In this episode of the Momentum Media's Secrets of the Top 100 Agents podcast, host Alex Whitlock sits down with Nick Boyd, CEO of Belle Property and Hockingstuart, to discuss the future of sales and property management – from maximising the human connection to building brand loyalty.

The conversation explores Nick's philosophy on coaching and mentorship, which he sees as critical to performance and career longevity, and how this focus has supported the network's growth from 40 offices to over 200 nationwide.

The discussion turns to the rise of technology and AI, with Nick emphasising that while AI can enhance consumer-to-brand interactions, the human relationship remains the foundation of trust and success in real estate.

The pair then unpack the dynamics of today's market, noting the balance across most regions while highlighting opportunities in Queensland and Perth, and the role of skilled agents in delivering outcomes for clients.

Finally, Nick outlines his vision for the future – a profession gaining gravitas, built on trust, performance, and the enduring value of relationships.

Amid myriad professional, technological, economic, and sociocultural changes, it is essential that HR professionals face such shifting sands with an open mind, which will allow, one chief people and culture officer says, for greater creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

In this episode of Momentum Media's HR Leader Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation chief people and culture officer Mariam Hares about her journey in the profession, what her day-to-day in the not-for-profit looks like, the challenges and opportunities she's seeing on the horizon for HR professionals and teams, and how well HR is doing, as a business unit, in adapting to change.

Hares also delves into bringing all business units along for the ride in adapting to change, the questions that HR needs to answer in the talent space, leaning into automation, getting incentives right, creating a strategy to address the many workforce challenges, and her best practice guidance to other HR professionals in the face of voluminous market change.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, managing editor Steve Kuper speaks with Andrew Henderson, director of AgSecure and a leading voice on agricultural resilience, biosecurity, and national preparedness.

Together, they explore the recently released National Food Security Strategy discussion paper, the importance of critical inputs like fuel and fertiliser, the implications of trade disputes, and the growing need to integrate food systems into defence planning.

The pair also discuss why food security is no longer just an agricultural issue – it's a national security imperative. With global supply chains under pressure, climate risks mounting, and adversaries willing to target agricultural systems through biosecurity breaches or even agroterrorism, Australia faces a complex challenge in safeguarding the nation's food and fibre production.

From the risks of varroa mite and foot and mouth disease to the opportunities of regional self-reliance and biotechnology, Henderson outlines why food security must be elevated to the same level of priority as Australia's defence posture – and why a secure Indo-Pacific is, ultimately, a well-fed one.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In the current climate, maintaining psychological safety in law departments requires much more than box-ticking – a stronger focus on culture, and use of AI to ensure greater focus on human issues, is paramount moving forward, says an award-winning and GC Powerlist-recognised group general counsel.

In this episode of Momentum Media's The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former group GC of Tabcorp, Ivana Kovacevic, who now serves as a fractional GC and advisory board member for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, and keynote speaker, to discuss the importance of building psychological safety in legal teams in the current climate, her perception of what constitutes psychological safety for law departments, and how well the in-house sector is faring when it comes to ensuring such safety.

Kovacevic also delves into the need to move beyond compliance box-ticking, the urgency is prioritising psychological safety, the starting point for in-house teams in creating and maintaining psychologically safe working environments, catering to idiosyncratic needs within one's team, practical steps she has taken within her own teams and what has worked, making time to implement changes, using AI to take a more human approach, leading by example, and the need to be curious and vulnerable.

In this episode of the Momentum Media's REB Business Empowerment Showcase, host Emilie Lauer speaks with the chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), Lachlan Vidler, to unpack the current state and key trends of Australia's real estate investment market.

The discussion delves into the latest PIPA investor sentiment survey which reveals the key challenges for property investors, the impact of the three rate cuts, surging demand, limited stock, and rapidly rising property prices.

Lachlan highlights the difficulty of adding new stock to the market, citing construction hurdles, regulatory red tape, and high costs that limit both large- and small-scale investors.

According to the survey, policy changes, compliance costs, and land tax pressures are prompting some investors to sell.

Melbourne has emerged as a top choice for investment due to relative affordability, with Brisbane and regional markets also attracting attention, thanks to strong infrastructure and lifestyle appeal.

While nearly 60 per cent still consider it a good time to invest, Lachlan expresses cautious optimism, noting potential rate cuts and first home buyer schemes while urging investors to avoid FOMO and plan strategically.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.

In this episode of the Momentum Media's Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the Honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for home affairs, for a hard-hitting discussion on the shifting nature of Australia's national security challenges.

No longer confined to conventional defence or counter-terrorism, the security debate now spans economic sovereignty, industrial security, and social cohesion. Against the backdrop of recent revelations of Iranian espionage attempts on Australian soil, Hastie warns that hostile foreign actors are probing Australia's vulnerabilities, not only in cyber space and critical infrastructure, but in the trust that underpins our diverse society.

Throughout the conversation, Hastie shares how his perspective has sharpened since stepping into the shadow portfolio following his time as shadow minister for Defence. He outlines the emerging contest for resilience – whether in defending supply chains, protecting advanced technologies, or insulating the national economy from coercion.

Kuper presses Hastie on the domestic implications of foreign espionage operations, particularly the way they threaten multicultural harmony and fuel social division. Hastie stresses that Australia must be proactive in countering influence operations, strengthening intelligence partnerships, and reinforcing trust across society.

The discussion then broadens to the strategic importance of resilience, a whole-of-nation approach that prepares Australians not just to respond to crises, but to withstand them.

Hastie points to key policy gaps, from weak industrial capacity to fragmented national planning, and calls for a more integrated framework that links defence, economy, and society into a coherent security posture.

As Australia navigates an increasingly contested world, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what security really means. The conversation offers sharp insights into how Australia can adapt to a new era of threats and why resilience must sit at the heart of any credible national security agenda.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this latest episode of Momentum Media's Broker Daily Uncut, host Alex Whitlock is joined by Sebastian Watkins, CEO and co-founder of Aussie Home Loans.

Here, Watkins outlined a bold new vision to transform the iconic mortgage broking brand into a comprehensive platform for the entire property journey.

Faced with a mature broking market where differentiation is key, Aussie is moving beyond finance to disrupt the traditionally fragmented process of buying a home.

Watkins identified the core problem: customers currently juggle multiple relationships with portals, brokers, conveyancers, and real estate agents, leading to a disjointed experience.

This week on UTH, Sonia Gibson, founder of Accounting Heart, joins Imogen Wilson to chat about the importance of business succession, exit strategies, and why more business owners need to take the concept seriously.

Tune in to hear more about:

• What business succession means and why it's important.
• Why such a big gap in business succession knowledge exists.
• Succession and exit strategy advice.
• How accountants can facilitate smoother transitions between business owners.
• Pros and cons of selling to a third party v. family members or employees.

You can contact the Accountants Daily team and podcast host Imogen at imogen.wilson@momentummedia.com.au.