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The Best of the Best in Real Estate
Welcoming more than 600 guests to the Real Estate Institute of NSW’s 9th Annual Awards for Excellence, Institute President, Mrs Cristine Castle, said the industry's night of nights was a celebration of professionalism.
"It would be easy for some people to be pessimistic about property. It has been a tough year with rising interest rates, volatile petrol prices, the disastrous drought, and a sluggish State economy," Mrs Castle said.
"But true professionals understand what it is to work harder and smarter, with passion and integrity. And they know that it is knowledge, determination and dedication that makes them successful over the long run".
Mrs Castle said the annual Awards for Excellence recognised the star performers, both teams and individuals, that continue to drive the multi-billion dollar property industry.
"These Awards for Excellence are for being the best of the best and every finalist and winner here tonight is just that: the best of the best," Mrs Castle said.
"You set the benchmark. You inspire the rest of us. And you should be recognised by your colleagues, your competitors, your clients and the community for your passion, your skills and your commitment."
Mrs Castle said the future of the property industry in NSW was bright for commercial, industrial, retail and residential and reaffirmed real estate’s place as an engine room of the State’s economy driving employment and growth.
"Borrowing for the purchase of all real property in NSW over the past 12 months was $318 billion. And there are 615,000 rental properties in the State, generating around $160 million a week or $8.3 billion a year in rent," the President said.
"Real estate agents facilitate the purchase, sale and management of that property."
However, Mrs Castle said that agents also play a much broader and important roles in their local communities.
"I love this industry because we help make people’s aspirations and desires a reality. We help them with the shops and factories that they need to make a living. We help fulfil that Great Australian Dream of owning their own home. We help them find a place for their family. And we help them to build a better future."
Following is a list of the winners and finalists of the 2006 REINSW Awards for Excellence:
Winner
James Keenan - Ray White Circular Quay
Finalists
Damien Cooley – Cooley Auction Services
Scott Kennedy-Green – McGrath Estate Agents
Michael McCaffery – First National Auction & Service Centre
James Keenan is a leading Ray White Double Bay Group sales agent based at Circular Quay office and is NSW’s best senior auctioneer for 2006.
His passion lies in helping people and servicing his clients in an ethical and supportive manner. Aside from work, James enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.
Winner
Ardi Melikian - Elders Collaroy
Finalists
Brent Courtney – McGrath Estate Agents
Michael Finger – Ray White Double Bay
Piers van Hamburg – McGrath Estate Agents
Simon Pilcher – McGrath Estate Agents
Ardi Melikian is a residential sales specialist on Sydney's Northern Beaches and was judged as having the year's best auction marketing campaign. Most of Ardi’s clients are from direct referrals and she has been a finalist in Telstra Business Women’s Award and has won Rotary's "Pride of Workmanship" Award.
Winner
Richard Harvey - propertybuyer
Finalists
Lisa Bradley – Finders Keepers
Nicole Graham – Sydney Property Finders
Richard Harvey specialises in sourcing properties for investors, home buyers and developers. Richard has a strong background in economics and property investment and loves finding deals for his clients.
This is the second year in a row that Richard has won this award for outstanding achievement in the emerging field of Buyers’ Agency.
Winner
Colliers International (NSW)
Finalists
Knight Frank
Laing+Simmons Commercial
m² Office Leasing
Martin Morris & Jones
A key to Colliers International’s success is the company's commitment to a culture of knowledge – of the industry, the market, and of clients’ needs. Colliers International is a global partnership of independently owned commercial real estate firms.
Winner
Martin Heal - Jones Lang LaSalle
Finalists
Sally Dare and Tom Hughes – Knight Frank for their joint submission
Toula Klitsidis – Jones Lang LaSalle
Brendan O’Brien – Laing+Simmons Commercial
Brett Sims – Colliers International
Geoffrey Smith – Knight Frank
David Solomon – Laing+Simmons Commercial
Martin Heal is NSW's commercial property manager of the year for 2006 and manages 65,000 square meters of commercial space for clients. The judges made the comment that his achievements and professionalism are exceptional. He enjoys running and cycling in his spare time.
Winner
Kymbal Dunne - m² Office Leasing
Finalists
Tony Anderson – Laing+Simmons Commercial
Gregory May – Laing+Simmons Commercial
Cameron Williams – Colliers International
Kymbal Dunne is a Director and co-founder of m² and is recognised throughout the commercial real estate Industry for his commitment to providing professional, timely and financially viable solutions to client’s needs.
Winner
Geoff Jones -, Martin Morris & Jones
Finalist
Fiona Middleton – Morton & Morton
Geoff Jones has 30 years continuous experience in the real estate industry. Including experience in the disposal, valuation, auction and consultancy of commercial and industrial real estate on behalf of clients primarily located in the Illawarra and Sydney regions.
Winner
Dora Di Ruberto - Laing+Simmons Commercial
Finalists
Natalie Graham - McGrath Estate Agents
Sara Lee - McGrath Estate Agents
Maria Lyell -, Laing+Simmons Commercial
Melinda O’Malveney - McGrath Estate Agents
Dora Di Ruberto is NSW's most outstanding corporate support person in the real estate industry for 2006. She is a Receptionist for Laing+Simmons Commercial and has been with the company for nine years. Professional, efficient and innovative office support staff are the key to successful customer facing real estate businesses.
Joint Winners
Kymbal Dunne - m² Office Leasing and
Sara Pratt - Knight Frank
Finalists
Andrew Richard Corbett – Ben Boyd Real Estate
Craig Pontey – Ray White Double Bay
Aaron Weir – Colliers International
Kymbal Dunne and Sara Pratt are NSW’s best project marketers and have won this joint award for the second year in a row. They were judged on their knowledge of the market, promotional strategy and overall planning in crafting the best marketing campaign of the year for Innovation Place, in North Sydney.
Sara has worked in real estate for over 24 years and at Knight Frank where she is the Director of Office Leasing North Sydney and Kymbal is the Director and co-founder of m².
Winner
Andrew Blake Real Estate
Finalists
Callagher Estate Agents
Mikhael + Mikhael Real Estate
Morton & Morton
Ray White Double Bay
Starr Partners Real Estate Narellan
Andrew Blake Real Estate was established to provide a reliable service based on five star values and communications, honesty and trust. Made up of a close knit team of professionals equipped with intimate market knowledge, Andrew Blake Real Estate has earned a reputation as a boutique agency with strong negotiation skills and an unwavering commitment to their clients.
Winner
Betty Drennan - Ray White Circular Quay
Finalist
Warren Davies – Morton & Morton
Betty Drennan specialises in executive property management in the Inner City and Eastern Suburbs. Betty is NSW’s residential property manager of the year and a committed professional with 10 years experience in the demanding field of property management.
Winner
Amanda Browell-Hook - Morton & Morton
Finalist
Tristan Triffitt – Starr Partners Real Estate Narellan
Moving to Australia from London in 2004, Amanda Browell-Hook cut her teeth in property working for Multiplex Development. Since joining Morton & Morton, she has shown integrity and diligence in tackling the enormous challenges that property management brings.
Winner
Kathryn Hall - Andrew Blake Real Estate
Finalists
Georgi Coward – Cunninghams Estate Agents
Mary Curran – Ray White Neutral Bay Mosman
James Dack – McGrath Estate Agents
Michael Finger – Ray White Double Bay
Kathryn Hall specialises in residential sales in the Northern Beaches and is the most outstanding residential salesperson of the year in NSW. Her passions are skiing, bushwalking and her family.
Winner
Peter Chauncy - McGrath Estate Agents
Finalists
Denise Grecian– Christine Norris Signature Properties
Clive Ince – PRDnationwide Port Macquarie
Peter Chauncy specialises in selling residential property in the Lane Cove, Artarmon and Chatswood areas and wins this award for exceptional newcomers who have worked in the real estate industry for less than two years. He enjoys keeping fit and playing sport and spending time on his farm in the Southern highlands with his family.
Winner
Kerry O'Connell - Landmark Operations
Finalist
Robert Nevins – Christine Norris Signature Properties
Kerry O'Connell specialises in larger corporate type rural properties, having a sound knowledge of livestock and general farming. He is NSW best rural marketer of the year for 2006. Apart from family, Kerry’s interests include horse racing and AFL football.
Winner
McGrath Estate Agents
Finalist
L.J. Hooker Limited
As we all know websites are essential in today’s business world. This award recognises the most outstanding website of a multi-office or corporation in 2006.
McGrath Estate Agents have launched Australia's first real estate website with a "lifestyle" property search engine to tailor the list of properties to match the buyer's specific search criteria, including their proximity to beaches, cafes and shops.
Winner
Morton & Morton
Finalists
goodyerDonnelley Real Estate
Laing+Simmons Port Macquarie
Metro Commercial Property Group
Ray White Double Bay Group
Morton & Morton win this award for the most outstanding real estate website for 2006 for the second year in a row!
Their website is used as a complete business tool enabling each team member to view, maintain and measure current, accurate data on all property listings.
Winner
John Cunningham - Cunninghams Estate Agents
Finalists
Simon Carter – Colliers International
James Dack – McGrath Estate Agents
Tom Murphy – Starr Partners Real Estate Fairfield
Leigh Stewart – Ray White Phipps & Stewart
John Cunningham has been involved in local community work for over 20 years, specifically sponsoring local schools, kindergartens, fetes and sporting teams.
From these activities John and his team have assisted in raising over $100,000 for local groups and donates $20,000 yearly.
His major sponsorship is of his local primary school, Manly West Public, and his firm supports numerous school events throughout the year.
This award recognises the enormous care and generosity that John and other Real Estate Institute of NSW’s members consistently display in their local communities.
Please direct all media enquiries to REINSW on tel. (02) 9264 2343.
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