Welcome to Season 3, Episode 29 of The Land Pioneers Podcast!

We’re excited to feature Emmanuel Cohen, an accomplished development leader whose career has evolved from architecture into major public projects, community housing, and complex development. With experience across Development Victoria and Homes Victoria, Emmanuel brings a unique perspective on how design thinking, commercial strategy, and community outcomes come together to shape better places.

Now Senior Director – Complex Development Projects at the ACT Government’s City Renewal Authority, Emmanuel joins us to discuss his career progression, leadership, community-focused development, and the lessons that have shaped his journey in the built environment.

Welcome to Season 3 of The Land Pioneers Podcast!

We’re excited to feature Darcy Modina of Boldstone, a senior development manager whose career combines hands-on civil engineering experience with a growing leadership role in property development. From starting out on construction sites at just 18 to managing large-scale developments across Queensland, Darcy brings a practical understanding of project delivery, problem-solving, and the many competing interests that drive successful developments.

Beyond property, Darcy is also a competitive bodybuilder, a pursuit that reflects the discipline, resilience, and drive she brings to her professional life. In this episode, Darcy shares her journey from engineering to development, the importance of mentorship, the challenges facing Queensland’s property market, and why continuous improvement remains central to everything she does.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Giles, managing director of Connecting Community and one of Australia’s leading voices in retirement living and community development. With 25 years of experience across Australia and internationally, Andrew brings a unique perspective on how demographic change, housing, care and community are reshaping the retirement living sector.

With Australia’s ageing population creating unprecedented demand, Andrew believes retirement living is no longer a niche housing conversation—it is becoming a vital part of Australia’s housing future. We’re excited to explore his journey, the sector’s evolution, and the opportunities ahead for developers.