THE Australian Property Institute is holding its 2020 National Board election. The API is urging members to cast their vote and help shape the future of the Institute. Colin Robertson is one of the candidates seeking to be elected to the national board of the API.
- What is your interest to come on board with the Australian Property Institute?
My concern is that many members on the API board are not as effective as they could have been in defending Valuers working conditions. For my part it is time to stop being an armchair critic of the API and encourage them to transition into an organisation that represents the general Valuer in a more balanced manner that addresses their day-to-day concerns regarding working conditions and more appropriate fees.
As a board member I would be advancing that an ‘industrial arm’ be established within the API. This may include engaging with an established union whose organisers are skilled in negotiating industrial agreements and the like. We know that this model works successfully, as it already exists! For example, the Australian Medical Association includes an industrial arm.
- What financial experience or expertise do you bring to the API?
I have been working as a Property Valuer for the last 20 years. Prior to this I was in the finance and credit industry and returned to study to complete a double degree in business management majoring in Human Resource Management. One of my minors is in Finance. Upon graduation I entered the retail industry, ending my career in retail as a store manager in one of Target Australia’s stores. Through my retail career I manage between 30 and 50 staff.
Upon entering the property valuation profession, I joined the API and developed my skills as a mortgage Valuer with half a dozen companies over a 10-year period. I was always interested in identifying the commonality between each valuation business and how they approached their analysis, work and report writing practices. Keeping up with technology became and still is a challenge.
My interest is in continuing to develop my skills as a Valuer, not just in residential mortgage work but across a broad spectrum including residential, commercial/industrial and rural valuations from mortgage work to property settlement and dealing with the legal system. I have always enjoyed the challenge of working with solicitors as an expert witness. I started my own small practice some 10 years ago and now undertake a variety of valuations and am currently mentoring a graduate. My hope is to continue the process of developing a boutique high-quality business.
- What governance experience do you bring to the API?
The skill sets I can bring to the API Board are based on my experience in senior management and the finance industry where I strove to be efficient, objective, fair-minded and concise in my decision-making skills.
- What strategic planning experience do you bring to the API?
My experience in this area is extensive. As stated above with exposure to senior management, business management, marketing, credit control and financial planning.
- To further pursue API’s strategic direction, it would be of great benefit if prospective Directors could contribute advocacy, policy and/or digital communications experience to the Board. What is your experience in one or more of these areas?
Due to my extensive work experience both within the valuation profession and as a small business owner I’d be happy to contribute to any advocacy role and digital communications role. In terms of policy this is a somewhat open-ended issue that needs to be studied to gain a balanced perspective of what is required.
- In general, what can you bring to the API and why should members elect you?
The API has evolved as an institution to provide a good service in education and insurance matters which I and many other Valuers have benefited from.
However, during the evolutionary process post Global Financial Crisis (GFC), I believe they have not represented the average Valuer working at the coalface as well as they could have. I cannot help but feel that the general Valuer is now exploited in a piecemeal working environment. Many financial institutes play one firm off against another, holding them to ransom over working conditions and fees.
My concern is that many members on the API board are not as effective as they could have been in defending Valuers working conditions. As many are faced with a conflict of interest as senior members within their respective organisations. For my part it is time to stop being an armchair critic of the API and encourage a to transition to an organisation that represents the general Valuer in a more balanced manner that addresses their day-to-day concerns regarding working conditions and more appropriate fees.
As a board member I would be advancing that an ‘industrial arm’ be established within the API this may include an established union whose organisers are skilled in negotiating industrial agreements. We know that this model can work successfully, as it already exists! For example, the Australian Medical Association has an Industrial arm.
The challenge for us as a profession is to adequately deal with the likes of a financier and/or mortgage provider from playing one business off against another. An industrial arm would be competent in dealing with this issue. Unfortunately, his problem is not something that can be resolved overnight.
If you relate to me and what I have just discussed, then vote for me and I will represent working Valuers and our profession to the best of my ability.
More information on the 2020 Election can be found at https://www.api.org.au/about/api-pty-ltd-board-governance/meet-the-candidates-2020-api-board-elections/
