THE Australian Property Institute has revealed winners of the Excellence in Property Awards, which was announced virtually due to COVID-19.
API chief executive officer Amelia Hodge congratulated the winners on their achievements.
“This year we had an exceptionally strong field of finalists, resulting in an extremely close result in several categories.
“We congratulate the winners and thank all of our sponsors for making the Awards possible. While we unfortunately could not hold a face-to-face event this year, we hope the winners take the time to celebrate their success with their teams,” she added.
“We look forward to announcing the winners of our 2021 Excellence in Property Awards in person at the National Property Conference in Melbourne next year.” Hodge said.
The API awarded winners in six categories:
- JLL won the Workplace Diversity and Culture Award, sponsored by Herron Todd White.
- Valuer General NSW was awarded the Valuation Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Marsh Insurance.
- James Paver won the Young Property Professional of the Year Award, sponsored by Griffin Legal.
- Herron Todd White’s National Office Team won the Innovation in Property Award, sponsored by The University of Melbourne.
- Aleisha Brookes was awarded The Lesley Bennett Women in Property Award, sponsored by Preston Rowe Paterson.
- Tyrone Hodge won The Colonel Alfred Clifford Catt Award, sponsored by Valuecorp.
Workplace Diversity and Culture Award
Winner: JLL
JLL has introduced a committee supporting all aspects of Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. They have rolled out programs across the business such as Mentoring, Executive Coaching, Peer Group Reviews, an Emerging Leaders Programme and a Back to Work Programme.
In 2018, JLL implemented a pilot inclusion dashboard that captured the values and feelings of personnel across the region. This survey is now conducted annually to help measure ongoing success.
JLL celebrates diversity through a range of events, such as participating in the Midsumma Pride March, and hosting a Diwali celebration in every city nationally. They have also established a Wellness Hub, training programs and Reconciliation Action Plan. JLL has partnered with the Job Access Organisation and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance to assist in skill development and inclusion in the community.
Valuation Team of the Year Award
Winner: Valuer General NSW
Last summer, bushfires burned seven percent of New South Wales – over 54,000 square kilometres. For comparison, that would be more than three quarters of Tasmania.
Normally land values are determined using sales evidence. But with potentially limited sales, how do you value land after such a calamity?
Valuer General New South Wales tackled the problem innovatively.
A special team reviewed bushfire-affected land over time, analysing sales trends before and after bushfire events. From this, they developed an evidence-based matrix to determine land values without recent comparable sales.
The new framework considers the prior demand in a fire-affected area, coupled with the level of fire-damaged properties in that area.
All Valuer General New South Wales valuation contractors are now using this matrix to work out 1 July 2020 fire-affected land values in the absence of sales evidence.
Young Property Professional of the Year Award
Winner: James Paver
James is the Managing Director of leading property development, investment and services firm, Avenor. Since establishing the company in 2016 with his business partner, James has employed over 25 people and has positioned Avenor as an industry leader.
James places great value on corporate social responsibility. By rallying support from industry peers, Avenor has been a long-time supporter of the Wipeout Dementia Property Surf Competition, which has raised over $1.3m for dementia research.
Among other major projects, he has successfully driven a 5-year campaign to establish an innovation precinct for Sydney, culminating in the successful establishment of the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct at Central Station.
James has been involved with API Young Property Professionals initiatives since 2010 and continues supporting the API as a leader in the industry.
Innovation in Property Award
Winner: Herron Todd White – National Office Team
The Herron Todd White National Office Team has worked behind the scenes with the API and Residential Valuation Industry group members to successfully issue an addendum to the ABFI Residential Standing Instructions.
This accomplishment allows for the new Contactless Inspection tool to be used in the field by the valuer. They work with the occupant to gather all the relevant information to complete a full API PropertyPRO report.
The Herron Todd White Contactless Inspection Tool is a mobile-friendly web application that guides the occupant through a step-by-step process of collecting information about the property, eliminating the need for the valuer to go inside.
In little over 4 months Herron Todd White has completed over 970 remote inspections using the tool, remaining compliant and keeping the workforce and community safe during these uncertain times.
The Lesley Bennett Women in Property Award
Winner: Aleisha Brookes
Aleisha has 21 years’ experience in property valuations. She specialised in residential valuations for over a decade as a Valuer Area Manager at JLL. In 2017, she was appointed as the Risk Director, managing the Valuation Advisory Quality Assurance team.
Aleisha is a Fellow member with the API and has held numerous volunteer roles since 2008 including the CPD Committee, State and National Organising Committee and is a current State Council Member. Throughout her career, she has shared knowledge and guidance to numerous assistant valuers on their pathway to becoming RPVs or CPVs.
Aleisha was accepted this year into JLL’s Leadership Acceleration Network, an 18-month program to assist with the facilitation of the Global Valuation Advisory transformation.
In her own time, she is also an Assistant Member of the Queensland Valuers Registration Board.
The Colonel Alfred Clifford Catt Award
Winner: Tyrone Hodge
Tyrone has a passion for property and technology that spans a 30-year career. Tyrone has championed change in the sector having driven the disruption of real estate advertising and adoption of the Internet in the mid ‘90s. Most recently, he has played a global role in a team focused on valuation transformation and technology at JLL.
Tyrone has served the property industry for many years volunteering his time on various committees. He has also assisted others by sponsoring JLL staff in the Women in Property initiative, the Mentor program and the Diversity and Inclusion committee. He has been an active member of the API since 2008, including serving as NSW President, National President and Chair of the Board.
Tyrone is passionate about the valuation profession and about building a sustainable and relevant future for everyone involved. He embraces change, diversity and technology and believes that if we get these issues right, we will create an even better property profession.
More information about the 2021 National Property Conference can be found at https://npc.api.org.au
