Property Development Masterclass

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

FEBRUARY 28 2025 | 8.30 AM - 4.00 PM AEDT | GADENS OFFICE, SYDNEY

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 discussion featuring Rick Graf, development director of Billbergia—one of the nation’s most accomplished property developers.

In a conversation with Adam Di Marco, founder and chief executive of The Urban Developer, they will explore Rick’s personal journey, including how to identify opportunities, manage risk, anticipate market cycles and create a lasting legacy.

Friday, February 28 2025 | 8.30 am – 4.00 pm AEDT

Gadens, Level 29/8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000

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 Sydney and New South Wales. Streamline approvals, address design challenges and align with community expectations.

  • Local Planning Frameworks: Learn to interpret Sydney and New South Wales 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: Naomi Daley – Associate 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 contract types and due diligence requirements, including title, zoning and easement checks
  • Learn obligations for off-the-plan sales under New South Wales property laws, including disclosure and cooling-off periods
  • Agency agreements, sales contracts, and disclosure documentation specific to Sydney regulations
  • Overview of construction contract types and strategies for selecting and managing builders

Presenter: Archie Smith – 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: Alok Jain – Associate, 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 Sydney developers
  • Explore common financing structures used in property development in the region
  • Evaluate costs and strategies to optimise financial performance for Sydney and NSW projects

Presenter: Daniel Kelly – Associate Director, Stamford Capital

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Hear directly from one of the nation’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, Rick will explore his personal journey, including how to identify opportunities, manage risk, anticipate market cycles and create a lasting legacy. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from one of the nation’s most accomplished property developers.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking Drinks

Meet Your Presenters

Naomi Daley / Associate Director Urbis

Naomi Daley is an experienced Urban Planner who specialises in statutory planning and development approval facilitation for the retail, commercial, leisure, residential and government sectors.
Naomi’s work across the planning process includes due diligence, planning advice and preparing major proposals.Recent career highlights include The Quay Haymarket and a hotel and residential tower in Sydney’s CBD.
Naomi will present the Town Planning and Design session, offering practical strategies to navigate the planning process and align projects with local expectations.

Archie Smith / Partner Gadens

Archie specialises in property, property development, leasing and finance.Archie advises extensively on major property developments, including property trusts, investors and corporations for developments, subdivision, strata and the acquisition, disposal and structuring of commercial and industrial transactions.
He has also been involved in advising on and negotiating property-related finance documentation, and holds a Certificate of Financial Planning from the Securities Institute in London.
Archie will present the Legal Essentials session, providing practical insights into contracts, due diligence, off-the-plan sales, and builder procurement tailored to New South Wales' residential development landscape.

Alok Jain / Associate Mitchell Brandtman

Alok joined Mitchell Brandtman in 2019 as a Senior Quantity Surveyor. Alok has over 21 years’ experience in the construction industry with in-depth knowledge of best practice in sustainable construction techniques. His diverse experience is associated with commercial & residential construction.
Alok’s experience encompassed in contracts administration, estimating, Quantity Surveying and Cost Planning has helped him evolve and comprehensively understand the intricacies of construction and project management.
Alok 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.

Daniel Kelly / AssociateDirector Stamford Capital

As a broker and associate director in Stamford Capital's Sydney team, Daniel serves as a critical link between clients and lenders, identifying the right funding strategies and guiding clients through every step of the funding process.
Across his career at Stamford Capital, Daniel has arranged financing for projects across the Eastern Seaboard, managing transactions from $1 million to $100 million.
Grant 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.

Rick Graf / Development Director Billbergia

Rick Graf is a global property expert with 45 years of experience delivering award-winning developments across Australia, the USA, and Asia.
Over the past 14 years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping Billbergia’s major projects, including Sydney’s Bennelong Bridge and Brisbane’s Skytower.
His contributions have driven innovative transport solutions and transformed urban landscapes for over 25,000 current residents, with more to come.
Rick will feature in the Developer Spotlight session, sharing insights from his personal journey, lessons learned, and strategies for navigating industry challenges.
In conversation with Adam Di Marco, Rick 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 Brisbane or Melbourne where we will unpack the outlook for each region.

Melbourne: Wednesday, February 19

Brisbane: Friday, February 12

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, Level 29/8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000.  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.