Welcome again to Season 3 of The Land Pioneers Podcast!

Episode 2 of Season 3 is with Ben Howard, founder of Monopoly Group and a true pioneer in strategic land development and real estate investing. Ben turned early hardship into opportunity, building a property portfolio and career across Australia and the UK, and bringing a refreshingly honest perspective to our podcast.

In this episode, we explore how Ben’s early life experiences shaped his passion for business and property, and how he turned adversity into an advantage through creativity, hustle, and a commitment to growth.

Full Episode

Ben’s story begins far from the boardrooms of land development. After the devastating loss of his two brothers to suicide, Ben left school in Year 10 and found himself without direction, support, or a place to call home. For five years, he lived on a homeless allowance, couch-surfed, and struggled to make sense of his circumstances.

Yet within that chaos, a spark ignited. Music became his emotional outlet and first entry into entrepreneurship. Through band promotions and event organising, Ben discovered his love for building things — not just in music, but in business. He began investing in traditional residential real estate, and after enrolling in a business course, he began offering to write free business plans for local stores in Rundle Mall, using lunchtime hours to sharpen his skills.

At 19, he purchased his first home—a $69,000 ex-housing trust property in Taperoo—using a first home buyer’s grant and borrowed money for the deposit. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was cash-flow positive. His mentor explained the value of yield and equity, and from that moment, Ben was hooked.

What followed was a rapid expansion into real estate. By his early 30s, he had bought, sold, or held nearly 20 properties. But growth wasn’t always linear. He quickly learned the difference between equity and cash flow, how serviceability limits affect scalability, and the importance of having adaptable income streams.

When banks tightened lending during a market shift, Ben didn’t collapse — he pivoted. He returned to event production, organising major dance competitions and concerts to sustain his momentum.

Later, Ben moved to London with his partner. He applied for many jobs without formal qualifications before landing a junior sales role. Through persistence and follow-up, he eventually became Head of Entertainment – Sales at The SSE Arena, Wembley, managing events, exhibitions, and large-scale contracts. That experience deepened his negotiation, sales, and international project management knowledge—skills that would become core to his property development success.

Ben returned to Australia with a renewed focus. Through Monopoly Group, he began acquiring and developing land in high-growth areas, particularly those aligned with future government infrastructure. His developments in South Australia and Victoria reflect a strategic, forward-looking approach — investing in the corridors of tomorrow, not just the opportunities of today.

Learn more about Ben and Monopoly Group here.

Join Our Community: We invite you to participate in this enlightening voyage. Whether you’re here to gain industry insights or find guidance on your professional journey, Land Pioneers is your compass in the world of land development. Subscribe and become an integral part of our community today. Visit https://landpioneerspodcast.com/

Welcome to Season 3 of The Land Pioneers Podcast!

We are delighted to feature Shannon Hill, Associate Director of Urban Design & Management, a highly respected planning professional shaping the future of urban communities across Victoria. With deep expertise in strategic planning, infrastructure coordination, and complex land development approvals, Shannon brings a grounded yet forward-thinking perspective to the evolving challenges facing today’s development landscape.

From navigating infrastructure levies and planning frameworks to balancing sustainability targets with commercial viability, Shannon sits at the intersection of policy, design, and delivery. In this episode, we explore how modern planning is transforming—and what it takes for developers to succeed in an increasingly complex environment.

Full Episode

Shannon Hill’s career revolves around navigating complex planning systems to achieve practical, high-quality development outcomes. At Urban Design & Management, she works closely with developers, councils, and authorities—guiding projects from due diligence through to approval within evolving planning frameworks and master planning processes. A key focus of her work is responding to Victoria’s housing targets, where new planning codes and requirements, such as tree canopy coverage, are reshaping how developments are designed and delivered.

As sustainability targets and planning controls intensify, developers are moving beyond standard housing models towards more bespoke, design-led solutions. Rising infrastructure levies, alongside constraints such as drainage and cultural heritage, are putting pressure on feasibility and land values. Shannon highlights that strong due diligence and strategic master planning are now essential—helping balance commercial outcomes while delivering more connected and liveable communities.

The conversation also explores the importance of site-responsive design, particularly across complex infill sites and growth areas. Shannon discusses how master planning is evolving to deliver walkable, mixed-use activity centres, alongside integrating natural waterways and landscape-led design into communities. Ultimately, while development has become more complex, it is also creating opportunities for more thoughtful, sustainable, and future-ready urban environments.

Learn more about Shannon and UDM here

Join Our Community: We invite you to participate in this enlightening voyage. Whether you’re here to gain industry insights or find guidance on your professional journey, Land Pioneers is your compass in the world of land development. Subscribe and become an integral part of our community today. Visit https://landpioneerspodcast.com/

The Land Pioneers Podcast‘s 17th episode is now available. Jacob Vince, Associate Director at Atlas Economics, is one of Australia’s top experts on land economics and development strategy.

Starting his journey with NSW Health’s property teams, Jacob transitioned into private consulting, sharpening his feasibility studies, land use strategy, and economic impact analysis skills.

Jacob has led some of the nation’s most ambitious real estate and planning projects, contributing extensive knowledge and a unique talent for simplifying and making sense of complex economic concepts.

This discussion is jam-packed with knowledge, clarity, and practical insights for anyone interested in the factors influencing land development, not just the procedure but also its goal.

Let’s get started!

Full Episode

In this episode, Jacob Vince shares candid reflections on his unexpected path into land economics, including the pivotal moments that drew him into the sector and the personal passions that keep him engaged, especially around housing affordability and equity. Known for his rare ability to translate dense economic data into actionable, real-world insights, Jacob offers listeners a masterclass on topics like what land economics really means for developers.

His career is a blueprint for how technical expertise and clear communication can reshape an industry. Jacob transitioned to private consulting, where he honed his skills in feasibility studies, land use strategy, and economic impact analysis.

Today, as an Associate Director at Atlas Economics, he leads teams that advise developers, governments, and community housing providers on how to unlock value and navigate Australia’s complex planning landscape.

We discuss topics like:

• What land economics means for developers.
• How demographic shifts (including immigration and aging populations) are changing housing demand.
• Why are medium-density products gaining traction in growth areas?
• How government-led land releases differ from private-led models.
• And why the alignment of infrastructure and planning is the linchpin for unlocking new supply.

Jacob also provides insider views on affordable housing delivery, the role of community housing partnerships, and how smart urban planning can create resilient, diverse communities.

Key Insights from the Podcast

The Journey Into Land Economics

Jacob’s path from government property teams to national consulting highlights the value of adaptability and curiosity. What started as a career in property valuation evolved into a passion for economic strategy and housing outcomes.

Making the Case for Development

From feasibility analysis to highest-and-best-use studies, Jacob explains why robust economic arguments are crucial — not only for project viability but for convincing local and state governments to support rezoning or planning changes.

Decoding Demand Trends

With Australia’s changing demographics — smaller household sizes, rising migration, and aging populations — developers must rethink lot sizes, housing types, and community amenities, especially in growth corridors.

Greenfield vs. Urban Renewal

Jacob unpacks the differences between inner-urban redevelopment and outer growth area projects, and how factors like lot size, housing typology, and car parking need to be tailored to different

Join Our Community: We invite you to participate in this enlightening voyage. Whether you’re here to gain industry insights or find guidance on your professional journey, Land Pioneers is your compass in the world of land development. Subscribe and become an integral part of our community today. Visit https://landpioneerspodcast.com/