Meet the Developers Shaping the Outlook for 2026
The Urban Developer’s 2026 Developer Outlook Lunch Series presented by Cotality will return to Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in February, bringing together senior private developers to share how they are positioning capital, managing risk and identifying opportunity in the year ahead.
With Brisbane now almost sold out and tickets moving quickly in Melbourne and Sydney, the series continues to attract strong demand from C-suite leaders looking for grounded, real-world insight from those actively delivering projects on the ground.
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Meet the panelists shaping the 2026 outlook
Across three cities, this year’s series brings together developers operating across residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use markets—each navigating feasibility pressures, capital constraints and delivery risk in different ways.
Melbourne | Thursday, February 12
Ben Turner | Founder & Managing Director, Henny
Turner (pictured centre) founded commercial building group Henny in 2018, after a career delivering major projects in Melbourne and internationally. With a focus on craftsmanship and quality-led delivery, Turner also serves as a director of Prime Edition, developing luxury residential projects across the city.
Blanco Norton | Director, Wickton
Norton (pictured right) brings more than a decade of experience across client, consultant and contractor roles. As director at Wickton, he leads complex, multi-stakeholder developments, combining his background as a quantity surveyor and development director to deliver end-to-end projects with precision and commercial discipline.
Marco Gattino | Founder & Director, Goldfields
With 24 years in development, Gattino (pictured left) founded Goldfields in 2010 after co-leading Asset1. A former solicitor, he has been involved in landmark projects including Melbourne’s World Trade Centre. Goldfields has since grown to become one of Australia’s leading private development groups.
Brisbane | Thursday, February 19
Christie Leet | Founder, Sherpa Group
Leet (pictured left) is the founder of Sherpa Group, delivering community-focused developments across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. With experience spanning senior real estate leadership roles and award-winning Whitsundays projects, Leet has grown Sherpa into a business with a $1-billion development pipeline.
Alex Levy | Development Director, Traders In Purple
Levy (pictured) has more than 25 years’ experience across public and private sectors, guiding projects from acquisition through to delivery. At Traders In Purple, she brings deep local market knowledge and a collaborative leadership style to large-scale residential and mixed-use developments.
Julian Simmonds | CEO, Economic Development Queensland
A former Brisbane City Councillor, Simmonds (second from left) has chaired planning, finance and transport portfolios and led major private-sector projects. As Economic Development Queensland chief executive, his focus is on accelerating housing delivery and unlocking new development opportunities across Queensland.
Michael McNab | Executive Chairman & Founder, McNab Group
McNab (pictured right) founded McNab Group more than 30 years ago and has grown it into one of Queensland’s largest privately owned construction and development businesses. The vertically integrated group employs more than 700 people and delivers more than $1 billion in annual turnover.
Sydney | Thursday, February 26
Pierre Sleiman | Founder & Managing Director, P&N Sleiman Group
With more than three decades’ experience, Sleiman (pictured right) is known for delivering complex strata amalgamations and city-shaping precincts across Sydney. As founder of P&N Sleiman Group, he has overseen more than 20 landmark developments across metropolitan markets.
Ben Finger | Managing Director, Haben
Finger (pictured left) co-founded Haben in 2009 and now leads the business as managing director. With more than 20 years’ experience across investment, development and asset management, he oversees a $3-billion retail portfolio across Australia.
Jessica Kelley | Development Director, TOGA
Kelley (pictured) is development director at TOGA, one of Australia’s leading privately owned developers, builders and hoteliers. With experience across the UK and Australia, she brings deep expertise in urban regeneration, masterplanned communities and large-scale mixed-use projects.
Each lunch will also feature a keynote address from leading urban economist Terry Rawnsley (KPMG), followed by an interactive audience Q&A, grounding the panel discussion in the economic, policy and market forces shaping 2026.
With Brisbane almost at capacity and strong demand across Melbourne and Sydney, early booking is recommended for those looking to hear directly from developers shaping the next phase of Australia’s property cycle.
