Season 6 Episode 10 with Adrian Puljich

Season 6

Episode 10 with Adrian Puljich

In this episode of The Development Drum, CEO and Founder of GemLife, Adrian Puljich, sits down to discuss his mission to revolutionise the over-50s resort-style living sector across Australia. Adrian shares his journey from working alongside his family at Living Gems to founding GemLife in 2016 and expanding it into an industry-leading developer with a rapidly growing national footprint. He offers deep insights into the evolution of the land lease model, the crucial role of an “ageing in place” approach, and how GemLife is pioneering game-changing innovations, from securing the first development approval for a vertical land lease project to launching factory-built modular home construction. It’s an engaging, forward-thinking conversation on visionary leadership, navigating sector regulations, and solving Australia’s housing challenges through community-driven design.

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Season 6 Episode 9 with Alexandra Stuart-Robertson

Season 6

Episode 9 with Alexandra Stuart-Robertson

In this episode of The Development Drum, Chief Revenue Officer at Gallery Group, Alexandra Stuart-Robertson, reflects on her dynamic 20-year career across fine arts, high-end property sales, and strategic leadership. Alex shares an honest look into her transition from Sydney to South East Queensland, the pivotal female mentors who shaped her early career, and the art of shifting from a hands-on operator to a strategic leader. She dives into Gallery Group’s innovative, solution-focused approach to housing. She highlights the critical distinction between basic customer service and creating elevated, memorable client experiences. It’s an engaging conversation on authenticity, industry innovation, and the power of personal relationships in driving sustainable growth.

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Season 6 Episode 8 Nic De Luca and Ben De Luca

Season 6

Episode 8 with Nic De Luca and Ben De Luca

In this episode of The Development Drum, father and son duo Nic and Ben De Luca reflect on over three decades of growth, evolution, and long-term legacy within the Queensland property and construction sectors. Nic shares a candid look at building De Luca Corporation from the ground up, highlighting the core values, authentic leadership, and relationship-first mindset that have guided the group across multiple market cycles. Ben discusses his personal career journey, including pivotal years spent gaining experience interstate, before returning to launch the business’s residential apartment division, Fingerprint. Together, they explore the rewarding dynamics of working side-by-side, navigating the balance between work and well-being, and their shared commitment to community impact through philanthropy. It’s an inspiring conversation on mentorship, structural discipline, and what it takes to shape an enduring family legacy.

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Season 6 Episode 7 Maria Dracakis and John Dracakis

Season 6

Episode 7 with Maria Dracakis and John Dracakis

In this episode of The Development Drum, Maria and John Dracakis reflect on nearly three decades of building a boutique, family-run property and construction business from the ground up. They share a candid look into how their distinct skill sets complement each other, the reality of navigating major market cycles and events, and the strategic advantages of maintaining an in-house construction arm. Maria and John also discuss the evolution of their brand, the rewarding dynamic of welcoming the next generation into the business, and the importance of long-term relationships in a collaborative industry. It’s a warm, insightful conversation on perseverance, trust, and the enduring passion required to shape local communities together.

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Season 6 Episode 6 Antonia Mercorella

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 Nerida Conisbee

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

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

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

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

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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