YP’s Biggest Event Is Back! Tickets Now On Sale for the YP Gold Coast Annual Forum 2025

Our biggest and most anticipated event is officially back, and this year it comes with a glow-up. Meet the newly named YP Gold Coast Annual Forum, formerly known as City Leaders Forum, returning on Friday 17 October at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, proudly presented by Morgans Gold Coast.

This year we are tackling a theme that hits close to home and even closer to the hip pocket:

The Future We Can Afford.

Let’s be honest, it is the question everyone is quietly (or not so quietly) asking right now. Can the Gold Coast keep up its momentum without leaving too many people behind? What will our economy look like in five, ten or twenty years? And most importantly, can we afford to live, work and thrive here while still keeping that unmistakable Gold Coast lifestyle?

This year we are going big on the conversations that matter. Think housing affordability and property outlook, investment and the industries driving us forward – the big economic picture, not just the small talk. Our panel of heavy-hitting speakers, to be revealed in the weeks to come, will unpack the trends, challenge the status quo and maybe even ruffle a few feathers along the way.

You will laugh, you will learn, and…you will probably want to order another wine. 

Keynote Speaker

Bernard Salt

Bernard Salt is one of Australia’s sharpest social commentators. He’s written six best-selling books, hosted TV shows and podcasts, and founded The Demographics Group to help businesses make sense of demographic, social, and property trends.

He’s the man who spotted the “Goat’s Cheese Curtain,” predicted cultural shifts long before they became mainstream, and yes, he’s also the reason the phrase “Smashed Avo” is famous worldwide.

With a career that spans over 20 years as a columnist for The Australian and stints advising global advisory firms, Bernard is one of the country’s most sought-after speakers and this is your chance to see him in action.  

The Panel

Unnamed (5)
Lisa Murdoch
Cr Mark Hammel
Cr Mark Hammel
Matt Srama
Matt Srama

Lisa Murdoch

Lisa is the Head of Valuation & Advisory Services for Queensland at Colliers, with more than 37 years of experience across the property industry. A Certified Practising Valuer, Fellow of the Australian Property Institute, and respected Special Retail Valuer and Expert Witness, Lisa has advised everyone from major banks and institutional investors to high-net-worth families.
 
But it doesn’t stop there. Lisa has chaired and served on some of the most influential boards and committees in the sector, from the Property Council of Australia Gold Coast Committee to the Queensland Valuers Registration Board, and even teaches the next generation of property professionals at Bond University. Simply put, Lisa is one of the Gold Coast’s sharpest property minds, and she’ll be diving into the trends, risks, and opportunities shaping how (and where) we live, work, and invest.

Cr Mark Hammel

Cr Mark Hammel is the Deputy Mayor of the Gold Coast, Chair of Planning & Regulation, and Division 1 Councillor. A lifelong northern Gold Coaster, Mark is one of the city’s most influential voices on sustainable growth, smart infrastructure, and protecting the natural environment that makes the Gold Coast what it is.

With the city on track to reach one million people by the 2040s, Mark is leading critical work, including the new city planning scheme, driving the Yatala Enterprise Area as an economic powerhouse, and delivering the Advanced Resource Recovery Centre to build a more sustainable future. In short, if you want to understand how the Gold Coast is preparing for the next chapter, Mark’s perspective is one you can’t miss.

Matt Srama

After a successful NRL career, Matt swapped the footy field for the real estate and hasn’t looked back. By 22, he had already started building his own property portfolio, and today he is recognised among the top one percent of property investors in the country. As the founder of The Srama Group (TSG), Matt has grown his agency into one of the most respected and innovative buyer’s agencies in Australia.
 
Along the way, he’s picked up industry accolades including REIQ’s Buyer’s Agent of the Year and Buyer’s Agency of the Year, while also earning nominations for the coveted Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Tickets are now officially on sale. For $190pp you’ll get more than a seat at the table, you will get a delicious two course lunch, a three hour beverage package to fuel your networking game, and a room packed with ambitious professionals who care about where our city is headed just as much as you do. And yes, there will be official drinks afterwards because YP never leaves you hanging.

Our City Leaders events have consistently drawn high demand – and with this being our first official Annual Forum, we expect it to be no different. So, grab your ticket, rally your colleagues, and join us as we map out the future we can afford.

This is where the future of the Gold Coast will be candidly talked about, debated and maybe even reimagined. The only question left is: will you be part of it?

Event Details

Date: Friday 17th October 2025

Time: 12:00 pm for a 12:30 pm start

Location: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre – 2684-2690 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218

Price: $190 per person

Inclusions: Two-course lunch + three-hour beverage package

Post-networking Drinks: Nineteen at The Star Rooftop Bar from 4:00 pm onwards