Winner: goFARM Australia

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

goFARM is a purpose-led, research-driven, high conviction agricultural investor and developer. Their purpose is to deliver the innovation and capital solutions required to propel Australian agriculture’s growth and success.

With the climate warming and drying, water inflows into the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s most important food bowl, have almost halved over the last 20 years. Food producers must innovate to address the risks arising from water scarcity and deliverability to ensure global food security.

goFARM’s Project “Akuna” has invested to deliver a positive impact on on-farm productivity and water use efficiency, at scale. Across more than 7,000 hectares and more than 50,000ML, goFARM’s investment in land use change, farm design, soil regeneration and subsurface drip irrigation technology has delivered more than a doubling in output per unit of water applied. Furthermore, they have reclaimed and recycled obsolete farm infrastructure to reduce the environmental footprint of the project, as well as creating new jobs in northern Victoria.

Winner: Kym Dreyer

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

Kym Dreyer has been a trusted property professional in South Australia for over 40 years, working as a Valuer since 1980. He currently manages the Residential Development team as a Director within m3property’s South Australia office. First joining the API in 1980, Kym was awarded a Life Fellowship in 2011.

Kym has been an invaluable contributor to the API and the broader property industry by serving on a number of divisional and national committees and panels. He has been responsible for the execution and implementation of professional and technical policy matters on behalf of national API members, as well as helping to develop the Future Property Professionals program.

During his 40-year career, Kym has made a significant contribution to the valuation profession. His expertise is held in high regard and he has promoted trust in the industry through accountability and adherence to the highest professional and ethical standards.

Winner: Annette Smith, Acumentis

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

Annette has spent a career in property valuation with a passion to empower and pave the path for more women to excel in a male-dominated industry. The seed for this passion was sown at the start of her career in 1995 as the first female graduate at the Lands Department undertaking rural valuation work in a regional area. After facing the challenge of finding accommodation for a single woman, she knew from this moment on that this had to change.

Annette fosters a supportive work culture by promoting the priority of flexible work arrangements at Acumentis, offering team members the ability to have a fulfilling family life and career. She makes the effort to personally connect with team members, no matter what the distance.

Annette is a mentor for female valuers and continuously gives back to the Central Queensland community through roles at a range of Planning Boards and Associations.

Winner: Will Johnson, Herron Todd White

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

Will Johnson is the Managing Director of Herron Todd White Northern Territory. With a strong family interest and history in the property market, Will is passionate about the industry and is now the proud Chair of the API in the Northern Territory, and enjoys developing and mentoring other young property professionals.

As the youngest member elected to the HTWA/C Board in Herron Todd White’s 53-year history, at 34 years of age, Will’s insight is extremely valued and he has been an important part of the company’s success. His key achievements include the successful ratification of the RVI’s Emergency Protocol, allowing the award-winning Contactless Inspection Tool to be utilised where there is no ability to undertake a full inspection under COVID restrictions.

As the State Chair of the API’s Northern Territory State Committee, Will is involved in state divisional meetings, local CPD events, and API programs. An active YPP volunteer, Will enjoys mentoring other young Members, acting as a role model to the next generation of leaders.

Winner: CBRE

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

CBRE is committed to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, by creating an environment that reflects the wide range of clients and communities they serve. CBRE firmly believes that bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences produces better outcomes for clients and achieves world-class business results.

Key policy changes were made this year to FlexWork and Parental Leave policies, an important step in attracting and retaining women talent in the business.

CBRE’s latest Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan was recently endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. Key programs include an Indigenous Centre of Excellence and a Social Development Initiative.

In the past 12 months, CBRE has fostered an inclusive environment for staff by introducing gender-neutral bathrooms and pronouns in email signatures, with the company also recognised by the Australian Workplace Equality Index for the third year running.

Winner: m3property National Health, Aged Care and Seniors Living Team

Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

m3property’s national Health team is recognised as one of Australia’s leading independent valuation and advisory service providers within this sector. Led by National Director, Laila Burnet, in 2020 the team expanded their national service offering into the emerging Specialist Disability Accommodation investment market.

The Health team is dedicated to implementing valuation standards and best practice through industry-led research and continuing professional development. The team was responsible for developing an in-house including development of an SDA Projects Valuation Report Template and an innovative SDA Valuation Model.

Through client-facing initiatives, the team has shared key valuation experiences to educate financiers and stakeholders, demonstrating the critical skills they bring to the commercial property industry as an independent valuation firm.