Spark Festival Tackles Housing Affordability

Housing policy has a tech problem. Is the sector that could fix it paying for it? Everyone agrees on housing. Build more, build faster — you'd struggle to find a politician or an industry body who'd say otherwise. Meanwhile, the search for answers on affordability has reached into capital gains treatment, and much of that has landed on the tech sector — the same sector we keep saying will help solve the problem. Can startups deliver on the promise – and is the new CGT regime cutting off our nose to spite our face? Three people join us who see this from different ends: the policy, the capital, and the building. We’ll put to them the tough questions – from political attitudes to investor appetite – and whether affordable housing in Australia is a realistic goal. When: 6-7pm Tuesday 22 September (doors at 5:30pm) Where: UTS Startups, corner of Harris St and Broadway Our panelists: Chen Rosen is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Reality PropTech, one of the world’s largest early-stage investment funds focused on the built environment. Chen brings an investor's and an operator's lens to the intersection of technology and real estate, having founded and exited several companies and held senior regional roles in global tech companies. His conviction is simple: solve a genuine need, prove the return quickly, and let the customer's outcome be the scoreboard. Andy Rampton is Field COO (International) at Procore Technologies, with 35 years in real estate and infrastructure across the UK, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. He spent 16 years at Lendlease, where he helped shape the Stratford City development that became the London 2012 Olympic Village, and later led the company's push into digital delivery and modern methods of construction. Most recently he was Director of Operations on The LINE at Neom in Saudi Arabia, building the operating model for what he describes as the world's biggest start-up. Kristy McSweeney has advised a Prime Minister, two Premiers and a succession of trade and industry ministers, alongside companies including Qantas, National Australia Bank, PwC and Deliveroo. Her expertise spans industrial relations, property, and trade and investment, and she has structured government trade missions to China, the USA and the UAE. She is a regular political analyst on Sky News and ABC News, and holds a Masters in Politics and Public Policy from Macquarie University. At Spark she'll make the case that housing politics has come at the expense of the sector best placed to help. Moderated by Harry Godber, CEO, Spark Foundation. And as with all Spark Festival events, this panel will be free of charge and open to all. Don't miss out – spaces are limited! Register now to secure your spot.