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The 2026 Winter edition is exclusive to UDIA Queensland members.
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Planning for progress: Unlocking growth through Regional Planning
Creating strong, well-planned communities relies on forward-thinking regional planning that extends far beyond capital cities and urban cores. At its best, regional planning creates a clear blueprint for the future, balancing population growth with infrastructure delivery, identifying future housing and employment land, and providing the market certainty required to bring projects to life.
In this edition of establish, we explore our issue’s theme, Regional Planning, through the lens of an industry working to translate policy vision into on-the-ground reality. Drawing on a diverse range of industry insights, we examine how evidence-based frameworks, realistic infrastructure funding pathways, and responsive land supply can address Queensland’s housing affordability and availability challenges. From tailored local solutions across our diverse regions to cross-tier government collaboration, we look at how getting regional planning right creates the foundation for thriving communities, economic opportunity, and a better future for all Queenslanders.
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Season 6
Episode 6 with Antonia Mercorella
In this episode of The Development Drum, Antonia Mercorella reflects on her long-standing tenure leading an influential peak body and the benefits of broadening her organisation’s scope. She shares a candid look at her professional evolution, shifting from the technical details of a legal background into a big-picture executive leadership role. Antonia also discusses the high-stakes realities of navigating public advocacy, keeping an organisation adaptable through unprecedented industry challenges, and finding the balance between intense professional demands and her personal life. It’s an insightful conversation on the true meaning of leadership, managing community expectations, and what it takes to continuously drive an industry forward.
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Season 6
Episode 5 with Nerida Conisbee
In this episode of The Development Drum, Nerida Conisbee reflects on her career trajectory from graduating into a 1990s recession to overcoming an early fear of public speaking and becoming a leading market commentator. She provides a behind-the-scenes look at the responsibility of breaking down complex data into objective insights, and explains why communicating market mechanics is far more difficult than relying on industry jargon. She discusses navigating different public opinions on property, her focus on housing supply, and how tracking open home data gives her team a week-by-week look at buyer demand before it hits monthly reports. It’s an insightful conversation on process-driven communication and the operational realities of a heavy national travel schedule, rounded out with a lighthearted glimpse into how she balances a busy household while mentoring the next generation of property and finance professionals under her own roof.
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Season 6
Episode 4 with Julian Simmonds
In this episode of The Development Drum, Julian Simmonds reflects on his journey through various levels of public and private sector leadership roles, to becoming the CEO of Economic Development Queensland (EDQ). He explains how building his career from the ground up required navigating the distinct landscapes of local and federal politics, and how early transitions served as a pathway to deep industry engagement. Julian also provides a broader overview of the high-stakes complexities of planning systems, the operational resilience required to sustain development momentum during a housing crisis, and the strategic leadership behind driving customer-focused organisational turnarounds. Giving a light-hearted glimpse into his life outside of public service, he shares how he manages a busy household alongside his wife, tackles the unique challenges of modern parenting, and unwinds with hobbies like gaming and boating. It’s an insightful conversation on how Julian has focused on partnership-based solutions and market delivery with the same problem-solving drive he practiced throughout his career.
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Season 6
Episode 3 with Bob Sharpless
In this episode of The Development Drum, Bob Sharpless reflects on his journey and transition from working as a civil engineer to becoming the Deputy Chairman of Springfield City Group, the master developer of Greater Springfield. He explains how building his career and his landmark project from the ground up, required navigating early risks, and how planning for worst-case scenarios served as a deliberate strategy to protect his personal assets. Bob offers a candid look into his diverse career journey, from balancing the high-stakes pressures of master-planning with long cycling rides, to reflecting on his impactful time as Chairman of the Brisbane Lions. It’s an insightful conversation on how Bob has focused on unyielding regional aspiration and playing the long game with the same analytical problem-solving he practiced in engineering.
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Season 6
Episode 2 with Sam Gardner
In this episode of The Development Drum, Sam Gardner reflects on his unique transition from a biochemical science background to becoming a second-generation leader at his family-owned business, Gardner Vaughan Group (GVG). He explains how carrying on a strong family culture has anchored the business during a period of massive corporate scaling and rapid multi-residential expansion across South East Queensland. Sam also offers a candid look into his personal routine, balancing the rigorous demands of strategic partner retention and matrix team management, while seamlessly integrating his young family into his love for the property industry and the great outdoors. It’s an insightful conversation on how Sam has focused on process-driven leadership and community building, with the same structured approach he practiced in the laboratory.
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Season 6
Episode 1 with Frank Licastro
In this episode of The Development Drum, Frank Licastro reflects on his journey and transition from being an on-site electrician to building Frank Developments, a premier design-led property brand. He explains how carrying his family name brings both pride and pressure, and how vertically integrating his business helped him navigate recent industry disruptions. Frank also offers a candid look into his personal routine, balancing the fast-paced demands of site acquisitions and project delivery, while maintaining a consistent presence in his family life. It’s an insightful conversation on how Frank has focused on complex community engagement and brand growth with the same grit and care he practiced on the tools.
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