regulation, market volatility and shifting expectations, Caitlin’s session offers something rare: a practical, evidence-backed framework for sustaining high performance over the long haul. She explores how professionals can reclaim control of their time and energy, make meaningful shifts in how they work and lead, and build the kind of longevity the industry genuinely needs.

“Operating at your best: performance, resilience and longevity.”

As property management is transformed by automation, compliance complexity and rising expectations, the professionals who will define the future are those who lead with emotional intelligence, adaptability and genuine relationship skills. Adam makes the compelling case for why the soft skills are the survival skills and how to build them.

“The future PM: soft skills, hard results.”

As two of the industry’s most recognised sales professionals, Matt and Brad bring hard-won insight into what it genuinely takes to perform at the top level and sustain it. Their experience navigating shifting market dynamics and evolving client expectations makes them both a voice of grounded authority on where the profession is heading.

“The future of sales panel.”

Brad and Matt are the kind of sales professionals the industry points to when it talks about doing it the right way. With award-winning results and a philosophy built on authentic connection and discipline, their perspective on future proof skills and behaviours that drive lasting success is exactly what the industry needs to hear.

“The future of sales panel.”

Will Alexander represents something rare in the real estate industry: a genuine second-generation professional who has not simply inherited a career but actively reshaped it at every turn. In Will’s words:

“Real estate is in my blood. I am second generation in this industry, and two decades on I still wake up excited to get to work. That is not a line for a bio. Ask anyone who has worked with me. I have worked the full length of this business: Property Manager, Business Development Manager, Business Manager, General Manager, CEO of a proptech company, National Director, and now Head of AI and Innovation at Bayleys. Same person at every step, same engineering instinct, the same question each time. What if we started with a blank page? What began as curiosity about how property operations could run more efficiently has become something bigger. As Head of AI and Innovation, I lead our charge into a future where AI does not replace the humans in this industry, it amplifies the ones who care most about getting it right. As National Director of Property Management, I keep that future grounded in what we actually do: find homes for people, protect investments for owners, deliver results and create dreams. I am passionate about every corner of real estate and I love the challenge of taking on something new. BUPE, our commercial property management specialist brand, is the third commercial business I have built from the ground up. Same instinct each time, same blank page. Outside work, I am an endurance athlete. Long distances teach you what enginerring already did. The problem is solvable. You just keep moving.”

Jonny Bell built Housemark Australia’s fastest-growing rent roll from his two-bedroom apartment, scaling it to over 3,000 properties managed entirely through organic growth. Today he leads CREATE, a group of companies reshaping how property service businesses scale, encompassing Wingman (consulting and offshoring), Wingman Technology (AI and cybersecurity), Wingman Creative (marketing), and Delta Wealth (mortgage broking).

Named on the AFR 40 Under 40 list, and with Wingman Group recognised among Deloitte’s TechFast 50 Rising Stars and the AFR Fast 100, Jonny brings a founder’s eye and an operator’s hard-won pragmatism to the AI conversation.

Australia and New Zealand the proptech works daily with the startups, scale-ups and enterprise businesses reshaping how real estate operates. Peter’s career spans over 25 years in property and technology. He helped grow BoxBrownie from an Australian startup into a globally recognised proptech brand, serving as Strategic Relationship Manager and later Global Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue. His work has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Inman News. He is a sought-after international keynote speaker, accelerator mentor and proptech consultant. A grounded, expert look at the real infrastructure questions sitting underneath AI adoption in real estate:

• Connected systems, cleaner data, and the end of manual glue
• What AI actually replaces in a real estate office and where it cannot
• Where vendor lock-in becomes a strategic trap
• Why most agencies’ real problem is not AI adoption but data infrastructure
• A clear-eyed view of what changes, what does not, and where the human margin genuinely shifts to

Based in the Adelaide Hills, Emily works with brands across real estate, retail and major events, helping them cut through the noise and actually get seen. Known for her no-fluff, straight-talking approach, Emily specialises in social media, content and paid digital strategy that drives real results – not just likes. She believes the biggest shift in marketing isn’t platforms, it’s attention – and the businesses that win are the ones who show up consistently, build trust and connect like humans. In this session, Emily will unpack what it really takes to win in today’s scroll economy – sharing what’s working right now, what’s not, and how to turn attention into real business outcomes.

Anti-Money Laundering obligations are coming for the real estate sector, and the window to prepare is narrowing. Trish Johnson and Jayden Phan deliver a clear, practical introduction to what AML compliance means for your agency — covering the key requirements, what you need to have in place, common pitfalls, and how to build a compliance-ready business without disrupting your operations. This session is essential for principals, sales staff and operations.