Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Summit
Australia’s leading PBSA conference backed by insights from developers, institutional capital, universities, operators and living-sector experts.
Aug 20, 2026
8:30 am – 3:00 pm (AEST)
Gate 8, Melbourne
*Ticket Allocation exhausted
Program
8:30 AM
REGISTRATION and NETWORKING
9:00 AM | Australia's Student Housing Boom: Navigating the Next Investment Cycle
Keynote
This keynote explores the macroeconomic, demographic and policy forces driving the next investment cycle — and what it means for developers, operators and capital partners.
KEYNOTE
Paul Savitz
Director - Living Sectors Capital Markets
Cushman & Wakefield
9:30 AM | How policy influencing the sector and what his means for the appetite of offshore capital?
Keynote
Australia’s PBSA sector is attracting growing global attention. This keynote examines what offshore capital is targeting, how operational performance is influencing valuations and where investors see long-term opportunity.
KEYNOTE
Clinton Ostwald
Partner
Urbis
10:00 AM | Making the Numbers Work: Delivering PBSA Projects in a Challenging Market
Panel
This session explores the economic complexities reshaping PBSA delivery, how developers, builders and financiers are adapting project structures, procurement strategies and funding models to keep projects moving.
Toby Lewis
Managing Director
Marquette
Anouk Darling
Chief Executive Officer – Student Living/BTR
Scape
Name
Title
Company
10:30 AM
Morning Tea
11:00 AM | Reimagining Student Living: Refitting and Retrofitting Existing PBSA Assets
Case Study
Australia’s PBSA market is entering a new phase, where the challenge is no longer just building new assets, but unlocking greater value from existing ones. Discover how strategic refurbishment can reposition ageing assets, enhance returns, strengthen market appeal and meet the evolving expectations of today’s students.
Amanda Moore
Associate Principal
JCBA
11:15 AM | Connected Campuses: How Technology is transforming the Resident Experience
Case Study
Technology is becoming central to PBSA performance. This session explores how operators are leveraging smart systems to improve safety, efficiency and student satisfaction.
Alex Karamouzis
Student Housing Industry Lead - Oceania
Salto
11:30 AM | The Partnership Model: Universities, Developers, Builders and The Future of PBSA Delivery
Panel
This session explores the commercial structures, operational considerations and long-term opportunities shaping the next generation of university-aligned accommodation.
SPEAKER
Andrew Hogan
Managing Director
Point Polaris
James Curtin
General Manager, Developments
Dexus
Jodie Harris
Director of Sustainability, Masterplanning and Systems
La Trobe
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM | Behind the Project: 570 Little Bourke Street
Panel
In this session, we sit down with Maxcap’s Head of Equity Simon Hulett, Zoran Trimcevski at Hickory Group and Unilodge CEO Tomas Johnsson for a behind-the-scenes conversation about their joint-venture development of an 892-bed PBSA tower on the western edge of the Melbourne CBD.
Simon Hulett
Head of Equity Investment
MaxCap
Tomas Johnsson
Chief Executive Officer
UniLodge Living Group
Zoran Trimcevski
Head of Property
Hickory Group
1:30 PM | Fireside
In Conversation with Cedar Pacific’s David Hill
Join us for a fireside conversation with one of the industry’s leaders as we explore the underlying forces sharping PBSA in Australia and how Cedar Pacific is responding.
David Hill
Chief Investment Officer
Cedar Pacific
Ticket allocation exhausted. Please email our events team to join the wait list tudevents@theurbandeveloper.com
Ticket Inclusions
Attendees to the PBSA Summit will receive:
- A comprehensive understanding of Australia’s PBSA supply and demand dynamics
- Insights into international student growth and policy impacts
- Analysis of institutional investment appetite and global capital flows
- An understanding of current feasibility, funding and delivery conditions
- Perspectives from universities, developers and operators on partnership models
- Insights into operational trends, hospitality-led living and student experience
- Exposure to emerging technology and smart building innovations
- Lessons from leading PBSA projects and platforms across Australia
Become a TUD+ Member to access discounted tickets.