QStrata Conference Program
Resilient Strata: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Resilience in strata management goes beyond bricks and mortar – it starts with people, processes, and foresight. Today’s challenges, from building maintenance risks to staff turnover and leadership pressures, demand a proactive approach. This conference explores how prevention, strong team culture, and self-awareness can transform vulnerabilities into strengths. By investing in both physical and human resilience, strata professionals can create communities that are safe, sustainable, and future-ready.
Strata managers are at the intersection of compliance, community, and care. Preventing issues before they escalate—whether structural defects, staff burnout, or communication breakdowns – saves time, money, and stress. Resilience is not just about reacting to crises; it’s about building systems and mindsets that anticipate and adapt. This theme empowers professionals to lead with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
Join us to discover how prevention and resilience can redefine strata management. Together, we’ll explore practical solutions and leadership strategies that turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities – creating communities that thrive from the inside out.
Additional speakers and sessions will be confirmed over the coming months, so please keep an eye on this page for updates.
Wednesday 3 June 2026
4:00pm - 7:00pm - Registration Desk & Exhibition Hall Open
Delegates are invited to visit our Registration Desk at the entry to the Expo Hall between 4:00pm and 7:00pm to complete registration and collect a name badge
4:00pm - 7:00pm - Strata Connect Exhibition Networking
Kick off your conference experience at our very first QStrata gathering, held on the Wednesday before the official program begins. StrataConnect offers a warm and welcoming space to meet fellow delegates, reconnect with familiar faces, and start building new relationships. Wander through the lively exhibition hall, chat with exhibitors, and enjoy relaxed conversations with peers as you ease into the conference atmosphere. It’s the perfect social opener – informal, engaging, and designed to set the tone for the days ahead.
Date: Wednesday 3 June 2026
Time: 16:00 – 19:00
Location: Exhibition Hall, SeaWorld Conference Centre, Gold Coast
Dress code: Smart casual
Tickets: Social event tickets are included with full conference registrations, or can be purchased separately here
Thursday 4 June 2026
8:00am - 4:30pm - Registration Desk & Exhibition Hall Open
- Our Registration Desk is open from 8am to 4:30pm – drop by and collect your name badge
- Tea & Coffee will be available in the Exhibition Hall from 8:30am
9:00am - Welcome Address & Official Opening
- Official proceedings begin at 9am
Presenters:
- Richard Champion, Conference MC
- George Salloum, SCAQ Board President
- Laura Bos, SCAQ General Manager
9:30am - The Commissioners Update
10:00am - Keynote Presentation: Kirsten Petersen - The Most Important Relationship High Performers Have
“The Most Important Relationship High Performers Have”
Presenter: Dr Kirsten Petersen
Dr. Kirsten Peterson will explore the counter-intuitive idea that how we relate to ourselves – especially under pressure, after mistakes, or when performance matters most – may be one of the strongest predictors of resilience, sustained performance, and effective leadership. Through compelling stories, scientific insights, and practical reflection, participants examine the cultural conditioning that drives harsh self-judgment and why it often undermines the very performance it is meant to fuel. They will also learn about the science of self-compassion and its role in emotional regulation, learning from setbacks, and maintaining the psychological safety required for high performance.
Presentation sponsored by:
11:00am - Morning Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall
- Join our sponsors and exhibitors for morning tea in the Exhibition Hall
11:30am - Workshop Streams 1 & 2 - People & Performance / Resilient Strata Communities
Workshop 1 – People & Performance
“Turning Insight into practice”
Presenter: Dr Kirsten Peterson
This interactive follow-up session moves from insight to application. Building on the concepts introduced in the keynote, participants explore what self-compassion looks like in real professional contexts: after a mistake, during periods of high pressure, or when confronting self-doubt and perfectionism.
Through guided reflection, paired discussion, and simple evidence-based practices, participants will learn practical tools for identifying and shifting their internal dialogue from self-judgment toward more constructive accountability. Exercises include awareness practices to recognize self-critical patterns, structured reflection questions used by high performers to reset their mental state, and self-compassion practices that support recovery, perspective, and clearer decision-making.
Participants will leave with a set of immediately usable strategies they can apply in demanding moments – both for themselves and in their leadership of others. The goal is not to remove standards or effort, but to develop a more effective internal environment for performance: one that allows people to recover faster from setbacks, learn more quickly, and sustain excellence over time.
Workshop 2 – Resilient Strata Communities
Beyond the Premium: What insurers are really telling us about strata risk
Why do some strata buildings continue to attract strong insurer interest, stable terms and better outcomes, while others face rising premiums, tighter conditions and shrinking market appetite?
This panel explores the less visible side of strata insurance: the risk signals a building sends over time. From claims history and maintenance culture to committee decision-making, documentation and renewal readiness, the discussion will unpack what drives insurer confidence and what quietly erodes it.
Designed for strata managers, this session will focus on the practical steps that can strengthen a building’s insurability and resilience, long before renewal becomes a crisis.
Panellists:
- Chris Frazer – BCB
- David Ellis – SCI
- Jarad Maher – Grace
- Duncan Lee – Pinnacle Strata
- Haroon Baria – BCB
12:30pm - Lunch & Networking in the Exhibition Hall
- Join our sponsors and exhibitors for lunch in the Exhibition Hall
1:30pm - Panel Session: Strata at the Crossroads: Regulation, reform and the race to stay ahead
Panel Session 1 – Strata at the Crossroads: Regulation, reform and the race to stay ahead
The strata sector is entering a defining period of change. Regulatory scrutiny is rising, digital transformation is reshaping service expectations, capability pressures are testing the workforce, and industry growth is creating both opportunity and strain. This leadership-focused panel will explore the forces reshaping the sector and what they mean for the businesses, professionals and decision-makers expected to lead through them. Practical, strategic and future-focused, this session asks a critical question: is strata ready for what comes next?
Panellists:
- Laura Bos, SCAQ
- George Salloum, The Community Co
Other speakers to be added as they are confirmed
2:15pm - Panel Session: Beyond the Hype: What AI will really change in strata
Panel Session 2 – Beyond the Hype: What AI will really change in strata
AI is generating excitement, anxiety and plenty of noise, but what will it actually change in the day-to-day reality of strata? This panel moves beyond buzzwords to explore where digital tools can genuinely improve service, streamline workflows and support better decisions, and where human judgement, trust and accountability remain essential. A practical discussion for leaders and professionals navigating the next phase of work in strata.
Panellists:
- Alex McCormack – SOCM
- Andrew Roland – Urbanise
- Daniel Borin – Stratamax
- Duncan Lee – Pinnacle
- Tom Robinson – Tallay
3:00pm - 3:30pm - Afternoon Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall
- Join our sponsors and exhibitors for afternoon tea in the Exhibition Hall
3:30pm - Strata Spotlight: Big ideas in two minutes flat
Strata Spotlight: Big ideas in two minutes flat
A rapid-fire, high-energy showcase where selected exhibitors have just two minutes to present a solution, spark interest and stand out from the crowd. Fun, fast and packed with practical ideas, this interactive session helps delegates quickly discover products and services worth exploring further. Better still, attendees in the room will have the chance to win a fantastic prize, making this a must-see session on the conference program.
Hosted by Eric Bailey, NLR
4:30pm - End of Day 1 Presentations
5:00pm - 8:30pm - Strata Social Networking, The Boatshed, Seaworld Resort
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the StrataSocial Networking event, sponsored by PPG / Taubmans and hosted at the stunning Boatshed at Sea World Resort.Time: 17:00 – 20:30
Location: The Boatshed, SeaWorld Resort Gold Coast
Dress Code: Nautical‑inspired smart casual – think coastal colours, crisp whites, navy tones, and relaxed resort style
Sponsored by:
Friday 5 June 2026
7:55am - 8:45am - Seaworld Shark Bay Tour
8:30am - 2:00pm - Registration Desk & Exhibition Hall open
- Our Registration Desk is open from 8am to 2:00pm – drop by and collect your name badge
- Tea & Coffee will be available in the Exhibition Hall from 8:30am
9:00am - The Hon Deb Frecklington MP - Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Hon Deb Frecklington MP
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
Minister for Integrity
9:30am - Keynote Presentation: John Hale - Strategic Thinking Under Pressure: Making Better Decisions When It Counts
“Strategic Thinking Under Pressure: Making Better Decisions When It Counts”
Presenter: John Hale
Turning pressure and complexity into strategic advantage. Strata professionals operate in uniquely demanding environments: limited resources, heightened visibility, strong community relationships, volunteer committees and ageing assets, often all at once.
Strategic Resilience reframes resilience not as coping or endurance, but as a strategic capability: the ability to slow situations down, see what really matters, create options and guide others toward better decisions.
10:30am - Morning Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall
- Join our sponsors and exhibitors for morning tea in the Exhibition Hall
11:00am - Workshop Streams 3 & 4 - People & Performance / Resilient Strata Communities
Workshop 3 – People & Performance
“Negotiation Skills”
Presenter: John Hale
This breakout explores resilience through the lens of negotiation. Delegates learn how to navigate difficult conversations, competing positions and strong personalities. The session focuses on practical, real-world skills in negotiation.
Workshop 4 – Resilient Strata Communities
“Working positively in a changing environment”
Presenter: Scott Henderson
Change can be managed well – even in complex, high-pressure environments like strata. There are practical, evidence-based strategies that help individuals recognise their own reactions to change and respond more constructively. By applying the right tools, teams can navigate change more effectively, maintain professionalism under pressure, and approach the year ahead with renewed focus, resilience and purpose — even when the pace of change shows no sign of slowing.
12:00pm - Workshop Streams 5 & 6 - People & Performance / Resilient Strata Communities
Workshop 5 – People & Performance
“Managing Customer Expectations”
Presenter: Scott Henderson
In this session delegates will come away with a clear understanding of managing customerexpectations to avoid or minimize conflict, and how to manage things when conflict is inevitable.
Workshop 6 – Resilient Strata Communities
“Last Rites: The Dilemma of the Ageing Building”
Ageing buildings are no longer a future problem, they are a live operational challenge for many schemes right now. Leaks, concrete cancer, waterproofing failure, structural deterioration, outdated services and deferred maintenance are placing increasing pressure on committees, owners and strata managers alike.
So, what happens when a building starts to fail, but the body corporate is not ready to act? Last Rites: The Dilemma of the Ageing Building is a practical panel designed to help strata managers navigate the difficult middle ground between knowing there is a problem and getting a building onto the path to repair. Covering diagnosis, expert advice, scope development, funding, committee decision-making, contracts, access issues and disputes, this session will focus on the real-world judgement calls managers face every day.
Panellists:
- Dakota Panetta – SCI
- Adam Husband – Aperi
- Jess Cannon – Chambers Russell
- Richard Claus – Lannock Finance
1:00pm - Lunch & Networking in the Exhibition Hall
- Join our sponsors and exhibitors for lunch in the Exhibition Hall
2:00pm - The Great Debate - The Carrot or the Stick?
The Great Debate: The Carrot or the Stick?
Some of strata’s sharpest minds, and certainly some of its loudest voices, are back to tackle a classic dilemma: when it comes to lifting standards and changing behaviour, what works best, encouragement or consequences?
US President Theodore Roosevelt famously described his approach to diplomacy as: “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Others would argue the better path lies in the old wisdom that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
This year, our debate teams will test those competing philosophies against the realities of strata living and management.
When it comes to the issues that shape behaviour in communities, what really gets results? Is it the promise of a discount for prompt levy payment, or the threat of penalty interest on arrears? Can occupiers be persuaded into voluntary compliance with by-laws through a sense of shared responsibility and community harmony, or do bodies corporate need sharper enforcement tools to deal with persistent non-compliance?
Expect strong views, spirited exchanges and the kind of smart, entertaining clash of ideas that makes this session a perennial favourite. There will be substance, there may be sparks, and there will almost certainly be a few memorable lines along the way.
3:15pm - End of Presentations & Conference Close
6:00pm - 11:00pm - Queensland Strata Community Macquarie Bank Awards for Excellence
Venue: The Plaza, Sea World Theme Park, Gold Coast
Time: 6pm to 11pm
Dress Code: Black tie with a ‘touch of the deep blue’ (think Atlantis…King Neptune…Mermaid Masquerade…Penguin suits….the world is your oyster!)
Sponsoredby:
Please note:
- All times in the program are AEST and subject to change at any time.
- The speakers and topics listed on this program are subject to change.
- Check this page regularly for updates and information as it becomes available.
