Let’s Hack Housing 2024

We’ve got a housing crisis of global proportions

Join some of the best thinkers in housing and help find some answers.
Grab one of two open mics, or join online, to tell us what you think, ask your questions, or offer a solution.

Check out our brilliant panellists: economist and writer Michael Pascoe, value capture expert academic Nicole Gurran, vocal commentator on housing Tim Williams, planner Tim Sneesby from Waverley Council, Indigenous architect Craig Kerslake from N G U L U W A Y DesignInc, architect Nick Deans of Warren and Mahoney; builders advocate Brian Seidler of MBA, newly elected City of Sydney councillor Jess Miller, developer Fabrizio Perilli or Perifa and ex-Toga, Melbourne developer Liam Wallis of Hip V Hype, policy expert Cathryn Callaghan of Shelter NSW, change maker and place maker Michael Comninos of Astrolabe.

Moderator:

Maria Atkinson, company director and co-founder of the Green Building Council of Australia.

Two questions will frame our event:

1. What’s the housing we want?
2. How will we get it?

For the first question here are five priorities we might all agree we want from housing:

• Affordable – both to rent and buy with special focus on social housing and for essential and creative workers and with options for young people, productive professionals and the over 55s
• Quality – minimum structural performance standards that last the distance in structure to protect against weather, fire, safety and acoustics
• Access –  to social and economic services such as schools, medical facilities, retail and to jobs and other economic opportunities
• Connection to Country and people – the physical and mental health (and global heating resilience) promoted by nature amenities such as parks, waterways, street trees, urban cooling, walking, cycling, family friends and social life
• Planetary boundaries – Housing that minimises its footprint and integrates with a national land use plan to provide for other human needs and those of nature and climate resilience.

You can submit questions now for the panellists, and ask them in person or on the night. Comments and suggestions will also be allowed as long as they are succinct.

Submit a question

TFE members can access discounted tickets for $35. Send a note to members@thefifthestate.com.au for your access code. 

Check out the stories and briefings we've published around this event already

LET’S HACK HOUSING

Let’s hack housing: What some of our panellists say

Commonwealth has the power to shift outcomes on housing rental – here’s how

Our two big questions that will frame Let’s Hack Housing and some of yours

On why the NSW Productivity Commission is right about new solutions to the housing crisis – but probably not in the way it thinks

NSW’s Productivity Commission has fallen hook, line and sinker for miracle cures to the housing crisis

NSW Productivity Commission misses the mark on housing fix, planners say

Let’s Hack Housing – this is a crisis and your questions can help us find solutions

Meet the speakers!

Nick Deans

Principal

Warren and Mahoney

Nicole Gurran

Professor of Urban and Regional Planning 

University of Sydney

Michael Pascoe

Finance and economics writer and commentator

Craig Kerslake

Director

DesignInc

Liam Wallis

Founder

HIP V. HYPE

Brian Seidler

Executive Director

Master Builders Association NSW

Cathryn Callaghan

Principal Policy Officer

Shelter NSW

Fabrizio Perilli

President Property Council NSW, founder

Perifa

Jess Miller

Contender Deputy Lord Mayor City of Sydney, director

Finding Infinity

Tim Sneesby

Manager of Strategic Planning

Waverley Council

Tim Williams

Practice Leader, Cities

Grimshaw

Louise Crabtree-Hayes

Associate Professor

Western Sydney University

Just announced:

Sue Weatherley 

President, Planning Institute of Australia, NSW

Michael Comninos 

Director, Astrolabe