On behalf of the Board of Directors of the API, I am delighted to announce the appointment of John Winter as our new CEO, effective 19 May 2025.

John has had a distinguished 30-year career in property, insurance, property valuation consulting, marketing and as a professional advocate for membership organisations.

Most recently he served as CEO of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA). He is also President of the Australasian Society of Association Executives. He takes over from Amelia Hodge, who as you know is leaving the API in May after seven years in the role. John was the outstanding choice for our new CEO from a strong field of candidates, after a thorough and independent recruitment process.

We are delighted to have attracted a candidate of John’s capability, experience and expertise. He has demonstrated skills in change management and as a forceful and dynamic advocate for the organisations he leads.  John will help strengthen connections with our 7,400 members, drive development of our growing suite of professional development programs, and raise API’s profile and influence with politicians, policy-makers and the broader community.  John has previously served as Country Head for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), as Advisory Board member for Macquarie University, Board Advisor to a leading property valuation and consultancy business, for QBE Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and as Chief Marketing Officer in Australia for global recruitment agency, Hudson. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance) from the University of New South Wales, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and is a Certified Association Executive of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

John has asked me to pass on the following message to you:

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the API team and look forward to meeting as many members as possible and understanding your needs and aspirations.  The API has a well-earned reputation as the professional services body of choice for property valuers and broader property professionals. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead an organisation of API’s standing, on the cusp of your 100-year anniversary in 2026.”

I would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my thanks to Amelia for her seven years of dedication to the API as CEO.  Amelia has helped shepherd the API through a period of significant change and innovation, most notably on our continued digital transformation journey.

Amelia wanted me to pass on the following:

“It has been an honour and a joy for me to have served as CEO over seven years surrounded by so many talented and innovative humans across our property eco-system. I hold the highest affection for our members, key stakeholders, and our API staff past and present who have been with me on this enriching journey and to whom I owe much gratitude.”

We wish Amelia well in whatever path she chooses to take next.

For those members attending the Global Property Congress in Sydney in May, you will get a chance to thank Amelia in person and to warmly welcome John.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards

Paul Billingham

Chair – API Board