On Wednesday 29 October, Acumentis proudly hosted No Land, No Project at the stunning QUT Room Three Sixty in Brisbane. The event brought together more than 100 clients and industry leaders across the project, infrastructure, resources, and legal sectors for an afternoon of thought-provoking discussions, valuable networking, and warm hospitality.
The Acumentis Projects, Infrastructure & Acquisitions team, led by James Lockwood, reflected on the transformative projects they have supported, and the critical lessons learned from decades of experience. With over 160 years of combined expertise, the team supports clients with complex compulsory acquisitions and strategic land access solutions. With national coverage and a growing team, the discussions in the room highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration in achieving successful outcomes for Australia’s critical infrastructure projects.
Panel Discussions
At the heart of the event were two engaging panel sessions that explored the complex legal and practical realities of Australia’s infrastructure pipeline.
The Law & Land panel featured leading legal minds Majella Pollard (Partner, Clayton Utz), Kate Swain (Partner, McCullough Robertson) and Elizabeth Harvey (Special Counsel, HopgoodGanim). Together, they unpacked the evolving landscape of land access and compensation, addressing emerging challenges in Native Title, overlapping tenures, renewable energy risks, and the potential implications of upcoming legislative reforms.
The Infrastructure in Practice panel brought a practical discussion, focusing on the importance of early engagement and transparent processes in securing the social licence to operate, a critical factor in earning community trust and avoiding costly project delays. The panel comprised Peter Silvester, Executive Director – Assets, Approvals & Access at the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority; Greg Leahy, Access Assurance & Cultural Heritage Lead at Origin Energy; Kurt Baker, Project Development Director at Powerlink; and Matthew Glass, Head of Projects at Mint Renewables. Together, they shared candid reflections on the realities of delivering major projects, from navigating regulatory complexities and compulsory acquisition challenges to balancing stakeholder interests in a rapidly evolving policy environment.
With billions of dollars in infrastructure investment on the horizon, both panels offered practical and timely perspectives on managing risk, fostering collaboration, and maintaining momentum across Australia’s ambitious project pipeline.
Collaborative Atmosphere
The atmosphere was vibrant, with attendees sharing experiences and ideas. Combined with the stunning venue and delicious catering by Cuisine on Cue, the event struck the perfect balance between thought leadership and meaningful networking.
Feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive:
“Both panels provided excellent insights into the land access space.”
“One of the best corporate networking events I’ve attended — a perfect mix of quality information and a relaxed atmosphere.”
“Fantastic event — the food, drinks, venue and content were excellent. A great idea to spotlight acquisition given the pipeline of projects ahead.”
Looking Ahead
No Land, No Project reinforced the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in navigating Australia’s infrastructure and land acquisition challenges. Acumentis is thrilled with the success of the event and looks forward to creating more opportunities for meaningful industry conversations in the future.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day so memorable!
