An Energetic 2017 SCA Conference

Unofficial coverage of the SCA National Conference, 14-16th June 201

Energy loomed large at this years SCA conference in the Hunter Valley, both on and off the dance floor. There were two separate presentations highlighting the rising energy crisis in apartment blocks and the opportunities for strata managers to generate new business.

Savant Energy covered the energy market and escalating prices.  From the City of Sydney we were treated to an overview of the proposed NABERS rating system for apartment buildings.  Then of course there was Kim Henshaws wicked dance moves at the after party.

SCA prizes in the preferred currency of the strata industry

​The event kicked off with Rod McGeoch extolling the counter truism that "Impatience is a virtue".  Further elaborating "Better to be approximately right at the right time, than completely right at the wrong time". You can download his keynote presentation Thriving in a Competitive Environment.


Learning from US Markets

Craig Griffin from Macquarie Bank encouraged strata managers to ensure that they aren't "sitting on a gold mine and digging for coal". According to Craig 89% of revenue in the U.S. strata industry comes from somewhere else, other than what Australian strata managers consider to be "strata management".

Greg Smith from Associa (largest U.S. "strata" company) encouraged everyone to "benchmark your own performance and get a perspective on what others are doing".  For further reading you can download his presentation Building a Community.
​

Australian Energy Market Opportunities

The Australian Energy Crisis and its Implications on Strata
Richard Mintz from Savant Power reminded strata managers that a "disrupted industry [energy] creates opportunity" but that budgets for common area electricity made by strata managers should "increase by about 20% compared with last year", further noting that 80-90% of strata common area electricity contracts are "out of contract".  Download the presentation here.

Improving the Environmental and Cost Efficiency of Australian Apartment Buildings
Kimberly Crawford from City of Sydney and Clare Berecry from NABERS encouraged all strata managers to get "NABERS-ready".  Download the presentation here.

The City of Sydney is also sponsoring a study into electric vehicle charging in strata buildings. Twenty buildings will receive a funded assessment and the opportunity to become a demonstration site.  Thanks to Griffith University and Energex the study is being replicated in Queensland. For further information and to register buildings to participate click here.


Leadership in Strata

Delegates were also treated to guess speaker, Antarctic expedition leader Rachel Robertson, talking about her new book Leading on the Edge.  After describing her 9 month challenge as a team leader on an antarctic base, Rachel is encouraging all leaders to "Protect the tribe so that the individual thrives"
​

For further reading, including a keynote from Michael Matusik on the national property market outlook you can download copies of the presentations here.  If you're looking for photographic evidence of the various proceedings visit the photo boards.


Ross McIntyre
Contributor, Strata Energy News 
​​