Experts on the business of ageing
Explore two days of strategic insight from Australia’s most influential leaders shaping retirement living, aged care and home care. The 2026 Leaders Summit program focuses on Transformation, Five Year Horizon Reset. All sessions examine workforce, capital, regulation, technology and care delivery, with CEOs and senior executives sharing how they are resetting strategy now to remain viable through to 2030
8:30am | WELCOME
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Christopher Baynes CEO DCM Group |
8:35am | RETIREMENT LIVING AND AGED CARE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE STRATEGIC REVIEW
A bold discussion and critical review of where each sector is today and likely to be tomorrow – the markets, the economic and structural challenges, the emerging products and services, an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses of each business model, and a vision for the sectors through to 2030.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Christopher Baynes CEO DCM Group |
9:15am | VILLAGES AND AGED CARE ARE DECADES OLD BUSINESS MODELS. ALL CHANGES WITHIN 5 YEARS
Care as we know it and where it is delivered will be unfundable within five years. Every business needs to re-engineer. St. Vincent’s is building industrial-scale virtual care designed to sit across hospitals, villages, homes and aged care, with 24/7 remote monitoring of medical-grade wearables, AI-assisted triage, and logistics-style coordination.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care, Home Health
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Chris Blake CEO St. Vincent’s Health Australia |
9:45am | VIDEO: THE TRANSFORMATION PATH
The Government response to ageing demographics, housing construction challenges and increasing demands on Government funding.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Sam Rae Minister for Ageing and Seniors Australian Government |
9:55am | PLAN T: TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE
Announcing the sector initiative to proactively identify productivity efficiencies within the village and aged care systems for presentation to government, plus a vision for a community wide engagement program over the next five years.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Grant Corderoy Senior Partner StewartBrown |
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Tim Hicks Executive General Manager – Policy & External Relations Bolton Clarke |
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James Wiltshire Executive Director DCM Group |
10:20am | NETWORKING BARISTA COFFEE BREAK ☕︎☕︎☕︎
60 MINUTES WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES
Barista coffee and premium patisseries.
Coffee brought to you by: |
11:20am | REVIEWING THE RETIREMENT VILLAGE BUSINESS MODEL, WHY THE ESCALATING VALUATIONS AND WHY GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ENGAGE
The 2025 sale of Aveo achieved an unprecedented price. How was that achieved and what is the future business model and landscape that all operators need to understand. What is the role of Government and why.
Retirement Living
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Tony Randello CEO Aveo President Retirement Living Council |
11:45am | A SIGNIFICANT PRESENTATION: AUSTRALIA ENTERING 10 YEARS OF MACRO AND MICRO DISRUPTION AND UNCERTAINTY
Former Undersecretary to the Commonwealth Treasury, former Chief Economist and Head of Economic Policy – Prime Minister’s Office and G20 advisor, Luke will explain the forward position of Government and its future impact on ageing support, plus the four dominant macro themes that will dictate Australian life over the next five to ten years.
The Economy
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Luke Yeaman Chief Economist & Exec. GM for Global Economics & Market Research Commonwealth Bank |
12:10pm | WILL AI DELIVER THE PRODUCTIVITY IN WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT BABY BOOMERS AT HOME?
The Government strategy is for ageing Australians to stay at home or in villages to end of life, increasing the workforce requirement by 40%+ within the next three years. Will AI generate the efficiency and release workforce to absorb this 40%+ growth requirement?
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Aged Care, Workforce & AI
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Will Egan CEO Ausmed |
12:30pm | 60 MINUTE SEATED LUNCH WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES 🍴🥄🍴🥄🍴🥄
Premium luncheon in the Sailmaker Restaurant.
1:30pm | RETIREMENT LIVING BREAKOUT 1 - CAPITAL STRATEGIES FOR 25 YEAR OLD VILLAGES AND AGED CARE HOMES
Refresh or repurpose ageing units, beds and infrastructure are obvious strategies in times of strong demand and little new development opportunity. But what are the key considerations to commit the capital?
Retirement Living
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Laurie Boxwell Group Executive, Seniors Communities Anglicare |
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Mark Eagleston Head of Retirement Living Performance Calvary Health Care |
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Jolyon Good OAM CEO Good Constructions |
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Chona Navarro Head of Capital Works Uniting NSW.ACT |
1:30pm | AGED CARE BREAKOUT 1 - SINK OR SWIM – THRIVING IN THE RIP TIDE OF SUPPORT AT HOME
The panel will focus on the immediate future of the Home Care business model, analysing provider strategies for business sustainability, then growth in the five months since the commencement of the Support at Home program.
Aged Care
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Cynthia Payne Founder & MD Anchor Excellence |
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Geoff Hogg CEO Dovida |
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Danielle Ballantine CEO Your Side |
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Lynda Chalmers CEO Care Connect |
2:10pm | RETIREMENT LIVING BREAKOUT 2 - WHAT ARE THE TECH STRATEGIES AND INFRASTUCTURE TO CONSIDER BY VILLAGE OPERATORS TO SUPPORT CARE IN VILLAGE HOMES
With the inevitable growth of frail residents residing in village homes to late life, operators face the challenges and risks of delivery across large village campuses, 24/7 coverage and increased staff levels and ratios. What are the solutions?
Aged Care
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Adam Jahnke CEO Umps |
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Josh Byers Director Customer and Transformation Bupa Villages & Aged Care – NZ |
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Chris Minchin General Manager Community Living Curtin Heritage Living |
2:10pm | AGED CARE BREAKOUT 2 - RISK CULTURE IN AGED CARE: HOW DO YOU MEASURE IT (AND IMPROVE IT)?
Intentions and systems on their own don’t ensure risk is covered – it requires a culture of risk responsibility, but this is not an easy objective. The panel will review how to build staff confidence to report issues, leading Vs lagging risk indicators, board engagement and boardroom culture.
Aged Care
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David Tattam Co-Founder Protecht |
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Sylvia Hadjiantoniou CEO Pronia Care |
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Peter Williams CEO One Care |
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Lorraine Poulos Managing Director Lorraine Poulos & Associates |
2:50pm | AGED CARE BREAKOUT 3 - RECLAIMING THE TIME TO CARE; HOW AI CAN CUT COSTS AND FREE STAFF TO FOCUS ON CLIENTS
This panel will explore practical, near-term use cases for AI in aged care. Learn what it takes to move from pilots to measurable impact, while keeping clients, families, and staff at the centre.
Aged Care
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Annette Hili Managing Director Aust. & NZ AlayaCare |
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Sarah Newman COO Home Care BaptistCare |
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Andrew Dome Chief Digital Information Officer Uniting NSW & ACT |
2:50pm | AGED CARE BREAKOUT 4 - WHAT IF YOU COULD REIGNITE THE FORCE BEHIND YOUR WORKFORCE?
Your workforce is 70%+ of your operating costs, the front line of your service offering and your biggest risk. It deserves a strategic ambition. The panel will review strategies to optimise workforce cost, performance and stability, backed by global case studies.
Aged Care
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Esther Monks Industry Advisor: Healthcare, Public Sector Workday |
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Yvette McDonald Chief People and Customer Officer Anglicare Sydney |
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Shan Moorthy Chief Technology Officer Workday Asia Pacific |
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Shannon Richards Group Executive People & Culture UnitingCare Queensland |
3:30pm | NETWORKING BARISTA COFFEE BREAK ☕︎☕︎☕︎
60 MINUTES WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES
Barista coffee and premium patisseries.
| Coffee brought to you by:
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4:30pm | IGNORE THE BUSH AT YOUR PERIL – A MESSAGE FOR PEAK BODIES AND GOVERNMENT
The impact of Australia’s ageing is felt first in the regions, where the population (and workforce) is older to start with. If ignored, these issues will reach the city bigger, gnarlier and harder to solve. The regional message is clear – our sector can and must do better, but we need to make our regional voice heard much more effectively.
Regional Villages and Care
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Duncan McKimm CEO Clarence Village |
4:50pm | THE PEAK BODY’S ASSESSMENT OF THE CARE AND SUPPORT LANDSCAPE FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS
The new Act is in place and for the first time in seven years the care sector has a high degree of future certainty. Is it a good future?
Ageing of Australia
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Tom Symondson CEO Ageing Australia |
5:05pm | DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY: WHERE IS THE FUTURE SENIORS HOUSING?
An assessment of the next five years in new housing for seniors and what existing villages will look like in five years given the changing resident makeup.
Housing for Seniors
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Daniel Gannon Executive Director Retirement Living Council |
5:20pm | CLOSE FOR DAY
Operator dinners
8:30am | FROM REFORM TO REALITY: ARE THE NEW AGED CARE SETTINGS DELIVERING FAIRNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY?
With the new Aged Care Act now in place and Support at Home underway, the sector has moved from reform design to real-world impact. Tracey Burton will reflect on what we are already seeing under the new funding and contribution settings, and whether they are delivering fairness and sustainability across aged care, especially for older people with limited means.
Retirement Living, Aged Care
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Tracey Burton Chief Executive Uniting NSW.ACT |
9:00am | AMPLAR HEALTH HAS REIMAGINED TRADITIONAL MODELS OF HEALTH TO PERSONALISED ON-DEMAND HEALTH SUPPORT AND DELIVERY, INCLUDING VILLAGE AND AGED CARE HOMES.
Medibank’s healthcare arm, Amplar Health has a ten year lead in the acceleration of the health transition from traditional health models to personalised on-demand treatment in the home, and virtually. Amplar Health is also investing heavily in proactive, preventative care models.
Retirement Living, Home Health, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Robert Read CEO Amplar Health |
9:25am | UPSTREAM OR OVERWHELMED: RE-WIRING THE AGED CARE BUDGET - NOT BEDS – FOR REAL REFORM
Australia’s reform agenda promises a rights‑based system where older people live with dignity, kindness and self‑determination – but long waits and brittle settings can push people into crisis. Transformation needs to be both fiscal and structural: reward prevention and timely support at home, keeping people independent and preventing decline, is key.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Natalie Siegel-Brown Inspector General of Aged Care Australian Government |
9:55am | DO VILLAGE AND CARE OPERATORS HAVE A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL?
No other sector has the experience and IP in supporting ageing Australians. In the face of extraordinary demands on existing resources that will leave many unsupported, should the sector step up with wellness and prevention strategies plus address loneliness at a local level?
Wellness
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Josh McFarlane CEO Catholic Healthcare |
10:20am | NETWORKING BARISTA COFFEE BREAK ☕︎☕︎☕︎
60 MINUTES WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES
Barista coffee and premium patisseries.
Coffee brought to you by: |
11:20am | THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE ACROSS AUSTRALIA FOR RETIREMENT LIVING, SUPPORT AT HOME AND RESIDENTIAL CARE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY AND LOOKING FORWARD
The complexity and obligations continue to grow for all sectors, but what are the core components every executive needs to understand. As business models are being forced to pivot with demand/supply/funding pressures, what are the legal implications for operators.
Retirement Living, Support at Home, Residential Care
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Penelope Eden Partner MinterEllison |
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Tammy Berghofer Partner MinterEllison |
12:00pm | THE NEXT DECADE OF DEMENTIA CARE WILL HAPPEN AT HOME. ARE WE READY?
More people at home. More complex needs. Less money. We must think differently
Transformation In Dementia
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Andrew Thorburn CEO HammondCare |
12:20pm | FUNDING RETIREMENT LIVING AND AGED CARE TODAY. OPTIMISM AND NEW THINKING IS CREATING NEW SOLUTIONS
Even small Not For Profits are now strategising $100M retirement living and aged care projects, while consolidation strategies are real for both private and Not For Profit operators, requiring transaction finance and reinvestment capital. What is the landscape to secure funds and what do you need to know.
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Jane Thomson General Manager Major Client Group NSW Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
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Jeremy Dawson General Manager Major Client Group and Commercial Banking Risk Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
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Andrew Thorburn CEO HammondCare |
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Mark Fay CEO IPLiving |
12:40pm | NETWORKING SEATED RESTAURANT LUNCH 🍴🥄🍴🥄🍴🥄
50 MINUTE SEATED LUNCH WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES
Premium luncheon in the Sailmaker Restaurant.
1:30pm | AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SUPPORT AT HOME IS ACTUALLY PLAYING OUT IN THE FIELD AND LESSONS FROM ROLLING OUT HOSPITAL IN THE HOME
Not to be missed. With Support at Home now five months in action, what are the learnings and is the future now clear. Plus learn from Vitalis what it takes for home care providers to ‘muscle up’ to deliver true health support in the home.
Support at Home, Hospital in the Home
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Jennene Buckley Founding Partner Enkindle |
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Voni Leighton Co Founder and Clinical Director Vitalis Healthcare at Home |
2:00pm | TWO VERY GOOD INITIATIVES – ONE FOR RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE AND ONE FOR RETIREMENT VILLAGE OPERATORS
A good news story: David will introduce a genuine ‘wellness’ program for residential aged care homes. Another good news story; Stuart will reveal the advanced StewartBrown Retirement Village survey dashboard that will positively impact village pricing and sales.
Retirement Living, Aged Care
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David Cochran CEO Harbison |
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Stuart Hutcheon Managing Partner StewartBrown |
2:30pm | NETWORKING BARISTA COFFEE BREAK ☕︎☕︎☕︎
30 MINUTES WITH 550+ COLLEAGUES
Barista coffee and premium patisseries.
| Coffee brought to you by: |
3:00pm | WALKING, NOT TALKING. DCM’s NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO CHANGE THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON AGEING, ONE SUBURB AT A TIME
After reporting on the leading operators in the retirement living and aged care sector for 20 years, DCM has summarised the key challenges and needs looking forward and established a unique business model, to be launched in Q4, and revealed at the SUMMIT.
DCM Group investing in the future
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Chris Baynes CEO DCM Group |
3:30pm | CLOSE
