“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates and customers…” – Robin Sharma
Elite Agent’s 2019 real estate industry influencers have moved us forward in different ways; amplifying their voices in the industry to create change through clever innovation or by coaching others to succeed. As a fitting end to 2019, we would like to acknowledge those who have inspired our readers over the past 12 months.
INDUSTRY INFLUENCERS 2019
MULTIPLE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND COACH
LISA B
Releasing two books this year, as well as curating the popular group Let’s Talk About Real Estate, Lisa B is “an inspirational leader who you can turn to for advice and thought provoking conversation.”
Visit Website
BENSON AUCTIONS
STU BENSON
We have all come to
#TrustTheProcess
when Stu talks
auctions. This year,
he took a stand in
support of mortgage
brokers after the Royal Commission, with
one of his supporters commenting, “this guy
epitomises real estate, he lives and breathes
it and always puts the community first.”
Visit Website
REAL+
FIONA BLAYNEY
Property managers
and real estate
leaders across
the country have
described Fiona as
an inspiration. Fiona is known for being
an energetic force for good. “Fiona helps
agents across the whole of Australia to
maximise their business; she is helpful in
times of trouble and to agents when they
are flying high.”
Visit Website
ACTIVE AGENTS/BDM ACADEMY
TARA BRADBURY
Tara Bradbury continues to be on the list
of most admired coaches. “She is highly
motivated and has an explosive passion
for business development!”
Visit Website
PRINCIPAL, WISEBERRY HERITAGE
DARIN BUTCHER
The Wiseberry
Heritage team
nominated Darin
several times over for his ability to
motivate and inspire on a daily basis.
“The knowledge and intelligence he
demonstrates is limitless, but the real
magic lies in his genuine passion to share
what he knows and drive others to their
success and happiness.”
Visit Website
DIGITAL LIVE
STEVE CARROLL
Never has one man
managed to get so
many folks in Lycra
for a good cause.
While he finished up
at realestate.com.au in November this year,
Steve remains the spearhead of everyone’s
favourite digital education program, Digital
Live, with the proceeds going to Hands
Across the Water.
Visit Website
MINT REAL ESTATE/OPENN NEGOTIATION
PETER CLEMENTS
The REIWA small Residential Agency of
the Year winner has had quite a year, with
the growth of Openn Negotiation and
having joined the team at Eview. “Peter has,
and will, change the lives of thousands of
agents and millions of sellers and buyers
now and in the future.”
Visit Website
COOLEY AUCTIONS
DAMIEN COOLEY
Damien Cooley is not just one of Australia’s
most recognised and booked property
auctioneers, he is also regularly involved in
charities such as Youth off the Streets and
The House for Life Charity program. He is a
regular on The Block and has also launched
his online auction service Auction Now.
Visit Website
FRANCHISE DIRECTOR RE/MAX AUSTRALIA
JOEL DAVOREN
As Franchise Director
for RE/MAX
Australia, Joel’s role is
to create and facilitate
the experience of opportunities. To the
people around him, he is a “consummate
professional, who really gets it.”
Visit Website
COACH
JESS DENSLEY
Jess Densley is a real estate mentor with
a passion for success. “Jess has been a
massive help to my business and many
businesses all over the country.”
Visit Website
STARR PARTNERS
DOUGLAS DRISCOLL
The Starr Partners CEO manages to
create a stir with provocative industry
commentary, which many folks cannot help
but click on. But one reader commented
Douglas, “has a passion for improving the
industry and uses his position to help make
positive change.”
Visit Website
COACH
CLAUDIO ENCINA
One of the industry’s most popular trainers
has had a big 2019, increasing his band of
merry followers, which include CEOs at
some of the large groups in the industry.
“Claudio has influenced me to get back on
track as the recent market had taken its toll
on me. He took me by the hand. Now I feel
I’m back because of his help for both myself
and my team.”
Visit Website
EVIEW GROUP
MANOS AND MARIA FINDIKAKIS
Having started Eview in 2006, Manos and
Maria Findikakis have brought their wealth
of business knowledge and a great sense
of family into everything they do. With
an open door policy and their incurable
appetite to give back, they are everyone’s
real estate family.
Visit Website
CORONIS
JODI FORD
Jodi Ford is striving
to use innovation to
make a difference
in the property
management
industry, including
new businesses such as Coronis Now
and Coronis Core. She has a passion
to empower women to be independent
professionally and personally, and runs
free seminars to help reach that goal.
Visit Website
MAP REAL ESTATE
MICHAEL FURLONG
Michael works in the PM space to help
make business owners make more money
with less effort. “Michael is a systems
genius and he has time for everyone.
He is always willing to share, motivate
and elevate those around him and the
profession of property management.”
Visit Website
INDEPENDENT/GILL&HOOPER
HANNAH GILL
Hannah’s peers describe her as “an
outstanding leader and mentor and it
is difficult to think of anyone else who
would come close to being as deserving
to be recognised in this way. She is an
exceptional director and never fails to go
above and beyond for her team.”
Visit Website
HARCOURTS
IRENE GREEN
The Director
of Professional
Development
at Harcourts
International was
this year an AREAs
finalist for Most Influential Woman in
the Property Industry. She launched
Inspirational Women in Australia, New
Zealand and the United States of America
– a program to encourage more women to
take on the fear of public speaking and to
help others. The program currently has 11
ambassadors around the globe.
Visit Website
CORE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
VASILI HADZELLIS
Vasili is well loved in the real estate
industry, and described as having
“endless energy and enthusiasm - with
integrity that is above reproach. This
being said, his professional attitude and
personal dedication to make the industry
not only highly regarded but fun is
commendable.”
Visit Website
FIRST NATIONAL BYRON BAY
CHRIS HANLEY AO
After an Australian gunman opened fire
in Christchurch this year, Chris Hanley
decided to do something about it. He
created a conference which ended up
raising more than NZD $150,000 for
the families of the victims, which will
continue next year in 2020.
Visit Website
HARRIS REAL ESTATE
PHIL HARRIS
Phil Harris is a thought leader in the
area of systems, processes, training and
innovation and is regularly sought after
for leadership advice. He continues to be
a big advocate of personal mastery and
wellbeing; if you’ve tried infrared saunas
at all this year, the original source was
probably Phil Harris.
Visit Website
SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS AND LIFE
SHANE KEMPTON
The Drive Performance Coach has had a
profound impact on many businesses he has
coached this year. “He helped us to implement
a set of KPIs that have propelled our property
management business into the stratosphere.”
Visit Website
HOME.BYHOLLY
HOLLY KOMOROWSKI
Awarded the gold AREA this year for
Residential Agent of the Year, Holly is an
industry leader many wish to emulate.
Known for her innovative marketing
programs, mentoring and people-focused
attitude, the team at home.byholly has
quadrupled over the past three years.
Visit Website
THE AGENCY
MATT LAHOOD
With The Agency
West Coast
completing the Top
Level acquisition
earlier this year, The
Agency ends 2019
strongly, with a successful cap raise of
$4.5 million and strong leadership in Matt
Lahood. “Matt is an inspirational leader and
his skill in sales and people management is
without equal in the industry.”
Visit Website
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY
KASEY MCDONALD
Through PM
Training Academy,
Kasey McDonald
has increased her following over the past 12
months - helping large and small businesses
become more efficient and promoting growth.
Visit Website
RAY WHITE
MARK MCLEOD
Ray White’s Chief
of Growth is one of
the industry’s true
thought leaders,
continually sought
out for his honest,
down-to-earth, pragmatic approach to
business and real estate.
Visit Website
CEO, REIQ
ANTONIA MERCORELLA
The legal eagle turned Real Estate Institute
CEO is always in the media championing
the rights of REIQ members and agents
in Queensland. “Antonia has been a
powerhouse of the Queensland Real Estate
Industry, driving the digital and cultural
transformation over the past 12 months.”
Visit Website
MITCHELL PT
HAYLEY MITCHELL
Through her various training events and
social media platforms, Hayley Mitchell
remains a force for good in property
management who is continuously lobbying
for better career paths for PMs. “She is an
industry expert, support person, influencer
and all round beautiful lady.”
Visit Website
MORTON
EWAN MORTON
Morton was an
AREAs finalist for
Agency of the Year
and as a leader Ewan
Morton stands tall
among his peers. “Ewan is a progressive
leader who is innovative in his own
business and strategic in his leadership of
our industry as a whole.”
Visit Website
NOVAK PROPERTIES
LISA NOVAK
Lisa gained a myriad
of followers this
year for her threeminute appraisal
and continues to
set benchmarks in
social influence for selling and marketing
property.
Visit Website
OBRIEN REAL ESTATE
DEAN O’BRIEN
Under the combined leadership of Dean
O’Brien, Darren Hutchins and Stavros
Ambatzidis, O’Brien Real Estate has
continued to impress in a challenging
12 months. Dean is described as “an
outstanding innovator with systems,
strategies and is always thinking well ahead
of the curve.”
Visit Website
OUWENS CASSERLY REAL ESTATE
ALEX OUWENS + NATHAN CASSERLY
Under the leadership of Alex Ouwens
and Nathan Casserly, the company
has continued to grow, raising money
for charities, increasing volumes and
property under management and
achieving record staff numbers and
engagement scores. They regularly host
other businesses in the real estate field
who want to learn from them, and are
sought after thought leaders among some
industry giants.
Visit Website
COACH AND TRAINER
JOSH PHEGAN
Speaker, coach, trainer, app developer
and international mentor; “Josh trains the
industry who’s who and has managed to
assist these agents and franchises reach
goals and achieve them year after year.”
Visit Website
LAING + SIMMONS (DEXAR GROUP)
LEANNE PILKINGTON
Awarded AREAs 2019 Most Influential
Woman in the Property Industry, Leanne
continues to play a role that is passionate,
forward thinking and genuine caring about
the people around her.
Visit Website
REA GROUP
KURTIS PIROTTA
The realestate.
com.au property
management
advocate continues
to “go above and
beyond in the PM world and should be
recognised for his efforts.”
Visit Website
THE AGENCY
JESSE RAEBURN
Jesse Raeburn and his partner Mel weren’t
the overall winners of The Block this year,
but they held their own and won numerous
challenges. He’s now selling the last two
remaining apartments in The Gatwick, just
in case any of you are keen renovators.
Visit Website
MRT TRAINING
TONY ROWE
Our favourite veteran of industry training
has had his work cut out this year with
many changes to legislation around the
country. “Tony has been amazing this
year by keeping me up to date with all
of the legislation changes and licensing
requirements. He is also extremely
committed to all agents raising their level of
education within the industry.”
Visit Website
RAY WHITE, TRG (THE RUBINSTEIN GROUP)
GAVIN RUBINSTEIN
Still the undisputed
#1 in Sydney’s Eastern
suburbs, this year
brought major change as Gavin left his
home of 10 years and opened up shop in
Woollahra. He continues to set the standard
in excelling in the ‘digital interview.’
Visit Website
BOX BROWNIE
PETER SCHRAVEMADE
Since Box Brownie was accepted into the
NAR Reach program, Peter Schravemade
has waved the Aussie flag at numerous
conferences both here and abroad. “He has
significantly grown the profile of Australian
real estate in the US.”
Visit Website
RE/MAX ELITE
DAVE SKOW
The Wagga business owner is still at the
top of everyone’s list for a friendly ear or
some simple advice. He is described as
someone who “is always giving his time and
knowledge and is also a really great guy.”
Visit Website
KEY2 PROPERTY
TAMEKA SMITH
Tameka works tirelessly in the community
and with clients/tenants/stakeholders
to constantly improve the property
management and rental experience for all.
“She has been a key influencer in Tasmania
for the past few years. A true leader and a
wonderful businesswoman working for the
community.”
Visit Website
CORONIS NOW
JODIE STAINTON
Jodie is described as an “amazing woman
with a vision.” Through Coronis Now and
some pure determination, she is giving
women the opportunity to own their own
business, which would not normally be
financially achievable for them.
Visit Website
MCGRATH
MAT STEINWEDE
Mat Steinwede is one of the most “followed”
agents on social media for his informative and
entertaining Motivational Mondays as well as
his regular daily documentaries. As McGrath’s
#1 agent for three years running, there is
probably something in that for everyone. “Just
check out his Instagram, any agent can follow
this, adapt it to themselves and absolutely turn
up their results and change their life. All done
for no monetary gain.”
Visit Website
MARKET BUY
DAVID STEWART
The Market Buy director and founder has
spent significant time both here and in the
USA continuously improving his product
and tweaking it for a bigger market. David
is described as someone who doesn’t just
“talk the talk, he walks the walk.”
Visit Website
AUSTRALIAN REAL ESTATE
JOSH TESOLIN
At 23 Josh Tesolin completed his first full
year in sales in 2018 writing more than $1.1m
in GCI. Working at Australian Real Estate
– Quakers Hill, where the median house
price is $750,000, he has achieved numerous
record sales this year, plus racked up many
more followers on his Facebook page.
Visit Website
REAL ESTATE BRILLIANCE
RYAN THOMPSON
The WA performance coach continues to
help agents reach their full potential. He is
described as “an excellent coach and trainer
committed to making the industry and the
people in it better.”
Visit Website
PROPERTY AUCTION SERVICES
ROB TROVATO
The director of Property Auction Services
continues to make a difference both in his
auctioneering business and as a mentor.
“Rob is one of my mentors in sales/auction
process and strategy. He has helped me
become the million dollar agent I am today.”
Visit Website
GLENN TWIDDLE TRAINING
GLENN TWIDDLE
Glenn continues to be passionate about real
estate and ensuring agents remain relevant.
He is described as someone who “is
incredibly giving of his time and will go out
of his way to assist in personal development
regardless of whether or not you’re a paying
student.”
Visit Website
RAY WHITE
DAN WHITE
A fourth generation
member of the
White family, Dan
is responsible for
leading and growing
Australasia’s biggest
property group on a day-to-day basis across
Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Hong
Kong, PNG, China, UAE and the US. More
than 1000 offices in the group look to Dan
for his leadership and strategic vision
Visit Website
@HOME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
MICHELLE WILLIAMS
With a tribe of loyal
followers in Tasmania
who look to her for
advice and support,
Michelle continues to inspire others outside
her business through running a successful
Facebook group called Launceston
Property Investors. It’s full of valuable
information about the local market and
investment tips.
Visit Website
REA GROUP
OWEN WILSON
Owen Wilson stepped into the real estate
spotlight when he moved into the role
of REA Group CEO in January this year
amidst arguably the worst downturn in
the property market in the past 10 years.
In a recent interview with Elite Agent,
Owen said “My message is stay the course;
if we work together, I think we’re going to
succeed long after this cycle has become
history.”
Visit Website