Urbanity Session Highlight: The Future of Wellness

Wellness has evolved dramatically, transforming from sweaty sessions in cramped gyms to luxurious experiences in multi-million-dollar wellness centres.

This session at Urbanity 2024 is for the developers interested in learning more about how to incorporate “wellness” into their developments. Join Avalon Nethery, Chris Lucas and Tony De Leede as they dive into their (very different) businesses and talk about the feasibility models—and how to actually implement wellness into your projects.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to sit down with these prominent wellness-focused developers.

Learn more about Australia’s premier property conference 

What do our speakers bring to the table?

Avalon Nethery
Owner, managing director at BORNE

“Borne is really a startup with a big mission, idea and I am giving it a red hot crack—like most of us in the property development industry are used to doing”

Session focus: Avalon Nethery, with a wealth of experience in luxury development as associate director of leading developer Fortis, has shifted her focus to wellness with her company, Borne. Inspired by her personal journey through motherhood and postpartum recovery, Nethery founded Borne to integrate postpartum care into Australia’s healthcare system.

Avalon will share insights from her journey from traditional residential development to launching a bespoke postpartum hotel within the renowned Intercontinental Hotel at Double Bay. Nethery will unpack the challenges of finding a suitable insurance model and the genesis of how the business came to be the first of its kind in Australia.

“I am currently working on getting partnerships with the medical industry as well as working towards getting attention from private health funds,” she told The Urban Developer.

“I think the property development industry is very exciting overall. It is full of people who like risk, see or have a vision and transform places on a large and interesting scale.”

Toney De Leede
Owner of Gwinganna 

Background: Tony De Leede, chief executive of Wellness Solutions, and founder of Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat and Fitness First Australia, has revolutionised the wellness industry. His leadership turned Fitness First into a global health club leader. In 2005, Tony launched Gwinganna, a 200ha retreat in Queensland’s hinterland, acclaimed for its holistic wellness and sustainable living.

De Leede’s innovations extend to wellness technology with the Somadome meditation pod and the O2Chair breathing pod. He also founded Club W, a women-only lifestyle and wellness community space. 

At Urbanity, Tony will share the learnings of delivering one of Australia’s most innovative and unique wellness resorts in Australia.

Chris Lucas
Founder, chief executive of Lucas Restaurants 

Background: Chris Lucas, one of Australia’s top restaurateurs, has redefined dining by integrating world-class hospitality into commercial spaces. His innovative work at Melbourne’s 80 Collins and 101 Collins exemplifies how exceptional dining enhances tenant and visitor experiences, creating holistic environments that add value.

Lucas’s coming projects, including a new restaurant in Canberra with QIC and the highly anticipated Batard in Melbourne, showcase his ability to elevate urban dining landscapes. 

Lucas will discuss his approach to incorporating top-tier restaurants into commercial spaces and how it can boost property value and create vibrant, attractive environments.

A little about Urbanity

Taking place on the Gold Coast in July-August, Urbanity 2024 will bring prominent industry figures from the Asia-Pacific region together for the three-day conference. The event will unravel the most recent trends, disruptions and themes that influence the evolution of cities in the region.

With a record of selling out its the past five editions, Urbanity is an essential gathering for individuals engaged in the development of cities and urban spaces.

This is your last opportunity to save $100 on your ticket.

Register before June 30, 2024 to receive second-release ticket rates.

Click here to learn more.