Ray White Surfers Paradise Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bell OAM hopes to use his new position on the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) board of directors to champion the expectations of average Australians and tackle key issues including the Queensland land tax, rental crisis and the impacts of internal migration.
Mr Bell, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the real estate industry, will serve a two-year term as an additional director, starting in October.
“There’s a lot of things that happen at government level that I think are out of touch with what’s happening,” he said.
“Look at the current land tax proposal in Queensland.
“And I just feel there’s no point sitting around complaining about things, you have to step up and try and do something.”
Mr Bell said his experience in the industry should stand him in good stead.
“I’ve been in the industry a long time and I have a pretty good perspective on what the industry is all about,” he said.
“But it’s also about what our clients, what average Australians, expect in the space of real estate. So I’m just prepared to step up and do something, and hopefully add value to discussions and debates and maybe influence people that are decision-makers.
“Build-to-rent is a vital thing at the moment, and I think there’s so much that could be done at government level in that department.
“I will be particularly keen to provide the unique Queensland perspective, given that many of the unique aspects of our market, and particularly of late, significantly added pressures from the huge migration into the state of Queensland.”
REIA President Hayden Groves said he was delighted Mr Bell had joined the board given his vast experience in the industry, outstanding history of business results and well-known reputation.
“Mr Bell has over 40 years’ experience in the real estate industry, first operating a three-office group in Sydney and now the largest independently owned real estate group in Queensland,” Mr Groves said.
“He is regarded as one of Australia’s most experienced and professional real estate agents and auctioneers.
“Mr Bell owns and operates the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group with his brother Greg, which has become the largest real estate company in Queensland employing over 200 staff operating through a wide range of real estate activities from all forms of residential, prestige homes, project marketing, commercial and industrial.”
Mr Groves said the role of additional director was to provide specialist Queensland-based strategic advice to deliver the just launched REIA 2025 – Advancing Australia’s Prosperity.
“This initiative was created in a bid to restore national representation and the important voice of Queensland real estate practitioners to the REIA board,” he said.
“It is our view Queensland-based agents are equally deserving of expressing their opinions of REIA’s national policy and strategic objectives and Mr Bell was an outstanding candidate in a very competitive field.”
Mr Bell said he was honoured to join the REIA board of directors.
“I believe the work of REIA is essential, not only for our industry, but for the millions of Australians who are invested in the real estate market, either as homeowners or aspiring homeowners, tenants and landlords,” he said.
“It will be a huge honour, as well as an enormous responsibility to work with my fellow board members to have a powerful input and influence over a range of housing and industry topics that have never been more significant than present.”
