Dear Members,

You may have seen that as a result of our Chair, the Hon Bruce Billson, being appointed as the new Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, upon the conclusion of Kate Carnell’s term, there are some changes to our API Board.

Mr Billson advised the Board that he was exiting, resigning and/or discontinuing all other positions, professional roles and business interest to be solely focused on the ASBFEO role and responsibilities, with him resigning as an Independent Director effective from 26 February 2021.

Given the notice Mr Billson provided, the Board has been able to set an orderly transition path.  Our immediate past Chair, Tyrone Hodge will act as interim Chair whilst we undertake an Independent Director recruitment process, to be concluded along with the appointment of a new Chair by the incoming Board following the AGM.

COVID and the economic consequences it produced alongside the continuing dynamism in our sector has made the past year one of the most challenging the API has faced as a national organisation, and we have been very fortunate to have had someone with Bruce’s career and Board and associations experience, knowledge, temperament, network, perspicacity and insight as Chair of our organisation.   Bruce’s support and stewardship of the API over his term has been exemplary and we are very
grateful for his extraordinary commitment to the API and its Members.

In advising of his resignation, Bruce observed: It has been a professional and personal delight working closely with (Directors) individually, the Board, Amelia and our ELT, and our members and key stakeholders, and I look forward to a continuing association into the future.

Bruce’s career-long support of the SME sector as a recognised and respected ‘small business champion’ will see him bring much vim and vigour to his new role.

Bruce’s support and stewardship of the API over his term has been exemplary and we are very grateful for his extraordinary commitment to the API and its Members.

Whilst we are farewelling Bruce in his role as API Director and Chair, we are very excited to have such a strong supporter of our property industry sector and our property professionals in such an important role at this senior level of government.

We look forward to continuing to work closely with Bruce, with the small to medium size business model playing a key component in our members’ businesses, and wish him the very best success in his new role.

Kind Regards,

Amelia Hodge
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Property Institute