Award winners ‘strengthen industry’
Best of the best rewarded as the country recognises the 'resilience and professionalism' of real estate professionals.
QUEENSLAND, South Australia and Western Australia have starred at the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s 2026 National Awards for Excellence.
The awards were announced at a gala dinner in Melbourne last week.
Some 23 categories were contested including residential and commercial agencies, sales and leasing, buyer’s agents, community service and property management.
Tristan Rowland, of Bright Estate Agents, was named residential salesperson of the year, while Samantha Ellis, of Property Zest, took out residential property manager of the year. Both are from Queensland.
“I’m the first Queenslander to ever win the national salesperson award, which is pretty cool,” Rowland said. “To be recognised for what we have done is very special.”
Queensland took five individual awards, with South Australia taking four.
Western Australia, the ACT and NSW also featured prominently. WA took four awards, three individual and one for a team.
Vaughan Copping, of Perth Property Management, was recognised as commercial property manager of the year, Ashleigh Goodchild received the operational leadership award and Hayley Patrick, from Jones Realty & Projects, earned marketer of the year.
REIWA President Suzanne Brown said the institute was incredibly proud of WA’s representatives.
“Compared to the eastern states, WA’s real estate industry is relatively small but we continue to make a significant impact on the national stage,” she said.
Tasmania’s 4one4 Property Co took the innovation award, while the NT’s Shyam Thapa, of Wealthmax Real Estate, received the community service award.
In the ACT, Blackshaw Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra were named medium residential agency of the year, while Little Bird Properties won residential property management team of the year.
In NSW, Amanda Gould, of High Spec, was agent of the year, while Leanne Pilkington, of laing+simmons, received the REIA President’s Award.
REIA president Jacob Caine said the awards reflected the depth of talent across the industry.
“These awards celebrate the very best in our profession – those setting the benchmark nationally,” he said.
“The calibre of finalists and winners this year reflects the resilience and professionalism that continues to strengthen the real estate industry across Australia.”
The full list of winners are:
Achievement Award: Gypsea Youngsmith, Kollosche Pty Ltd (QLD)
Agency Sustainability Leadership Award: Community Housing Canberra Ltd (ACT)
Business Broker of the Year: Dustin Slypen, LINK Business Brisbane (QLD)
Business Development Manager of the Year: Kimberly Castle, AM Property Agency (ACT)
Buyers’ Agent of the Year: Amanda Gould, High Spec (NSW)
Commercial Agency of the Year: LJ Hooker Commercial Adelaide (SA)
Commercial Property Manager of the Year: Vaughan Copping, Perth Property Management (WA)
Commercial Salesperson of the Year: Michael Ceacis, Select Property Group (ACT)
Community Service Award: Shyam Thapa, Wealthmax Real Estate (NT)
Individual Sustainability Leadership Award: John Taarnby, TAARNBY Real Estate (SA)
Innovation Award: 4one4 Property Co (TAS)
Large Residential Agency of the Year: TOOP+TOOP (SA)
Marketer of the Year Award: Hayley Patrick, Jones Realty & Projects (WA)
Marketing and Communications Award: Harris Real Estate (SA)
Medium Residential Agency of the Year: Blackshaw Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra (ACT)
Operational Leadership Award: Ashleigh Goodchild, SOCO Realty (WA)
Operational Support Award: Tamika Kent, McGrath Aspley (QLD)
Residential Property Management Team of the Year: Little Bird Properties (ACT)
