The Sector launches new boutique event for ECEC business owners and landlords

The Sector has confirmed that its inaugural event under the Connect+ series will be an ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum designed specifically for current and aspiring early childhood education and care (ECEC) owners and operators as well as those involved in the real estate side of the sector too. 

We are thrilled to be able to launch this important new event for ECEC owners and landlords,” Jason Roberts, Founder of The Sector said.

“We have known for some time that there is real demand from owners and landlords to attend and participate in intimate, non corporate, value focused events that really speak to their interests, concerns and aspirations, and allow them to guide narratives and discussions too.” 

The ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum will offer business owners and landlords the opportunity to engage with leading subject matter experts and proven, high profile leaders in the ECEC policy, real estate and ownership space via carefully curated, moderator-led panel discussions combined with extended delegate-led Q&A.

“Pathways to Success – Realising Ambitions in an Increasingly Uncertain World” 

To be held in Brisbane, Queensland on 7 March 2025, the event will see ECEC subject matter experts and leaders, supported by our partners Burgess Rawson and CollinSacre, convene to discuss a range of topics positioned around the central theme of “Pathways to Success – Realising Ambitions in an Increasingly Uncertain ECEC World.”

“Our Connect+ Forums are intentionally designed to speak to community needs of the moment, and with so many policy and operating cross currents impacting the sector right now we felt that bringing together leaders who can share their journeys of success, despite adversity, would be incredibly valuable for delegates,” Mr Roberts said. 

The ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum will consist of the following segments:

1. The ECEC Policy Environment – Understanding the past, and preparing for the future

Jason Roberts, Founder of The Sector will be joined on stage by accomplished and influential president of the Australian Childcare Association, Paul Mondo, and respected and experienced policy analyst and researcher and Dandolo Partner associate Director Stacey Fox who will be tasked with unpacking the rapidly changing policy set up in the ECEC sector, and the inevitable volley of ECEC promises from political parties as the election approaches. 

2. Real Estate in ECEC – Unpacking freehold ownership in ECEC

Despite a period of relentless interest rate hikes, interest in ECEC real estate remains as strong fundamentals outweigh cost of funding concerns. But what happens next? And how can current and aspiring landlords stay one step ahead of macro trends? 

To unpack these important questions Adam Thomas, senior director at Burgess Rawson will be joined on stage by Kate Robinson, Director at Savills, Carla Hayes, Deputy Fund Manager at Charter Hall and Mark Hamilton, Director of Early Education at NAB. 

3. Business Ownership in ECEC – Development, Operations & Scaling Insights

Owning and operating an ECEC business is never easy but is always rewarding. For this panel, Sean Collins, co-founder of Eden Academy, and principal at Collins Sacre Consulting, has pulled together a second to none all star panel of proven ECEC leaders to share their experience of developing, operating and scaling, during their extensive careers. 

The panel consists of Lynda Salvo, Founder and CEO of Explorers Early Learning, Adrian Fonseca, Founder and MD of Oxanda Education and Mark Evans, Founder of the entity that became Edge Early Learning.  

4. A fireside chat with an ECEC legend – Brendan McAssey, Founder, Only About Children

In the final session of the day Mr Collins will sit down with ECEC sector visionary Brendan McAssey, the pioneer of super premium, campus style early learning and founder of Only About Children for a no holes barred discussion about what it takes to succeed in the early learning sector. 

To round off the day, networking drinks will be hosted by The Sector team to allow all delegates to relax and connect, unpacking key learnings from this one of a kind ECEC sector experience. 

“The interactive component to all Connect+ Forums will be a key differentiator to other events in the sector,” Mr Roberts said.

“We feel it is extremely important that our delegates have a voice and are able to seek answers to questions they may have in this space, as well as to influence where narratives go and we look forward to the ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum becoming a permanent fixture of the annual ECEC event calendar.”

To find out more about the Owners and Landlords Forum click here. 

To register click here or contact Anna Boshell via email at [email protected] for more information.