Unlocking Development Potential Through Affordable Housing seminar
05/02/2026
Join us for an exclusive seminar designed for residential property developers who want to access development facilitation pathways, streamline approvals and unlock value by integrating affordable housing into their projects
Developers can unlock stalled or underutilised residential projects by engaging with the government-led Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which offer expedited planning pathways or waive or vary mandatory planning scheme requirements relating to building height, setbacks when affordable housing is incorporated into proposals. These initiatives present a strategic opportunity to align commercial outcomes with housing policy objectives across jurisdictions.
Our property expert Sejla Kadric is joined by three industry experts on the topic:
- Michael Henderson – Michael joined Contour in 2018 and was appointed a Director in 2024. Michael has been working as a town planner in both the private and public sectors since 2009; holding senior positions within both sectors. Michael brings enthusiasm and leadership qualities, together with his detailed understanding of Victoria’s planning system and its intricacies, to a wide cross-section of development projects. His expertise includes advice during site acquisition and project design, management of applications and negotiating successful approval outcomes with planning authorities.
- Kate Breen – Kate leads Affordable Development Outcomes, specialising in the development of affordable housing research, policy and precinct and site-specific planning frameworks and delivery strategies. With a strong focus on developing evidence-based and commercially viable strategies that work for all parties, Kate has developed successful approaches supporting major planning scheme amendments and permit approvals, including appearing as an expert witness at Panel. She has also worked extensively with the community housing sector on bids for government land and funding.
- Lucy Simms – Lucy is the Chief Commercial Officer at Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI), where she leads partnerships with developers, government, and philanthropy to deliver affordable housing for vulnerable women. With over a decade of experience in development management, Lucy brings a commercial lens to community housing transactions and an understanding of developer needs, alongside the importance of creating social cohesion within projects.
Our expert speakers will share their insights and guide you through the process from all angles:
- Michael will set the scene by talking through the various opportunities that the DFP offers, how to engage with the DFP and potential outcomes of incorporating affordable housing into residential developments.
- Kate will outline what social and affordable housing is, the key elements needed to plan and deliver it, the requirements for securing planning approval, and examples of effective affordable housing strategies.
- Lucy will round out the conversation by bringing a community housing perspective, demonstrating how collaboration with developers can drive speed and social impact, and outlining WPI’s approach to integrating affordable housing within private developments.
Walk away with clear, actionable knowledge on how to successfully integrate affordable housing into your developments while maximising both community benefit and project outcomes.
Date
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Location
SW Melbourne Office, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Time
12.15pm arrival, session time 12.30pm – 2pm
Industry speaker
- Michael Henderson | Contour Consultants
- Kate Breen | Affordable Development Outcomes
- Lucy Simms | Women’s Property Initiatives
SW speaker
Sejla Kadric
Director, SW
