Colin Jensen

Coordinator General
Director-General, Department of Infrastructure and Planning

Colin Jensen is the Director-General of the newly formed Department of Infrastructure and Planning and the Coordinator-General. He has been in these roles since 14 September 2007. Colin is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Queensland Government’s infrastructure development agenda. This includes coordinating key programs and projects such as the $82 billion, 20-year South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program; the $9 billion South East Queensland Water Grid; and a $36 billion investment over 10 years in priority infrastructure for regional communities and the state’s minerals and export sectors.

Colin will be presenting on the State Government’s vision for regional development in South-East Queensland and specifically what infrastructure initiatives the Government feels will greatly add to the sustainable economic development of the region.

Neil Salton

Managing Director
GoCordless Limited, London, UK

Neil is the Head of Innovation for the London based Cordless Group, and is also Managing Director of GoCordless Pty Ltd.  He is a specialist in researching and understanding the impact of emerging and innovative technology on work, education and the workplace.  He has worked with major organisations all around the world such as Macquarie Bank, Telstra, Deutsche Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Barclaycard, Cisco and Toshiba to help develop their future plans on new technology adoption.

Combining a background in Research & Development with his marketing experience, Neil helps his clients understand complex technologies and their application and value in the workplace.  His approach is to understand business and people needs first, and with this knowledge then apply an appropriate balance of technology so that staff can meet their business objectives effectively.

Mike Hefferan

Professor of Property Development
University of Sunshine Coast

Mike Hefferan is the Professor of Property and Development at the University of the Sunshine Coast and an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology.  He was previously the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Resources at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, a cross-faculty organisation of almost 200 researchers with particular interest in resources management, sustainable built environments and social dimensions of change.

For the previous 15 years he was an Executive Director within the State Government with industry development, property development and asset management responsibilities. In those areas, he managed the largest commercial and industrial property portfolios in the State and some of the largest property development projects here in recent decades.

He has a PhD, Masters of Applied Science and Postgraduate Management qualifications. He is a Registered Urban and Rural Valuer, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Property Council of Australia and Urban Development Institute of Australia and Vice President of the Queensland Division of the Australian Property Institute.

He has researched and lectured in a number of universities in Australia, throughout Asia and at the University of Texas at Austin, and Penn State and the University of Pennsylvania in the US.  He has lectured at Undergraduate and Post Graduate level for over 15 years in Valuation, Planning, Urban Development, Land Economics and Portfolio and Asset Management.  He’s particular research interests relate to building use and adaptation, master planned communities, sustainability within the built environment, regional development and environmental assessment and banking.

Suzie Barnett

Executive Director
Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)

Suzie has been involved with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) since its inception in 2002. Suzie was a founding member of the marketing committee and after two years volunteering her time was appointed as the first GBCA Business Development and Marketing Manager. In 2006 she was promoted to Executive Director.

In her role as Executive Director Suzie is responsible for all GBCA activities in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. She assists members, Green Star project teams as well as local and state Government to adopt green building practices and policies. She is also responsible for all GBCA marketing and communication strategies nationally. Her passion, enthusiasm and commitment to green building is regularly displayed when she presents to audiences on the latest green building initiatives both in Australia and globally.

Suzie also plays an active part in supporting the emergence of green building councils around the world. She was the Global Communications Manager for the World Green Building Council from 2004-2006 and now volunteers her time.

Originally from Western Australia, Suzie moved to Sydney in 2001 while in the role of National Marketing Manager for one of Australia's largest accounting firms. She graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Commerce (marketing and public relations) in 1995.

Jon Black

Executive Director
Council of Mayors (SEQ)

Jonathan (Jon) Black is the inaugural Executive Director of the Council of Mayors (SEQ). Established in 2005, the Council of Mayors (SEQ) is the peak political advocacy organisation for the 11 South East Queensland councils in Australia's fastest growing region. Priorities for the organisation include implementing the South East Queensland Regional Plan, securing the region's water supply, improving regional infrastructure and promoting sustainability.

Prior to his appointment with the Council of Mayors (SEQ), Jon, during a 25 year Army career, held a series of leadership and management positions in the Australian Defence Force. Jon's experience in strategic planning, leadership and management has assisted the SEQ local governments in responding to the current drought and the impacts of population growth on the region's sustainability.

Jon is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, the USMC University in Virginia, USA, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

Peter Hyland

Director
Urbis

Peter has more than 20 years experience in the property sector, with specific experience throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.  A specialist in the area of property strategy and portfolio analysis, Peter is a qualified urban
economist and town planner who has experience of advisory work in the property sector for both public and private sector clients.

Peter specialises in property development economics, client liaison and representation, property development initiation and co-ordination, strategic land use planning and the project management of consultants’ inputs to major projects and studies. He has an excellent understanding of the property development and investment market, specifically in Queensland, but also throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region. His extensive experience enables him to bring a balanced perspective and approach to a diverse range of projects.

Peter’s recent experience includes: corporate real estate strategy; property portfolio analysis; urban economics and planning; land use and development assessment; major project assessment; strategic business planning; and project management.  Peter is a Member of the Planning Institute of Australia, Property Council of Australia and Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Angus Harvey Ross FRICS, FAPI

Managing Director
Corporate Property

Angus established the Corporate Property office in Brisbane in 2001 to provide professional and independent advice to corporate occupiers in real estate. Prior to the establishment of Corporate Property, Angus was responsible for the establishment of a Corporate Real Estate Group within a global agency practice throughout Asia. This experience provides Corporate Property with extensive knowledge of the strategies and policies of multiple site users, both locally and throughout the Asian markets.

At Corporate Property Angus’ roles include;

• Acting for major occupiers including Brisbane City Council, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Energex and Australia Post in establishing their new office requirements.
• Acting for corporations such as Queensland Newspapers, Ernst & Young, Sullivan & Nicolaides and the Anglican Church in establishing their corporate property strategies.

In establishing Corporate Property, Angus maintains the philosophy that property is only a platform to provide companies their ability to carry out their business, and not a business in its own right.

Angus is well known in the industry and is a past Chapter Chairman of CoreNet Global, a past President of the Property Council in Queensland and was appointed as an Honorary Ambassador for the City of Brisbane by the Lord Mayor in 1996.