March 7, 2025

9AM - 5PM

Brisbane

ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum

Building on the success of The Sector’s popular Connect + model, the ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum will be the first in a new series of medium format events designed to inform and inspire attendees in an intimate, collegiate and non-corporate setting.

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.”

“It is important to understand that the ECEC Owners and Landlords Forum is not just another ‘mega conference’ designed and priced to benefit its hosts and exhibitors,” Jason Roberts, Founder of The Sector said.

“We have worked hard to identify the issues and aspirations that really matter to owners and landlords right now and intentionally selected panelists and moderators, who not only have clear track records and influence in the sector, but also are able to communicate their knowledge and experience effectively to the delegates who will attend to listen, learn and engage.”

“In addition, we have capped attendance at under 350 to maintain intimacy, priced early bird tickets below $300 to support accessibility and catered for extended Q&A sessions to maximise delegate interactions with our experts and ensure real value is received.”

Speakers

Paul Mondo

President, Australian Childcare Alliance

Stacey Fox

Associate Director, Dandolo Partners

Kate Robinson

Director, Savills

Carla Hayes

Deputy Fund Manager, Charter Hall

Mark Hamilton

Director, NAB

Lynda Salvo

Founder, Explorers Early Learning

Adrian Fonseca

Founder, Oxanda Education

Mark Evans

Founder, Edge Early Learning

Brendan McAssey

Founder, Only About Children

Partners

Adam Thomas

Director, Burgess Rawson

Sean Collins

Director, Collins Sacre Consulting

The Program

The program will be divided into four distinct segments each coordinated and delivered by ECEC specialists that really understand the right questions to ask at the right time and will be on hand to facilitate extended audience questions too.

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 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.

5. Networking drinks sponsored by The 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 and make new connections at this one of a kind ECEC sector experience.

About the Venue

Lightspace, 30 Light Street (corner Scanlan) Fortitude Valley Brisbane QLD 4006.

The entrance to the venue is via Scanlan Street, the entrance to the Studios is on Light Street. In the hub of Brisbane’s creative district, Lightspace is only a short scoot from the Valley, New Farm and the CBD. The easiest way to find Lightspace is to turn left at the Audi dealership across from The Emporium on Wickham St. This is Light St, which you should follow all the way to the end.

Outside of normal business hours there is usually plenty of free street parking available in Scanlan and Prospect Streets. During normal business hours there are metered and free street parks however it can be quite congested. The nearest parking stations are at the Homemaker Centre (4 mins walk- rates here) and the RNA Showgrounds (10 mins walk). As an inner city venue we highly recommend public transport, taxis or Uber.

Register now

Early bird tickets are on sale now. Limited seats are available so get in quick.