BODY CORPORATE FINANCES: MEET JASON CARLSON NEXT WEEK

The countdown is on! With just one week until our October Strata Community Education Seminar Series begins on the Sunshine Coast, we’re excited to introduce our first lawyer guest speaker, who will help unpack the legal and governance considerations behind body corporate finances.

Jason Carlson, Practice Leader at Chambers Russell Lawyers, will join our expert panels on the Sunshine Coast on 1^st of October and Mackay on 13^th of October.

Bringing extensive experience within Queensland’s strata sector, Jason will provide a legal and governance perspective as our panels explore the financial journey of a body corporate – from budgets and levies through to unexpected expenditure, long-term planning and managing finances throughout the year.

Jason Carlson is a Practice Leader at Chambers Russell Lawyers, with a focus on dispute resolution, strategic advisory work and management rights disputes within Queensland’s strata sector.

Over the past 15 years, Jason has led bodies corporate through some of Queensland’s most significant strata litigation.

His contribution to the industry also extends beyond legal practice. Jason served as a Director of Strata Community Association (Qld) from 2016 to 2022 and a Director of Strata Community Association Australasia from 2022 to 2024.

In 2022, he received the SCA (Qld) President’s Award, recognising his significant contribution to and leadership within Queensland’s strata sector.

Where Do the Law and Body Corporate Finances Meet?

Behind the budgets, levies and financial reports of a body corporate sits an important legal and governance framework.

Committees are regularly involved in financial decisions, but those decisions need to be made within the appropriate authority and processes. Questions can arise around how budgets and levies are adopted, what expenditure a committee can approve, when decisions need to go to a general meeting and what happens when the body corporate faces costs it had not anticipated.

And sometimes the questions become more difficult.

Can a committee simply decide it wants to keep levies low?

What happens when significant expenditure is approaching, but owners don’t want levies to increase?

If unexpected expenditure arises and there isn’t enough money available, what options does the body corporate have?

These are some of the practical issues we’ll explore during the seminars as Jason helps unpack the legal considerations behind the financial decisions bodies corporate and their committees face.

What Happens When the Budget Doesn’t Go to Plan?

Even with careful budgeting and forward planning, circumstances can change.

Unexpected maintenance or unplanned expenditure may arise during the year, leaving a body corporate to consider how the work will be funded and what approvals may be required.

Where available funds aren’t sufficient, options such as a special levy – and, in some circumstances, borrowing – may need to be considered. The appropriate approval process and legislative requirements will depend on the circumstances, making good governance particularly important when significant financial decisions arise.

This is where the different perspectives around our seminar panel come together.

Following the Financial Journey

Our October seminar series has been designed to take attendees through the complete financial lifecycle of a body corporate, combining practical financial management, legislative obligations and long-term capital expense planning.

Rather than looking at each area in isolation, our panelists will explore how they connect.

From preparing a budget and determining levy requirements to planning for future capital works, responding to unexpected expenditure, managing arrears and monitoring finances throughout the year, the discussion will follow the financial journey from beginning to end.

The aim is to show how practical management, legal governance and long-term planning work together to support better-informed financial decisions.

One Week to Go – Sunshine Coast!

The wait is almost over, with the first event in our October Strata Community Education Seminar Series taking place next week.

Committee Essentials: Understanding Body Corporate Finances

Where Does the Money Go? Demystifying Body Corporate Finances

Thursday, 1^st of October 2026
Maroochy RSL
4.30pm arrival for a 5.00pm start

Whether you’re a committee member, lot owner, building representative or simply want to better understand how body corporate finances work, we invite you to join us for an evening of practical education, discussion and the opportunity to ask questions directly of our panel.

You don’t need to be an Archers client to attend.

Can’t join us on the Sunshine Coast? Jason will also be joining our Mackay seminar panel on Tuesday, 13^th of October.

Find your nearest seminar and register here.

Stay tuned as we introduce more of the expert guest speakers joining our regional panels throughout October.

Article contributed by the Smart Strata Team.