Here's what we're talking about this month:

The QLD property market...what's shifting, what's holding, and what you need to know before making your next move.

BIO invites members to a dynamic panel discussion on the Queensland property market hosted in Brisbane and featuring two experienced professionals who work daily in the lending and buying space.

Whether you’re an investor, homebuyer, or just curious about where the market is heading, this is your chance to hear real insights from people on the ground.

They’ll be sharing what’s happening across the local market, how lending is influencing buyer decisions, and where opportunities are (and aren’t) in 2025.

This is a panel discussion moderated by BIO's Jon Sermon.

What to Expect:

Market Trends: A clear-eyed look at the QLD market in 2025
Lending Landscape: How lending trends are shaping buyer behaviour
On-the-Ground Insights: The biggest shifts in residential and investment property
Expert Commentary: what to watch out for, and what to avoid

Schedule

6-6:30 - meet and greet, connect with each other

6:30-7pm - education session

7-8pm - networking, business, swap details, have fun!

The panellists:

Omar Mohamed
Omar is a Brisbane-based buyers agent and Co-Founder of Aston Republic, known for his sharp negotiation skills and deep understanding of the local property market. With over 17 years of experience leading procurement and acquisition strategies, Omar has helped hundreds of clients secure properties that meet both their financial goals and lifestyle ambitions.

Prior to launching Aston Republic in 2022, Omar held senior corporate roles in acquisition, product development, and global procurement. His strategic mindset and ability to navigate high-stakes negotiations have made him a sought-after advisor, particularly for clients who value detailed analysis, discretion, and strong outcomes.

Omar’s approach is relationship-first. He combines his corporate background with a people-focused philosophy, helping clients uncover quality opportunities and avoid costly missteps. His broad industry network and deep local knowledge position him as a trusted voice in the Brisbane market.

Outside of his work, Omar is known for his integrity, energy, and commitment to delivering exceptional service — whether you're buying your forever home or your next investment.

Lewis Johns
Lewis Johns joined ALIC as an investment lender manager in September 2022. His diverse background in finance and banking has made him an invaluable asset to the team.

Originally from the UK, Lewis began his career over a decade ago as a mortgage consultant for one of the country's largest building societies. After moving to Australia in 2013, he put his skillset to use working in medical finance within a private banking capacity and then later in a digital banking setting. Being agile and seeing the bigger picture were prerequisites of this working period, allowing Lewis to exponentially refine his broking capabilities.

Lewis knows that the property industry is constantly evolving. He approaches lending scenarios with a proactive attitude, excelling at client communication and prioritising pragmatic, future-focused advice. He enables wealth creation through strategic lending and investments; providing clients with clarity and mitigating long-term risks is paramount to his broking approach.

In his spare time, Lewis can be found with his wife and two young sons, enjoying Queensland's beaches or playing golf when he can.

Jon

Jon Sermon
Jon leads the Partnerships & Alliances team at Your Empire Buyers Agents, bringing over 18 years of experience in sales and partnerships across the global payments industry. From foreign exchange to property, his career has always been about helping people make smarter financial decisions.

Now a passionate buyer’s agent, Jon helps clients navigate the often-overwhelming property market, from frustrated first-home buyers to seasoned investors, CEOs and family offices. Known for his sharp communication skills, global network, and personal touch, he brings clarity, connection and confidence to every property search.

He’s also a pocket square enthusiast and proud oenophile, which makes him perfectly suited to this event.

Who should attend

Anyone in business and wanting to grow! Sole traders, start ups, scale ups, SMEs, corporates
Curious, growth mindset people in business looking to expand their networks and connect with other business people.
There'll be time for socialising over drinks and nibbles, then BIO Founder Jon Sermon will kick things off with some intros before we get underway. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your network in a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. Secure your spot today and be part of an evening where connections are made, and ideas flow freely.

BIO members at Board table

Some helpful event details:

🎒 What to bring
Just yourself!

👔 What to wear
Business casual. You do you

🌟 A little more...
From the people you meet to the nibbles you nibble, at BIO we’re big into the little details. We are fanatical about all the facets that come together to make a brilliant meet up, because if you feel at home - you’re more likely to be yourself.

🤔 What does this mean?

- Be yourself, you’re you - not your Company
- Keep the chat interesting
- We don’t use name tags, because, well… just ask!

We can't wait to see you there.

A little more about BIO:

Here at BIO, we do networking a little differently.

You don't have to own your own business (but it’s cool if you do) or be an entrepreneur, you just need to be open to meeting new people, listening to their tales, connecting differently and sharing ideas.

We’re not leeches… so our members are not about sucking the business (o

r life) out of you. We work together to help our members solve problems, build their businesses, further their careers or develop themselves. We give people a platform to tell their story and make valuable connections.

We hold monthly events for our members, and if you would like to come along - meet new people and give us a whirl then come along and join us to see what all the fuss is about.

Talking’s great, but sometimes so is listening.

To make sure each BIO event is interesting, we introduce you to our host for the night. This person will take us on a journey throughout the meet-up and talk briefly on a trending subject that sparks interest. From wine-makers to corporate giants we’ve cherry picked topics that are relevant to all businesses - from retaining your talent to the ever looming robots and AI tech, there’s a little something for everyone.

Our Sponsors

A huge thank you to our event sponsor Tsingtao!

If it's a cold one (or two) you're after, Tsingtao have you covered. Crafted using malted barley, hops, yeast & pure mountain water, this crisp refreshing beer is a perfect match for the evening.

Cheers &

a massive thanks to our event partner!

Tsingtao

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