2026 BDO Outlook in Brisbane

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BDO Outlook is our national flagship event series bringing together leaders from business, government, and industry to explore the key issues shaping Australia’s economic future.

This year’s theme was Future Fit. As Australia faces an increasingly complex and uncertain future, being future fit requires us to consider the capabilities, investments and policy settings needed to drive long-term economic prosperity. It challenges us to think beyond immediate priorities and ask a fundamental question: what does a future-fit state look like, and what actions must we take today to build it?

In Brisbane, we were delighted to explore whether Queensland is building the capacity, capability and productivity needed to sustain its growth trajectory and convert opportunity into long-term economic outcomes.

Economic snapshot

Economic growth is entering a new phase. Around the world, governments and businesses are navigating the trade-offs between growth, resilience, security and social investment, while disruptive forces such as AI, demographic shifts and geopolitical change continue to reshape markets.

The Queensland Economic Snapshot report examines the global and Australian outlook before exploring the opportunities and challenges unique to Queensland. From population growth and major infrastructure investment to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, trade expansion and the energy transition, the report highlights the trends expected to shape Queensland's economy and business environment in the years ahead.

BDO Outlook 2026 in Brisbane

Key themes and insights

  • The productivity problem. Queensland's future prosperity will depend not simply on growth, but on how effectively we convert growth into productivity and long-term value.
  • Shifting the conversation from “getting bigger” to “getting better”. While Queensland continues to benefit from strong population growth and investment, productivity improvements will come from redesigning work, simplifying processes, embracing technology, and ensuring scarce skills are focused on high-value activities.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the state's most significant productivity opportunities. Organisations were encouraged to rethink how work is performed, rather than simply layering new technology onto existing processes.
  • Challenges posed by workforce constraints, major infrastructure demands and Brisbane 2032. As competition for skilled talent increases, organisations will need to find new ways to maximise capability, build future skills and deliver more value with the resources available.
  • Resilience and productivity must go hand in hand. In a more uncertain global environment, Queensland's success will depend on its ability to remain adaptable, absorb disruption, and continue creating value over the long term.

Our speakers

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Kendall Gilding

Journalist, television presenter and MC


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Kendall Gilding is a journalist, television presenter and sought-after MC with more than 15 years' experience asking the questions that matter. 

A regular contributor to Channel 9's Today Show and a columnist for The Courier-Mail, Kendall brings warmth, curiosity and confidence to every conversation, making her a trusted moderator for Australia's leading businesses, organisations and events.

Anders is BDO’s Chief Economist, responsible for leading the firm’s macroeconomic analysis with a commitment to helping clients navigate the key transitions shaping Australia’s next decade. He is a purpose-driven economist who strives to help his clients achieve social benefit, leveraging the breadth and depth of expertise at BDO to deliver practical solutions.

Anders is highly curious and has a passion for the natural world, focussing much of his career on the economic opportunities of Australia’s oceans, forests and regional landscapes. He is equally concerned with communities and followed his Bachelor of Economics with a Master of Health to better understand the social links between economic events and wellbeing.

He works with an ever-expanding range of sectors, specialising in fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, forestry, infrastructure and healthcare assignments for both government and private clients.

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The Hon. Sam O'Connor MP

Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Youth, Member for Bonney

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Sam O’Connor grew up around his family’s electrical retail business RT Edwards and completed degrees in Science and Arts at the University of Queensland. Before entering public life, Sam worked in the hospitality industry and as a media and communications advisor.

In 2017, Sam was elected as the first MP for the new Gold Coast electorate of Bonney. He proudly serves the residents of Labrador, Arundel, Parkwood, The Surrounds, and parts of Biggera Waters, Coombabah and Southport. Representing an electorate with one of the highest rates of renting and a significant proportion of social housing, Sam has seen firsthand the challenges of housing security and cost-of-living and its impact on his community.

Re-elected in 2024 for a third term in Parliament, Sam was honoured to be appointed Queensland’s Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth. In these roles, he is committed to giving more Queenslanders a place to call home by boosting frontline homelessness support, building more social and affordable housing and unlocking the potential of the community housing sector. Sam is also focused on driving innovation in the building and construction sector, improving productivity and efficiency to meet Queensland’s growing housing and infrastructure needs.

To deliver generational change for our great state, Sam is working to position Queensland as the building capital of the nation, ensuring the state leads the way in tackling housing challenges and creates opportunities for the next generation to thrive.

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Bridget Messer

Chief Executive, Customer, Brand & Digital
Suncorp Group

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Bridget Messer is Chief Executive, Customer, Brand & Digital at Suncorp. She oversees customer experience, digital channels, brand and marketing, and key policy and government relationships.  Prior to joining Suncorp as Chief Risk Officer in 2022, she spent 16 years at IG Group, a prominent London-based derivatives trading platform. Her roles at IG included Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Global Head of Compliance, and General Counsel. Bridget’s deep experience of managing and monetising risk underpins her ability to drive sustainable performance and growth, including P&L management, business strategy and development, and customer experience.

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Ian Davies

Chair
Amplitude Energy

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Over 25 years in the energy sector, and one of Australia's most experienced energy executives. Ian led Senex Energy as Managing Director and CEO from 2010-2024, guiding a A$1 billion growth program and major east coast gas developments. He was previously Chief Financial Officer at QGC and held senior roles with BG Group following its acquisition. Ian is a former Chair of Australian Energy Producers. He was appointed Chair of Amplitude Energy in 2025 and Chair of Nioa Defence Group in 2026.
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Julianne Kennedy

Partner, People Advisory
BDO in Australia
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Julianne is a Partner in BDO’s People Advisory team in Brisbane. She is dedicated to helping client's harness and future-proof their workforce as part of an integrated business strategy. With over 18 years’ consulting experience in the UK, US, Europe, Africa, India, New Zealand, and Australia, Julianne has supported both public and private sector clients with a broad range of workforce issues. Her expertise includes overseeing large-scale change programs, developing new operating models, and designing organisational structures that help clients encourage adoption, improve efficiencies, realign ways of working, or reduce cost.

Julianne’s experience also includes defining future workforce requirements and developing strategies to help acquire, retain, develop, and engage talent critical to business needs. She is passionate about driving behavioural change and helping clients achieve critical strategic outcomes through their workforces.

National series

This year our BDO Outlook event is being held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Click the links below to learn more about our Melbourne and Sydney events, and keep an eye on this page for updates on our Perth Outlook event.