Session
This session examines the realities of delivering major projects today, including planning challenges, rising construction costs, feasibility pressures, sustainability considerations and what investors should understand about development risk and opportunity.
GDM Property is led by Geoff McWilliam, a seasoned property developer with nearly 30 years of experience in land subdivision and development management.
Geoff began his career as an accountant at Ernst & Young before transitioning to his family’s development company. Over the years, he has played an integral role in the development of more than 10,000 lots and the management of master-planned communities, encompassing both residential and commercial elements, for prominent public and private companies such as Citimark, Stockland, Lensworth, Ray Group and Delfin Lend Lease.
For over a decade, Geoff partnered with Citimark, leading the expansion and management of planning, marketing, development, and sales teams for new residential subdivisions and master-planned projects. His leadership was also pivotal in the development of North Lakes, a 1,000-hectare, award-winning master-planned community in Brisbane. Other significant projects Geoff has led include Glenmore Park in Western Sydney and Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Geoff holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland and a Master of Built Environment from Queensland University of Technology. He is an active member of the Property Council of Australia and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and currently serves on the UDIA Logan Branch Committee.
Now, as the principal of GDM Property, Geoff focuses on delivering a diverse portfolio of residential subdivisions, housing and retirement village investments. Over the past six years, he has successfully developed eight projects, ranging from 34 to 185 lots, all within budget and on schedule. Looking ahead, Geoff has a pipeline of projects valued at over $150 million. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with land owners, consultants, contractors and local councils, ensuring the success and sustainability of his developments.
John Christie founded ModnPods in 2015 with a mission to rethink how people live, work, and connect with a place. A former elite US Navy Special Operations Search and Rescue Operator, John led humanitarian and disaster relief efforts involving thousands of personnel across global missions. That experience instilled in him a deep understanding of leadership, strategy, and service under pressure.
After leaving the military in 2014, John moved to Australia to pursue his MBA and Master of Finance at Bond University. It was here, inspired by the housing affordability crisis and driven by purpose, that he laid the foundations for ModnPods — first imagined as container housing, and now a market-leading modular solution combining architectural design with sustainability and scale.
With a background in corporate management, logistics, property, and a lifelong passion for building and business, John brings a powerful blend of operational excellence and values-based leadership. His approach is shaped by the principles of honour, courage, and collective progress — values that continue to define ModnPods’ direction and ambition today.
