REIA National Awards for Excellence: All of the SA finalists listed

The best property professionals from across Australia and New Zealand will descend on Adelaide on Thursday when the industry’s star performers are recognised at the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s annual National Awards for Excellence.

The event, to be held at Adelaide Oval, will see the best of the best crowned from 117 finalists across 23 categories, recognising Australia’s top-performing salespeople, property managers, residential and commercial agencies, and operational support workers, to name but a few.

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Among the SA finalists is Katherine Skinner for buyers agent of the year, Taarnby Real Estate for small residential agency and sustainability leadership – agency; and Klemich’s Matt Smith who is in the running for both the REIA president’s award and residential salesperson of the year.

REIA president Leanne Pilkington said the calibre of finalists at this year’s competition was strong.

“I was one of the judges in some of the categories and it was a really strong field, because they are the best of the best from around the country so it will be very exciting to see who the winners will be on the night,” she said.

“I think the field of finalists gets stronger each year and I think that’s a reflection of competition in the industry and the best have to keep getting better every year, and it’s really exciting to see.

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“The people representing their industry on this stage this week are incredible operators and they are the best in each of our states, and customer focus is an absolute priority for all of them.

“I am proud of all of our finalists – it’s not an easy industry and it’s not been an easy year, and they just keep getting better.”

Every SA finalist in REIA’s National Awards For Excellence

Business Broker of the Year

Philip Johns

Agency: Xcllusive Business Sales

Business Development Manager of the Year

Jayde Grindlay

Agency: Eclipse Real Estate

Buyers Agent of the Year

Katherine Skinner

Agency: National Property

Katherine Skinner at the REISA awards. Pics by Fotobase

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Commercial Agency of the Year

LJ Hooker Commercial – Adelaide

Commercial Property Manager of the Year

Rav Prakash

Agency: Kemp Real Estate

Community Service Award

LJ Hooker Adelaide – Metro

Large Residential Agency of the Year

Ouwens Casserly Real Estate

Marketing and Communications Award

Toop + Toop

Medium Residential Agency of the Year

Smith Partners

Operational Support Award

Merina Caputo

Agency: Ouwens Casserly Rentals

REIA President’s Award

Matt Smith

Agency: Klemich Real Estate

Klemich Real Estate director Matt Smith. Pic: The Advertiser/Morgan Sette

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Residential Property Management Team of the Year

Rental Property Network

Residential Property Manager of Year

Michael Kennedy

Agency: Stadium Real Estate

Residential Sales Team of the Year

Taarnby

Residential Salesperson of the Year

Matt Smith

Agency: Klemich Real Estate

Small Residential Agency of the Year

Taarnby

Tayla Taarnby of Taarnby. Supplied

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Sustainability Leadership Award – Agency

Taarnby

The event coincides with the Australasian Auctioneering Championships or AUSTROS, running from Tuesday to Thursday, in which the most skilled auctioneers from Australia and New Zealand battle it out to find who is the best.

The series of heats will be judged by a panel of nine auctioneers representing their respective REIs across Australia and New Zealand, including, from SA, chief judge Matt Smith of Klemich Real Estate and Michael Fenn of LJ Hooker Property Specialists.

Representing SA in the AUSTROS is Bronte Manuel of Toop + Toop, Anthony DeMarco of Kate Smith Property and Mark Lands of Lands Real Estate, while Toop + Toop’s Stefan Krcmarov and Joseph Murdock of Klemich will represent SA in the Australian Novice Championships.