Property Development Masterclass

Your guide to mastering the property development process with expert insights, practical strategies and real-world industry knowledge.

FEBRUARY 19 2025 | 8.30 AM - 4.00 PM AEDT | GADENS OFFICE, MELBOURNE

Days
Hours
Minutes

About the course

The Urban Developer is proud to launch its Property Development Masterclass, a practical, industry-focused program tailored for professionals seeking to sharpen their skills in property development.

Delivered by leading experts from Urbis, Stamford Capital, Gadens and Mitchell Brandtman this hands-on course covers the entire property development lifecycle—from site selection, feasibilities and town planning to construction and funding.

The day will conclude with a candid interview with Michael McCormack, founder and managing director of Milieu—one of Victoria’s most accomplished property developers.

In a conversation with Adam Di Marco, founder and chief executive of The Urban Developer, we will explore getting started, identifying opportunities, managing risk, predicting cycles and building a legacy. 

Wednesday, February 19 2025 | 8.30 am – 4.00 pm AEDT

Gadens, Level 13/447 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Course outline

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM

Connect with fellow attendees and industry leaders over coffee as you prepare for a day of learning.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

A quick overview of the day’s agenda, learning outcomes, and key speakers.

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Get to grips with the fundamentals of property development, including lifecycle stages, emerging market trends and practical tips for avoiding common pitfalls.

  • Overview of the development lifecycle from concept to completion
  • Site selection, feasibility, approvals, financing, construction, and marketing
  • Market insights and emerging trends within the property development industry
  • Common pitfalls and best practices for developers at various stages

Presenter: Adam Di Marco, founder and chief executive, The Urban Developer.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Morning Tea

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Learn how to navigate the town planning process with insights specific to Melbourne. Streamline approvals, address design challenges and align with community expectations.

  • Local Planning Frameworks: Learn to interpret Melbourne and Victorian planning schemes.
  • How to Manage Site Overlays: Identify and mitigate risks from overlays such as flooding, bushfire zones, and heritage constraints
  • Community Expectations: Explore strategies to align developments with local community needs and regulatory requirements
  • How to Streamline Approvals: Discover practical tools to fast-track development applications and minimise delays
  • Residential Design Standards: Understand how to meet essential design requirements, including building heights, setbacks, and landscaping.

Presenter: Christina McRae – Director, Urbis

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM

Gain clarity on contracts, due diligence, off-the-plan sales and builder procurement to ensure your project is on solid legal footing.

  • Understand Victorian contract types and due diligence requirements, including title, zoning and easement checks
  • Learn obligations for off-the-plan sales under Victoria property laws, including disclosure and cooling-off periods
  • Agency agreements, sales contracts, and disclosure documentation specific to Victoria regulations
  • Overview of construction contract types and strategies for selecting and managing builders

Presenter: Brihony Boan – Partner, Gadens

12:30PM – 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Master the art of budgeting, tendering and contractor management to deliver your projects on time and within budget.

  • An overview of techniques for accurate cost forecasting and budget planning
  • Key steps in selecting and negotiating with builders to achieve project goals
  • Strategies for effective communication and oversight during construction

Presenter: Julian Chai – Partner, Mitchell Brandtman

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

Discover financing structures, funding sources and strategies to optimise your project’s financial performance.

  • Understand the current funding landscape and its implications for Victorian developers
  • Explore common financing structures used in property development in the region
  • Evaluate costs and strategies to optimise financial performance for Melbourne and Victorian projects

Presenter: Barn Wilson – Director, Stamford Capital

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Hear directly from one of Victoria’s leading developers as he share lessons learned, business strategies and his approach to navigating challenges in the industry.

In a conversation with Adam Di Marco, founder and chief executive of The Urban Developer, Michael will explore his personal journey, including how to identify opportunities, manage risk, anticipate market cycles and creating a legacy. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from one of Victoria’s most accomplished property developers.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking Drinks

Meet Your Presenters

Christina McRae / Director Urbis

Christina McRae has more than 15 years’ experience in strategic and statutory planning in Melbourne, where she’s worked on many high-profile and complex development projects.
Clients prize her detailed knowledge across the approvals process, from planning scheme amendments to master plan approvals. Though Christina works on all manner of developments across the public and private sectors, much of her work has centred on residential and mixed-use projects and urban renewals in Melbourne’s inner city and suburbs.
Christina will present the Town Planning and Design session, offering practical strategies to navigate the planning process and align projects with local expectations.

Brihony Boan / Partner Gadens

Brihony is an expert in residential property development, with extensive experience in “off the plan” mixed-use developments, vacant land subdivisions, and related contractual matters.
Her practice encompasses advising institutional and private property developers on significant property acquisitions, disposals, and complex contractual negotiations.
Brihony has worked closely with clients on a range of residential development projects, guiding them through sales, acquisitions, and insolvency-related property transactions.
Brihony will present the Legal Essentials session, providing practical insights into contracts, due diligence, off-the-plan sales, and builder procurement tailored to Melbourne's residential development landscape.

Julian Chai / Partner Mitchell Brandtman

Julian Chai joined Mitchell Brandtman in 2023 as a Director of the Melbourne office. With 34 years of experience as a Quantity Surveyor, Julian is renowned for his expertise in construction cost management, builder coordination, and project delivery.
His deep understanding of the complexities of construction and builder management allows him to effectively address challenges that arise on projects. Beyond coordinating internal resources and tasks, Julian works closely with clients to provide tailored solutions, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and meet financial objectives.
Julian will present the Construction Management session, offering practical strategies for cost planning, builder selection and effective project management during construction.

Adam Di Marco / Founder & CEO The Urban Developer

Adam Di Marco is the founder and chief executive of The Urban Developer, with over a decade of professional experience in property.
Since establishing the platform in 2014, Adam has grown it into an industry-leading network for media, events, and education, highly regarded in both media and property circles.
In addition to his leadership role, Adam remains active in the property industry as a director of Brisbane-based property developer, Di Marco Group, bringing hands-on experience in the development lifecycle.
Adam will present the Property Development 101 session, providing an essential guide to the stages of development, emerging market trends, and strategies to avoid common pitfalls.

Barn Wilson / Director Stamford Capital

Barn has over 25 years’ experience in investment banking, having previously worked as an analyst with Credit Suisse in London, and on the fixed income desks ofMorgan Stanley and Bank of America (Merrill Lynch) in Sydney.
As the head of the Victorian team, Barn oversees the state’s deal origination and is responsible for bringing new capital funding opportunities to developers and investor clients. Barn has arranged funding for projects up to $150 million across the Eastern Seaboard.
Barn will present the Funding Insights session, sharing expert advice on financing structures, funding sources, and strategies to optimise financial performance for property projects in the region.

Michael McCormack / Founder & Managing Director Milieu

Michael McCormack is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Milieu, a Melbourne-based property development company established in 2010 with a mission to create thoughtful and inspiring built environments.
Milieu is recognised for its progressive urban design, exemplary architecture, and community-focused developments, which span residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects.
Under Michael’s leadership, Milieu has delivered iconic developments such as Napier Street in Fitzroy and Peel Street in Collingwood, projects celebrated for their architectural excellence and attention to detail.
In conversation with Adam Di Marco, Michael will discuss identifying opportunities, managing risk, anticipating market cycles and creating a lasting legacy.

Register Now

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General Admission

$795.00

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$595.00

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Why attend

This is not your typical industry seminar—it’s a focused, high-level workshop tailored for property professionals seeking to sharpen their expertise and stay ahead in a competitive market. Designed for those with a solid foundation in property development, this masterclass offers:

Practical insights

Learn real-world strategies and techniques you can apply immediately to your projects.

Expert access

Gain invaluable knowledge from some of the most respected names in property development.

Localised knowledge

Understand city-specific nuances to stay competitive in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne.

PRESENTING PARTNER

VENUE PARTNER

Want to attend in other cities?

Join us in either Sydney or Brisbane where we will unpack the outlook for each region.

Brisbane: Wednesday, February 12

Sydney: Friday, February 28

FAQs

Who is The Urban Developer?

The Urban Developer is Australia’s largest, most engaged and fastest growing community of property developers and urban development professionals. For more information, head to our website.

Join more than 250 c-suite property development professionals, including property developers and investors, financiers, town planners and architects, government and councils and many more.

This course is designed for individuals with intermediate knowledge and/or experience in residential property development.

Yes, this event is accredited for 7 CPD points and may be recognised by professional bodies, including API, RICS, AIQS, REIQ, and others.

The course will be held at Gadens Lawyers – Gadens, Level 13/447 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000. Please arrive on time at 8:30am for registration. 

Please email tudevents@theurbandeveloper.com with your name, mobile, event and a description of your problem so our team can assist. 

Connecting, informing and inspiring the property industry.