Property Council of Australia - NT

28/08/2026

A YEAR IN THE MAKING… AND NOW IT’S OFFICIAL. 🇦🇺🤝🇹🇱
This one means a lot!! Almost a year of conversations, meetings, ideas, introductions, flights between Darwin and Dili, plenty of persistence, and an enormous amount of belief in what could be possible.

This week we officially announced a partnership between Property Council of Australia - NT the Australian Government and the Timor-Leste Government to deliver a four-day business and investment program in Dili from 27–30 October 2026, bringing together Australian and Timorese business and government, replacing the Darwin-Dili Leadership Retreat & Conference.

The combined program will bring together the Darwin to Dili Business & Investment Summit (PCA) and Invest Timor-Leste 2026, and I could not be prouder to see what started as an idea become something of this scale and PCA delegates will have access to the Invest Timor-Leste program.

It is about getting the right people into the room, creating genuine business-to-business connections, opening doors and turning the relationship between Northern Australia and Timor-Leste into real partnerships and real commercial opportunities.

The Invest Timor-Leste Business Forum will include structured business-to-business matchmaking between Australian delegates and Timorese companies, as well as direct engagement with government around opportunities and the enabling environment for investment.

Their program will focus on opportunities across tourism, agriculture and renewable energy, while weaving through the cross-cutting themes that are so important to our Property Council NT members and the broader Northern Australian business community:
🏗️ Construction
👷 Workforce and training
💼 Investment facilitation
🤝 Public-private partnerships
🏠 Housing and Infrastructure

But for me, there is also a very personal story behind this announcement.
The photos I’m sharing with this post are from four different trips to Timor this year. I’ve travelled there with Natalie Bell GAICD and Brigitte Brown, working through what this could become. I’ve been back with my husband twice, with my youngest daughter in June, and with my eldest daughter and her partner Anthony in August.

Each trip has made me more certain of the opportunity that exists between our two countries — but also of the importance of relationships, trust and simply spending time on the ground, listening and understanding.
There are so many people who have supported this idea, opened doors, taken meetings, made introductions and believed that we could build something meaningful between Darwin and Dili.

And particularly to Brigitte and Natalie from AA&P Events and PR and Steve Pocock, Prosivu. We did it! From day one, you've backed the vision, encouraged me, challenged me, jumped on planes with me and had faith in what we were trying to build sometimes well before there was anything tangible to point to. I genuinely couldn’t have got here without you and our speakers and sponsors!❤️

04/08/2026

Housing is economic infrastructure.
The Northern Territory Government has released its Housing Strategy 2026-2030, setting a long-term direction for housing across Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and remote communities.

The Strategy recognises that housing is fundamental to economic growth, workforce attraction and community wellbeing.

The challenge now is delivery.

The Strategy estimates the Territory will need between 5,637 and 7,143 additional homes by 2030, yet stops short of setting a clear housing target.

The Property Council welcomes the direction and ambition of the Strategy. To translate this vision into outcomes, we are calling for:

• Annual housing delivery targets
• A detailed implementation plan
• Clear agency accountability
• Public reporting on progress
• Defined delivery timeframes

Territorians need more homes, delivered faster. A strong strategy is an important first step, but success will ultimately be measured by the number of homes built and the opportunities that create for communities across the Territory.

29/07/2026

📢 I spent the weekend in Timor-Leste strengthening relationships and building new partnerships ahead of the Property Council's Darwin to Dili Conference and Leaders Retreat, and we will shortly announce an exciting partnership with Invest Timor-Leste 2026, which is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with Timor-Leste’s Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, TradeInvest Timor-Leste and the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The partnership will significantly enhance the conference program, including through a dedicated business forum and structured business-to-business matchmaking, with further details to be announced!

This is not a talkfest. It is about practical connections, genuine partnerships and real commercial outcomes!

📍 Dili, Timor-Leste
📅 27–30 October 2026
https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/events-learning/events-learning-overview/view-all-events/darwin-to-dili-leaders-retreat-conference-2026

18/07/2026

What a way to have kicked off our Property Council of Australia NT Member Facility Showcase!

Behind the scenes, in amongst it and a first-hand-look at what goes on at a glass manufacturer!

Showcasing members is exactly what this initiative sets out to achieve. We are getting people connected and supporting local business that support the Territory 🙏

Huge thanks to Sumit Sharma and the team at Northern Glass Solutions! This one is going to be hard to top! Up for the challenge Anthony Harrison , Apex Steel Supplies Darwin Pty Ltd ? 🤩

Check out the little video and see you at the next one! 🙌🏻

13/07/2026

This weekend, I had the opportunity to write an opinion piece for the Sunday Territorian, The NT News on a topic that matters deeply to our members and our economy: NT work should build NT business.

and even more encouraging to see the newspaper’s editorial reinforce the same message.

This has never been about protectionism. It’s about building a stronger Territory.

When capable local businesses miss out on work, we don’t just lose contracts; we lose jobs, apprenticeships, investment, skills and money that should be circulating through our own economy.

We’re simply asking for procurement decisions that recognise local capability, economic benefit and long-term value, not just the lowest upfront price.

Because the “why” is simple: a stronger local business community creates more jobs, delivers more housing, builds resilience and grows the Territory for everyone.

Territory work should build Territory businesses. And Territory businesses build the Territory.

29/06/2026

What an awesome way to kick off our very first Canapes & Conversations: Territory Trailblazers on Friday night at Wharf One Food & W**e! and we had a cruise ship in the background to top it off!

This event was created to do something simple but powerful. Bring people together in a relaxed setting and hear the stories behind the people shaping the Territory.

A huge thank you to our incredible speakers, Melissa Collins and Pina Sommerville, for sharing so openly about their journeys, leadership lessons, business challenges, resilience, people, teams and what it really takes to build something meaningful in the NT.

One of the things I loved most was the reminder that you can work alongside people, see their names in industry, attend the same events, and still not know the full story of what they have built, overcome, contributed or quietly led. That is what makes this event special.

We spoke about the opportunities the Territory gives people, and those “only in the Territory” lessons that stay with you.

Most importantly, we heard that leadership is often built through relationships, courage, trust, and backing yourself before you feel completely ready.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first one!! It was warm, genuine and exactly the kind of connection we hoped to create. YAY!

Can’t wait for the next one. Stay tuned. ✨

17/06/2026

⚡ Member Story is live!

Our third Member Story is now up, this time celebrating Good Sparks Electrical and Director Dale Marshall.

We started this series to shine a light on the people and businesses behind our Property Council of Australia - NT membership, the local leaders, innovators and quiet achievers helping shape the Territory’s property, construction and development sector.

Following our recent conversations with Scott Lovett (BDO Darwin) and Tristan Cribb, (Darwin International Airport) Dale’s story is another great example of Territory business done well.

From keeping critical infrastructure running to investing in apprenticeships and local talent, Good Sparks Electrical has grown into a respected NT contractor delivering across commercial, healthcare, government and remote sectors.

As Dale says: “When the Territory does well, we all do well.”

Read Dale’s full Member Story here and catch up on the series 👇
https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/news-research/property-council-connect/celebrating-our-members-a-conversation-with-good-sparks-electricals-dale-marshall

With more than 20 years in the electrical and construction industry, Darwin local Dale Marshall has built Good Sparks Electrical into a respected Territory contractor. A strong advocate for local business and developing Territorians, Dale is focused on creating opportunity and supporting the growth....

02/06/2026