The ‘accidental conveyancer’ makes her way to the top
Jennie Tonner humbly describes her journey to the top of the profession as an accident. But 38 years of grinding, hard work has earned her the respect of her peers statewide. She now the face of the industry in NSW.
JENNIE Tonner, a self-described “accidental conveyancer” who landed in the profession after stints in travel and real estate businesses as a teenager, was this week elected president of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers NSW.
Now 38 years in the sector, Tonner is one of NSW’s most prominent and respected conveyancing specialists, having acted on more than 20,000 conveyancing matters in her career.
She is owner of Sydney’s Cremorne Conveyancing and is a board member of Real Estate Institute of NSW.
Tonner takes on the top job with a mandate to help practitioners navigating the upcoming changes to Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Funding (AML/CTF) legislation.
She says she will also work with government bodies such as Fair Trading and the Strata Title Commissioner to streamline strata sales and purchases for conveyancers, real estate agents, and strata managers.
And the new president will advocate for conveyancers to be “recognised as skilled professionals and equal partners” in the property transaction process.
This week’s AIC NSW board meeting re-elected three directors – including Tonner – and welcomed a new one; Judy Bliss, from Ulladulla’s Bliss Conveyancing.
Tonner succeeded retiring AIC NSW president Ann Blannin-Ferguson who had served on the board for nine years.
“Reflecting on my time as president I’m please to say that our voice has been heard loud and clear at every stakeholder meeting, with the various Ministers and government departments,” Blannin-Ferguson told The Australian Conveyancer.
“I feel we are now more included in the decision-making process that in the past,” she said.
The full board of the AIC NSW comprises:
- Therese Austin – Coleman Greig Solicitors, Parramatta.
- Judy Bliss – Bliss Conveyancing, Nowra, Ulladulla, Sydney.
- Lauren Leathwood (Treasurer) – The Conveyancing Group, Avalon.
- Paul McKenzie – ABS Conveyancing, Kellyville/Sydney CBD.
- Jennie Tonner (President) – Cremorne Conveyancing, North Sydney.
- David Winning – Your Move Conveyancing, Chatswood.
- Kimberley Winton (Vice President) – MLJ Conveyancing, Oran Park/Picton.
- Nicole Yeoman – Auswide Conveyancing, Kellyville Ridge.
