SPEAKERS

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.