DevelopmentDavid Di MarcoWed 28 May 25

Build, Baby, Build: Disruptive Ideas Unlock Housing Supply

As Australia’s housing crisis deepens, the call to “Build, Baby, Build” is more than a catchcry—it’s a national directive demanding fresh thinking, faster delivery and fairer outcomes.

At Urbanity-25, The Urban Developer’s flagship annual conference, this powerful namesake session will spotlight the disruptive ideas reshaping how we think about housing—from ownership and density to financing, supply pipelines and planning reform.

It’s one of 30 sessions to take place across three days in July—and this is just a sneak peek. In coming weeks, we’ll be unveiling the full Urbanity-25 program, featuring 50-plus speakers from across the country and around the world, all pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in property and urban development.

Housing that delivers impact

Leading the conversation is Victoria Parker, chief executive of The Lady Musgrave Trust. With a career spanning Queensland’s housing and development ecosystem—from government to industry—Parker now heads one of the state’s most established not-for-profits, focused on ending homelessness for women and children.

She’s forging new models for collaboration between developers, service providers and corporates to create housing that delivers both social and economic outcomes.

Fintech meets first-home ownership

Chris Ferris, co-founder of Coposit, is rewriting the rulebook on home ownership. His fintech platform enables buyers to secure a home with $10,000 upfront and make interest-free payments during construction—a model designed to break the deposit barrier and enable more Australians to step onto the property ladder.

A new approach to renting

At Snug.com, founder Justin Butterworth is redesigning the rental experience for more than 1.7 million users. His platform, used by thousands of agencies and operators, streamlines leasing and introduces flexible models like co-ownership and rent-to-own—offering new ways for Australians to access housing on their terms.

Planning for positive change

Natalie Rayment, co-founder of YIMBY QLD, is championing a planning system that supports density, inclusivity and smart growth. A trusted voice in statutory planning and expert witness work, Rayment is leading the charge to move the industry—and the public—from “Not in My Backyard” to “Yes in My Backyard”.