More than 430 real estate professionals attended the REIWA Awards for Excellence last night at a black-tie gala dinner to celebrate and acknowledge excellence in the Western Australia real estate industry. 

The Awards for Excellence are a "unique opportunity for the Institute to acknowledge those WA real estate professionals who demonstrate best practice in their chosen careers, going above and beyond for their clients, industry and the community at large."

“The Awards for Excellence transcend mere selling acumen, instead recognising those who go above and beyond for their clients, have outstanding business acumen and who are experts in their chosen fields," REIWA CEO, Neville Pozzi said.

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Pictured: REIWA CEO Neville Pozzi with the winner of the Small Residential Agency of the Year, Lisa Larson of Benchmark Specialist Property Managers.

“This year’s awards are particularly noteworthy as they fall within REIWA’s centenary year. The quality of tonight’s nominees and winners are a testament to the high standards our members have set since 1918."

Ian Cornell, Director of the Professionals Michael Johnson & Co Mount Lawley office, took out the Kevin Sullivan Memorial award.

REIWA President Damian Collins told WILLIAMS MEDIA the award is the highest award you can win in the industry.

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"It's the highest honour the Institute can bestow, it recognises a particularly outstanding contribution to the industry over an extended period of time. Ian Cornell has been in the industry for 40 years, so it was well deserved," Mr Collins said.

The awards were judged based on criteria such as an individual’s response to business challenges and risk management as well as their ability to demonstrate innovation, commitment to client services and support other staff. An agency award is determined by its achievements, professional development, marketing, sales, service to clients, as well as other criteria.

REIWA donated $5 from each ticket sold at the event to Community REInvest, their philanthropic program supporting West Australians in need, like the homeless.

“On behalf of the Institute, I’d like to congratulate the 2018 nominees and winners on your achievements and the excellent service you continue to provide the WA community in the face of what remains a challenging marketplace,” Mr Pozzi said. 

The 2018 Awards for Excellence winners will represent Western Australia in the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s National Awards for Excellence, which are being hosted by REIWA in 2019. 

CBRE’s Kendal Cross was named Commercial Property Manager of the Year, while Chloe Mason won the hotly contested Achievement award.

Lloyd Jenkins, CBRE’s WA Senior Managing Director, said the awards were a testament to the outstanding calibre of the firm’s talent.

“Kendal and Chloe are an asset to our business and it is great to see these two leading real estate professionals recognised for their efforts,” Mr Jenkins said.

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Hedland First National Real Estate took out the award for Large Residential Agency of the Year for their commitment to overcoming poor perceptions of real estate agents by focusing on "transparency, honesty, professionalism, and ongoing community involvement".

"This ethos has resulted in the fostering of a reputation in the community for outstanding service. This agency has an ongoing commitment to client satisfaction and they achieve this by implementing professional development goals within their team... they have achieved outstanding results over the past decade, despite challenging market conditions, in which this team have adapted to while ensuring they maintain a high standard of market knowledge," REIWA said.

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Pictured: The Century 21 team, who took home several awards on the night. 

Hedland First National Real Estate Principal, Morag Lowe accepted the award alongside colleagues Scott Lowe and Debbie Fletcher.

"We were nominated alongside well renowned agencies in Perth, but this Pilbara agency took the top honours! The winner was selected not only by being well-renowned but also by meeting strict criteria of effective business and marketing plans, community involvement and dominance in their region," the Hedland First National Real Estate team said on the companies Facebook page.

2018 REIWA Awards for Excellence winners

• Kevin Sullivan Memorial Award: Ian Cornell
• Achievement Award: Chloe Mason, CBRE
• Communications Award: Rentwest Solutions
• Community Service Award: Century 21 Team Brockhurst
• Corporate Support Person of the Year: Melissa Harmer, Century 21 Team Brockhurst
• Innovation Award: Century 21 Advance Realty
• Commercial Property Manager of the Year: Kendal Cross, CBRE
• Large Residential Agency of the Year: Hedland First National Real Estate
• Medium Residential Agency of the Year: Century 21 Team Brockhurst
• Residential Property Manager of the Year: Laura Levisohn, M Residential
• Residential Salesperson of the Year: Peter Clements, Mint Real Estate
• Small Residential Agency of the Year: Benchmark Specialist Property Managers
• Buyer’s Agent of the Year: Ray Chua, Momentum Wealth Residential Property

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