Paul Waterson

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Venue Co

Paul Waterson has driven the group’s rapid growth from a small Victorian pub group to one of the country’s largest and most dynamic hospitality groups. AVC operates over 250 venues across Australia and New Zealand with over 10,000 team members. AVC has achieved compound annual growth rates over 30% over the last ten years through a mix of organic growth, venue acquisition and developments.

HPRE26 Agenda

OPENING PANEL: Pubs as institutional-grade assets: How to maximise long-term value

Bradfield Advisors is a specialist capital advisory firm focused on pub investment, real estate syndication, and structured finance. We partner with investors, operators, and business owners to originate, structure, and execute sophisticated capital solutions that unlock growth opportunities across the hospitality and commercial property sectors. Drawing on deep expertise in banking, debt capital markets, and real estate finance, we deliver tailored funding strategies, investment syndications, and capital advisory services that align the interests of investors and asset owners. Our team has extensive experience in structuring acquisitions, refinancing transactions, and raising institutional and private capital for high-quality hospitality assets, with a particular focus on Australian pubs. Combining commercial insight with disciplined execution, Bradfield Advisors provides clients with innovative, practical solutions that maximise value while managing risk. We are committed to building long-term partnerships through integrity, expertise, and consistently delivering successful outcomes in complex capital transactions.

Chewzie is Australian hospitality’s ordering partner, providing the fastest, most reliable and most flexible table ordering platform for market-leading venues committed to the best customer experience.
Chewzie solves the most common frustrations with QR ordering. Alongside comprehensive POS integrations, our unique Direct to Printer technology ensures every order prints instantly even when POS or API connectivity is disrupted.

ID-Free Checkout lets guests order and pay up to five times faster, with no app download, no personal details and no sign-up. That experience, backed by a reliability guarantee, lifts revenue and safeguards a venue’s reputation. The platform is proven at peak volume and across complex venue group requirements.

This superior functionality is why many of Australia’s best operators have made the switch to Chewzie. With millions of active users across the country, Chewzie is laser-focused on changing the way we order food and drink for good.

Nextrend is a venue transformation partner to Australia’s pubs, clubs, RSLs and hospitality operators. Built on a heritage in commercial furniture, we’ve grown into a single point of ownership for full venue upgrades — from custom furniture and bespoke fit-out to social gaming experiences like SHUFL shuffleboard and FLYBY interactive darts. Backed by an extensive stocked range for quick supply and end-to-end project management and install, we guide operators through every stage of their refresh with expertise and confidence. One place, endless possibilities. Visit nextrend.com.au to start the conversation.

Aberdeen Capital Debt Advisory

Aberdeen Capital Debt Advisory (AbCap) is an independent debt advisory firm specialising in complex and bespoke financing solutions for corporate clients across Australia.

With direct experience across hospitality, real estate, and cashflow lending, AbCap understands the full spectrum of debt structuring, whether underpinned by hard assets, operational real estate, or pure cashflow alone.

Through rigorous financial analysis, deep market knowledge, and a hands-on approach to execution, AbCap goes beyond simply sourcing debt.

AbCap provides structuring value in a way that maximises flexibility, minimises cost, and delivers optimal solutions for clients.

Backed by deep relationships across traditional lenders, private credit, and alternative finance markets, AbCap partners with businesses to navigate and execute transactions that deliver real commercial outcomes.

Unita

Unita is an interior fitout company building spaces where people love to work, shop, dine and play.

Unita understands that a fitout isn’t just fixtures and finishes. It’s strategy, storytelling and customer experience, built into every detail.

A national team with local expertise, Unita delivers fitouts in every major Australian city across retail, hospitality, gyms, hotels, offices and healthcare.

True collaborators, they work with clients, designers and contractors to keep every project aligned and on track. Their approach centres around open conversations, fast problem-solving and decisions made with their clients’ goals in mind.

That’s Unita’s promise: Built better together.

Find out more: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0LNkh0

BSP Lawyers

BSP Lawyers are the market-leading legal team in all matters relating to hospitality venues. They provide advice in relation to Victorian gaming and liquor licensing transactions, and compliance and regulatory work. BSP Lawyers combines this specialist knowledge with an experienced team handling property, leasing, planning and development, privacy, general commercial and employment matters – both in and outside of the hospitality space.

GSA Insurance

GSA is a client‑first insurance broking and risk management specialist, delivering tailored solutions to more than 1,000 venues across Australia. For over 35 years, our experienced team has worked alongside hospitality clients to design and secure insurance programs aligned to their unique operational risks. We provide end‑to‑end support, from renewal strategy and detailed risk audits through to proactive claims management.

Our comprehensive suite of solutions supports hospitality operators across a broad range of covers, including Industrial Special Risks, Business Interruption, Public Liability, Management Liability, Cyber, Contract Works, Group Salary Continuance, Warranties & Indemnities and Workers Compensation,

GSA acts as a trusted advisor, simplifying complex insurance decisions and delivering clear, expert guidance. Through strong insurer and partner relationships, regular market insights, and skilled negotiation, we advocate for optimal coverage and competitive premiums, while providing steadfast support when claims arise. Headquartered in Sydney, GSA has expanded its presence across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Newcastle.

SW Accounting

SW has been helping businesses take the lead for more than 90 years.

With more than 400 people across Australia and access to a global network, we combine commercial insight with hands-on support. SW is also a nine-year finalist for Best Accounting Firm, as ranked by our clients in independent Beaton research.

From pubs, clubs, restaurants and accommodation providers to hospitality groups and property investors, SW delivers accounting, tax, audit and advisory services tailored to the unique needs of the industry.

Aberdeen Capital Debt Advisory

Aberdeen Capital Debt Advisory’s dedicated focus on understanding your financial position and corporate strategies enables us to collaborate effectively, ensuring optimal financing outcomes. Recognising the significance of key stakeholders, including existing financiers, we actively nurture current relationships and, when necessary, facilitate introductions to new partners, aligning with your growth ambitions. Grounded in our motto of “Bon Accord or Good Agreement,” we prioritise establishing a strong foundation, allowing you to concentrate on what you do best – growing your business. The Abcap team stands ready to be your trusted adviser, to navigate the intricacies of financing in the ever-evolving hospitality landscape.

Unita is an interior fitout company building spaces where people love to work, shop, dine and play.

Unita understands that a fitout isn’t just fixtures and finishes. It’s strategy, storytelling and customer experience, built into every detail.

A national team with local expertise, Unita delivers fitouts in every major Australian city across retail, hospitality, gyms, hotels, offices and healthcare.

That’s Unita’s promise: Built better together.

At Oolio, we’re obsessed with hospitality. Our purpose is simple and shared with every venue we support: facilitating celebration. Built by Australians for Australian venues, Oolio is a hospitality solutions provider, built by people who’ve poured drinks, served tables, fixed tills and held it all together when it mattered most. We’re home to specialised hospitality platforms – Bepoz, Deliverit, Idealpos, Ordermate and Swiftpos as well as the Oolio One, who, together, support over 22,000 venues with POS solutions, payments, online ordering, loyalty, inventory and integrations for hospitality businesses. Each has shaped the industry in its own way and represents decades of expertise and innovation in hospitality technology.

The Hotel Conversation is a leading source of news, insights, and analysis for Australasia’s hospitality property sector. Covering Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, it delivers timely updates on hotel transactions, development trends, policy shifts, and market intelligence across the region.

With a strong focus on investment, architecture, operations, and design, The Hotel Conversation provides in-depth coverage of the issues shaping the hotel and accommodation industries. The platform also spotlights thought leadership from operators, developers, advisors, and government stakeholders – profiling the people and businesses driving innovation and growth in tourism and hospitality real estate.

From expert blogs to exclusive interviews, The Hotel Conversation is a trusted voice for professionals navigating this fast-evolving sector.

Future Village

Future Village designs and delivers free standing parklets and green alfresco spaces that convert underutilised hardscapes into high-performing patron areas. For hospitality venues, this means more seats, longer dwell times, and increased revenue without costly permanent construction.

Our systems transform footpaths, parking bays and plazas into attractive, shaded environments that draw people in and encourage them to stay. Integrated planting, canopy structures and seating create a comfortable microclimate, reducing heat and improving guest experience.

Designed for durability and low maintenance, our solutions use high-quality materials and wicking planter systems to minimise operational effort. Each installation is modular, allowing flexibility for seasonal changes, events or reconfiguration.

We provide a full-service offering from concept design through to approvals, fabrication and installation; supported by strong experience working with venues and councils across Australia.

Forpoint Solutions

Forpoint Solutions is a finance and performance management transformation partner working with Australia’s leading property developers, hospitality groups, and real estate organisations, including PAYCE Consolidated, Baillie Lodges, and The Langham Hotels & Resorts. The team helps businesses modernise their financial operations, simplify complex processes, and gain clearer visibility across their portfolios.

With strong industry expertise, Forpoint delivers cloud-based solutions designed for high-growth, asset-intensive environments where accuracy, flexibility, and scalability matter. Their approach enables businesses to improve reporting, streamline workflows, and make more informed decisions without the burden of manual processes.

Backed by a team of certified consultants with experience across finance, technology, and the local market, Forpoint supports organisations to move faster, plan with confidence, and get more value from their data.

Who we are

At Allara Global, we’re passionate about empowering the hospitality industry. Through engaging online learning solutions and expert consultancy services. We help businesses:

Ensure compliance
Bridge skills gaps
Build high-performing teams

Training solutions that deliver

Our comprehensive course library covers compliance, core hospitality skills, and leadership development to support your team’s growth. Need something specific? Our in-house team creates customised learning programs tailored to your unique business needs.

Expert consultancy services

We help venues optimise operations, elevate guest experiences, and drive continuous improvement through audits, menu development, training, and ongoing support.

Powerful learning platform

Deliver structured training, track progress, and integrate seamlessly with workforce platforms using our intuitive learning platform

JLL are leading professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities.

Procore

Procore is a leading provider of construction management software. Over 1 million projects and more than $1 trillion USD in construction volume have run on Procore’s platform. Our platform connects every project stakeholder to solutions we’ve built specifically for the construction industry — for developers, head contractors, and subcontractors. Procore’s Marketplace has a multitude of partner solutions that integrate seamlessly with our platform, giving construction professionals the freedom to connect with what works best for them. Headquartered in Carpinteria, California, Procore has offices in Australia and around the globe.

Urbis

Urbis, a global urban consultancy, is committed to shaping cities and communities for a brighter future. As trusted strategic advisors to government and key decision makers, we leverage our network of brilliant minds to deliver innovative, evidence-based solutions. Our expertise spans planning, design, heritage, policy, valuations, transactions, economics, strategy, and research. We’re not just consultants, we’re partners in creating sustainable social, built, and natural environments. Engage with Urbis and connect to a better outcome, every time.

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Paul Waterson

HPRE26 Agenda

Procore

Build Australia

BTR News Australia

Urbis

Cushman & Wakefield