Board Candidates

 

I have been a member of the API since 1990 and an API volunteer for over 10 years: 

• 4 years on the API Board 
• 7 years – Queensland Divisional Council  
• 3 years State President,  
• 2 years Vice President, 
• 2 years Divisional Councillor, 
• 4 years Executive Committee,  
• 2 years API Governance Committee. 
• Numerous presentations at API Conferences and CPD events. 

 

Board Experience: 

• Current Director of the Australian Property Institute,  
• Current Director of JLL’s Asian Pacific Valuation Board, 
• Current Director of Habitat for Humanity Australia, 
• Current Chair for the Prison Transport Group, 
• Current member of various community groups, 
• Former Director of the Queensland Professional Credit Union, purchased by Auswide Bank, 
• Finance and Governance committee. 
• Former Chair of Habitat for Humanity Qld, 
• Former Director and Chair of Propell National Valuers Board for 8 years, 
• Strategic direction and Strategy management focus. 
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 
• Governance, Strategy and Finance courses.  

Board Skills: 

• Business Strategy and Strategic Management, 
• Corporate Governance, 

• Financial Management, 
• Industry Knowledge. 

Business Skills: 

• Technology – current member of JLL’s Global Data and Tech workstream, focused on global valuation technology and data analytics.  
• Leadership, 
• Growth driven, 
• People Skills, 
• Financial and Commercial acumen,  

• Experienced property expert with a diverse professional background, 
• Contemporary local and international industry knowledge. 

 

My Board experience has a strong strategy, Governance and Finance focus, which provides a solid base for growth, all organisations must grow to survive. My career has been based on growth, based on strong strategic planning and management, which has been core to all positions held over the past 30 years. The API has carried out significate work over recent years to ensure manageable and sustainable growth which needs to be maintained for the benefit of all members.  

 

I am a big believer that the profession must have a strong focus on the further development of the skills of our property professionals, to ensure they are adding value to the market and economy. As a result our members will become our biggest advocates, we will see members start to communicate the benefits of API membership to current and potential members and to the industry and clients. 

 

I believe in the Profession and the value it adds to our clients and the resulting economy. My oversight and view of our Profession is ever expanding, as we need to understand how we are positioned at a global level. We need to expand our minds and our horizons. Our future is immense and in our hands. 

Certified Practising Valuer 

Certified Practising Valuer (Bus) 

Certified Property Practisioner 

Licenced Real Estate Agent (Not practicing) 

 

Darren has been a regional valuer for more than twenty years after six years in the real estate sales industry and banking experience prior to that. For the last seventeen years he has been a director of Walsh and Monaghan, a large independent regional firm based on the South Coast of NSW. 

 

Darren is the current Chairman of the API NSW State Committee, Chairman of the Network Property Group and also the API Illawarra discussion group.  

 

His time at the “coalface” has given Darren a genuine understanding of the challenges faced by regional valuers and valuation firms on a day to day basis and he intends to bring a regional voice to National Board. 

 

Darren has been chairman of the Network Property Group for over ten years and the Chairman of that groups Professional Indemnity committee for a similar length of time. He is heavily involved in most aspects of the industry and has been crucial in the continual evolution of his business to adapt to the ever changing landscape. 

 

Darren regularly volunteers for the API. He conducts “Professional Snapshots” annually for local high school students interested in pursuing valuation as a career and is always willing to assist with work experience for new graduates. 

 

These life experiences have given Darren the confidence to speak his mind and he feels that his inclusion on the API National Board has the potential to benefit other regional valuers and smaller operators throughout NSW and Australia.  

Thanks for taking the time to read my Candidate Statement. I am requesting your support in the upcoming Australian Property Institute Elections. 

 

Acting as a Director of the Australian Property Institute is indeed, a very important role and should be undertaken only by those with the highest understanding of the legal obligations and duties required of a company director, along with the passion for a profession that contributes so much to the national economy and the lives of so many Australians. 

 

I have been a proud Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since October 1992 and in the intervening time have sat on, as a board director or chair, the boards of numerous Commercial Enterprises, Not for Profit organisations and Industry Bodies. 

 

If appointed, I undertake to fulfil all duties and obligations required of the position as a director for Australian Property Institute and its controlled entities and the Corporations Act 2001. 

 

Having been involved with the property industry for over 30 years I have an intimate understanding of the changes that continue face the valuation industry and our own professional body. In addition, I am directly at the coalface as an employer trainer of so many wonderful men and women in urban and regional areas and invest heavily in their progression, reward and acknowledge their strengths. 

 

The people involved with our profession have a unique set of skills and, quite rightly, expect that their professional body, the API, represents them faithfully, advocates for them at all levels of Government and within industry; and puts members interests first and foremost in it’s decision-making processes. I commit to putting members interests first. 

 

The API has been making important steps forward and I wish to assist in making those steps giant leaps forward.  

 

In my professional career I have worked in small private valuation practices of 2-3 people, mid-tier firms and large firms of 500+. 

 

My current role, as Chief Executive Officer of Preston Rowe Paterson Australasia, gives me a unique perspective of some of the key challenges and opportunities that property professionals face on a day-to-day basis.  

 

The issues of an ever-evolving regulatory environment; changes in risk practices and the difficulties of obtaining workable Professional Indemnity Insurance; the evolution technologies and data reliance; the rationalisation of supply chains are issues that face each of our members. 

 

But for all the challenges, perhaps now is one of the best ever times to be a property professional. Opportunities for making very good livelihoods, capitalising on valuer shortages and advocating for reasonable fee levels, abound. 

 

Personally, I am best described as a people person. I love networking and meeting people from all walks of life and from all around the world. 

 

I am a published author and, during Covid, even undertook creating a Podcast series to keep myself sane.  

 

For over 30 years I have been involved in raising money and awareness for those less fortunate in this world. In 2015, I was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List. 

 

I reside on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria with my wife, Virginia. (I have 2 adult sons). 

 

Therefore, if you are looking to elect someone to the Australian Property Institute Board with excellent Corporate Governance credentials, a real understanding of the property, and specifically the valuation, profession and someone who has real all round life experience, I ask you to consider voting for my candidature.  

Hannah is a dedicated and passionate property professional, with over 16 years of property industry and API experience. Hannah believes in giving back to the industry and has contributed to the API by serving as State Chair of the YPP (2012-2014), State Committee Member (2014-2019) and Member of the National Education Committee (2017 – current). Hannah is an Associate of the API and a Certified Practicing Practitioner (Government).  

 

Hannah’s focus for nominating for the API National Board is to be at the forefront of decision making, to use her industry knowledge as well as her change management skills to help shape the API of the future. This includes increasing the number of property students pursuing careers in the Property Valuation industry, working with the members and industry to create sustainable and fulfilling Valuation careers and to promote the API as the leading Property Industry Association. 

  

At Land Services SA since 2018, Hannah’s role combines Valuation Knowledge and Change Management to deliver Valuation Projects, Governance, Training, Development and Education. Hannah has previously held leadership positions as Senior Valuer at Adelaide City Council in the Statutory Valuations team, prior to that working at Southwick Goodyear (Opteon) in Residential Valuations, and at AVJennings Development as Development Analyst. 

  

Hannah is passionate about helping the next generation of property professionals by both mentoring and creating platforms for property professionals to further their careers. This is evident through her ongoing relationship with University of South Australia, assisting property students to complete meaningful work experience in various companies. Hannah has aided well over 20 students gain work experience, and even their first and or second property roles. Hannah has also mentored numerous property valuers to achieve API certifications including RPV and CPV, which she is immensely proud of. 

  

Hannah has also held numerous charitable committee position’s, including the Fundraising Committee Autism SA for approximately 8 years. 

  

Hannah has always dedicated herself to the pursuit of knowledge having recently achieved the Prosci Change Management Practitioner Certification and more recently commenced studying her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Over the past few years Hannah has been an active member of the API’s APREF Research Scholarship judging panel and made numerous recommendations to the APREF Research Board. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Business (Property) from the University of South Australia. 

The past two years, as a Director on the Australian Property Institute Board of Directors, have been a challenging and exciting time. We should all be, as I am, really proud of how we and the Australian Property Institute, as our professional body, have adapted and met the constant changes Covid has introduced to our world.  

 

Through all this, we have developed an ambitious and very clear strategic plan to guide the activities of the Australian Property Institute to best support all of you and our various professions.  

 

I am really motivated to continue in my role as Director and provide support and input towards the Australian Property Institute’s plans for our future. My key areas of focus remain: 

 

• the development of dynamic and relevant educational offerings  
• the sustainability of our profession 

• strategic planning and positioning  

 

My experience over the last two years has also highlighted an importance of re-engaging with our members so that we identify how we can best serve you and highlight the hard work all the team at the Australian Property Institute does on our behalf.  

 

Since being appointed, my experience as Valuer-General of South Australia and as Deputy Chair of the Animal Welfare League of SA Board of Directors, has provided valuable development in the area of Governance, prudent financial management and business continuity. This has included presentations to various Parliamentary Committees and organisational change whilst exercising financial prudence. The opportunities and experience afforded me through the private sector, most recently as State Director at CBRE South Australia, has provided skills necessary to these endeavours.  

 

My passion for our industry has only increased in that time as well. I am impressed by the resilience of our long serving colleagues and inspired by the next generation. It is for this reason that I also contributed my time to the University’s industry working group to guide course content.  

 

It is my hope that I can continue as a Director for the Australian Property Institute Board and to utilise my diverse experiences and skills to see through the completion of our current strategic plan and continue to advocate for our future.  

Education: 

• Bachelor of Commerce (Property Economics) – University of Western Sydney 
• Bachelor of Business (Management) – University of Western Sydney 
• Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) 

API History: 

• API Membership Survey Committee 
• Communication and Audit Committee 
• ANZPJ Editorial Board  
• API Associate Member and CPV (2002) 
• API Fellow Member (2021) 

Current Employment: 

• Associate Director, Savills Property Consultancy 

Career Overview:

• Having worked for KPMG, Colliers, Lunney Watt, Property NSW and the Commonwealth Bank, Penny has over 20 years industry experience in property advisory, valuations, and property finance roles.    
• During this time Penny has spent 5 years in CBA’s Institutional Banking team. Instructing, reviewing, and endorsing valuations, attending Construction Project Control Group Meetings, assessing and approving construction drawdowns and preparing loan documentation and credit submissions, for institutional borrowers. 
• In 2022, Penny joined the Savills Property Consultancy Team which is part of a fully integrated global property company providing end to end consultancy and transactional services. 

 

Nomination Statement: 

• As a passionate multi-disciplined property professional, Penny is cognisant of API’s requirement to maintain its relevance across the industry and feels strongly about growing and diversifying the membership base. 
• Penny believes in working closely with API members to forge a stronger and more influential professional to shape responses to issues such as the impact on COVID-19 on valuations and to support members stay abreast of new requirements.  
• At an industry level, Penny has developed strong working relationships across a range of property disciplines. She is driven, outcome focused and offers strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills  
• Penny believes embracing change, new technologies and an evolving workplace, is central to ensuring the API remains relevant and sustainable over the long term.        

 

Core Skills: 

• Multi Discipline Property Background Penny possesses a deep and varied understanding of the property industry given her background and experience and believes this diversity will add value to the Board 
• Governance: Penny has a strong background in risk and governance from working in Government and property finance and will continue to employ these frameworks in decision making and is enrolled in the AICD, Company Directors Program in late 2022. 
• Risk Mitigation: Penny has a collaborative nature and has worked closely with Risk in financing large institutional developments and investments to ensure risks are quantified, understood and mitigated whilst ensuring commercially viable outcomes for the client. 
• Financial Acumen: Strong background in financial, corporate and risk analysis used to assess financing decisions and ongoing management of complex construction financing requirements.  

Conflict Assessment: 

• Penny is not aware of any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest.