Retiring Stockland CEO Mark Steinert – who has over three decades of property and investment experience – will share his perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the Sunshine Coast at a Sunshine Coast Business Council (SCBC) lunch with over 140 guests on Friday at Maroochy RSL.

With the Sunshine Coast and other regions seeing a surge in people exiting the cities and relocating to regions, SCBC guests will hear Mr Steinert’s observations on the challenges and opportunities this growth presents, prior to his retirement from Stockland next month.

SCBC Chair Sandy Zubrinich said she was delighted Mr Steinert would again speak at a Business Council function sharing his extensive experience — not only in heading up Australia’s largest diversified property group with a 30-year presence on the Sunshine Coast, but also given his roles internationally prior to joining Stockland in 2013.

“Mr Steinert is uniquely positioned to share his observations on the changing face of regional Australia and the current trajectory of the Sunshine Coast, highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities for policy makers in a post-COVID world,” Ms Zubrinich said.

“Home buyers and investors obviously recognise the potential of the Sunshine Coast, providing a great lifestyle and economic opportunities; however the challenge we’re facing now is to how to accommodate an expanding population in a sustainable way which demands more attracting more investment in affordable housing, regional transport and communications infrastructure, social, health and education infrastructure and a skilled workforce.

“Australian capital cities had the largest quarterly net loss on record[1] for the September 2020 quarter, demonstrating the rise of the regions.

“Sunshine Coast is expected to welcome an additional 160,000 people by 2041[2], and while federal and state governments have made inroads in recognising the power of the regional economy, there is critical private sector infrastructure needed to really harness the potential and to accommodate the growth.”

Mr Steinert said Stockland had experienced the growth of the Sunshine Coast first-hand with Aura being the fastest selling community nationally for the past four to five years and is almost ten years ahead of schedule from when it was launched in 2015.

“As one of Australia’s largest diversified property groups, we are proud of our track record as a global sustainability leader and of our portfolio of quality, property assets in great locations like the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Steinert said.

“We have been investing in the Sunshine Coast for more than 20 years and regional Australia brings its challenges and its rewards.  We work closely with the three tiers of government to ensure Stockland developments are sustainable and meet the expectations of the community.

“As one of the Sunshine Coast’s largest investors we know what attracts our customers to the area: clear and transparent policy settings that provide investment certainty for a publicly listed business like Stockland; location and connectivity into South East Queensland; and quality of life – decades of Stockland research tells us that customers want and value outdoor living, the beauty of the coast and space, ultimately driving a better way to live.”

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-internal-migration-estimates-provisional/latest-release

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Experience-Sunshine-Coast/Statistics-and-Maps/Population-Forecast

The Sunshine Coast Business Council lunch with Stockland CEO Mark Steinert is a sold-out ticketed event and starts from 12:00pm at Maroochy RSL on Friday 7 May.

For more information on the Sunshine Coast Business Council and membership enquiries, visit www.scbusinesscouncil.com.au.

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Media contact:  Maya Gurry, Fresh PR & Marketing  0410 109 102    maya@freshprm.com.au

About the Sunshine Coast Business Council

The Sunshine Coast Business Council is the leading regional business advocacy group on the Sunshine Coast. It represents approximately 4,000 businesses through its membership, which includes key national and regional industry groups and their members as well as national and regional businesses.

About Mark Steinert (BAppSc, G Dip App Fin & Inv (Sec Inst), F Fin, AAPI, MAICD)

Mark Steinert was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Stockland in January 2013.  He has 33 years’ experience in property and financial services with companies such as Jones Lang LaSalle and UBS, a $559 billion Global Fund Manager in New York, where he held positions such as Head of Australasian Equities, Global Head of Real Estate Research, Global Head of Research and Global Head of Product Development and Management for Global Asset Management.  Mark is the immediate past President and current Director of the Property Council of Australia, and served as a Director of the Green Building Council of Australia until 30 June 2016.

Download Mark Steinert SC Speech Final