BGSOBA Professional Networking - Real Estate 2025

The Brisbane Grammar School Old Boys' Association cordially invites you to its Real Estate Networking Evening on Thursday, 18 September 2025 at CBRE, Level 3, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane.

Join us for an engaging evening designed for agents (both current and prospective) in the commercial and residential fields. The evening will provide Old Boys with an opportunity to expand their network, strengthen industry relationships, discover new opportunities and gain insights into the real estate market.

Distinguished Old Boys and leaders of the industry Chris Butters '00 (CBRE), David Higgins '79 (Colliers) and Nicholas Given '98 (Ray White) will share their experiences and perspectives on their real estate careers to date, and provide advice to Old Boys on how they can best position themselves in this competitive profession.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session and networking, offering attendees the chance to engage directly with the panellists and fellow Old Boys.

Panel

David Higgins ‘79, Nicholas Given ‘98, Chris Butters ‘00

Tickets

Young Old Boys (2018-2024): $20 + booking fee
General Tickets: $30 + booking fee

Panellist Profiles

David Higgins '79

David's residential real estate experience has always focused on the sales and marketing of multi-residential projects.

David’s direct residential project marketing experience has resulted in gross sales of over $2.9b across 4,000 individual product sales. 

As Director, Residential Projects and with over 30 years’ experience in the development industry, David thrives on delivering successful residential projects in partnership with his clients as a Director at Colliers.

Currently, David is exclusively appointed for the sales and marketing of well over $1.5b worth of residential projects on the Gold Coast, which Includes V&A Broadbeach ($1.2b) on behalf of IRIS Capital, Harbour Shores Biggera Waters (Stage One $150m) developed by Lewis Land and Stage One of Kings Forest Master Planned Estate at Kingscliffe (appointed by LEDA Holdings).  

David’s prior appointments include the successful sales and marketing of projects such as Northcliffe Residences, Edgewater Waterfront Villas, Cerulean Apartments, and Village Palm Beach.

Beyond the Gold Coast, David has made significant contributions to Brisbane's property landscape, having spearheaded the sales and settlement of three the exclusive Woolstore apartments Dakota, Ansonia and Saratoga in Teneriffe and exclusively sold a further 25+ projects across Brisbane.

David is a BGS Old Boy ’79.

Nicholas Given '98

Nicholas Given is the Principal of Ray White Clayfield.

Nicholas is one of Brisbane’s most respected Real Estate Agents & Selling Principals, with over 14 years’ experience selling in the inner-city suburbs.

Nicholas is an REIQ Finalist and has gone on to achieve Alan White 'Elite' sales status for The Ray White Group an incredible seven times (Top 3% of all Ray White agents).

Nicholas has also just been the recipient of 'Chairman's Elite', the most prestigious award on offer, placing Nicholas in the very small handful of top performers across Australasia.

Known for commercial authority and regularly exceeding sales expectations, Nicholas’s passion for property is evident in the ability to read the property market and stay one step ahead of industry benchmarks. Nicholas’s articulate, well-developed communication skills enable negotiation of agreements that others can’t, setting numerous street and building records. Regardless of whether clients are buying or selling, Nicholas is known for honest, forthright advice. Nicholas’s client base is largely repeat and referral business.

Nicholas is a BGS Old Boy ’98.

Chris Butters '00

Chris Butters is the Senior Managing Director, Queensland at CBRE.

Over his +15 year career in the Brisbane CBD office leasing market, Chris has been involved in a significant number of landmark transactions and has in turn worked on the vast majority of Brisbane's prime office buildings throughout his career.

Chris enjoys working in his leadership position at CBRE and has a genuine passion in working with his CBRE colleagues and mentoring the next generation.

Some of Chris’ key appointments and engagements throughout his career include 1 Eagle Street, 10 Eagle Street and 360 Queen Street, together with various projects including RNA Project, HQ Project, 31 Duncan Street – Project and 12 Creek, Annex Project.

Chris has received numerous awards from longstanding clients (including Charter Hall and Dexus) and has been recognised internally at CBRE on multiple occasions.

Chris is a BGS Old Boy ’00.