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Two highly respected members of the real estate profession have added weight to Real Estate Industry Partners’ (REIP) efforts for industry-wide representation.
Leanne Pilkington and Michael Sheargold have been revealed as the latest appointments at the advocacy organisation.
According to REIP chief executive officer Sadhana Smiles, the alignment of Ms Pilkington and Mr Sheargold shows REIP’s commitment “to leading and representing the whole industry”.
She explained: “We know that the success of our industry lies in how well leaders can collaborate and still remain competitive. REIP and our leaders have shown over the years how this can work.”
Noting the importance of having representation that is reflective of the industry, Ms Smiles said the group recently agreed to appoint a new board that includes non-shareholder directors.
“As such, we are excited to announce that Michael Sheargold and Leanne Pilkington have joined the REIP board.”
“They bring with them a wealth of industry experience and are very much aligned to our REIP goals. We look forward to the contribution both Leanne and Michael will make in shaping REIP,” she continued.
For Ms Pilkington, the REIP director role is another string to her bow. Many know her from her role as deputy president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, and yet others have worked with her in her capacity as CEO and director at NSW-based Laing+Simmons.
From her perspective, “Having the opportunity to collaborate with other real estate brands and businesses is a privilege – we will always achieve more working together.”
Looking ahead, she said she is most hopeful of achieving “a shared voice and focus on the issues that matter to the industry” through her tenure.
For Mr Sheargold, a business and performance coach and the founder and CEO of Real Estate Results Network, the director role gives him the opportunity “to support the real estate profession”.
“I believe this shows how committed REIP are to represent and lead for the whole industry,” he continued, before adding that he “look[s] forward to contributing and working with leaders in the industry at another level”.
“We have an opportunity to collaborate and future-proof the industry. The time is now as leaders to collaborate and let agents compete in the field. This has a significant impact on shaping the future of the profession,” he professed.
In addition to Mr Sheargold and Ms Pilkington, Ms Smiles stated that the new board comprises of Mike Green (Harcourts) as the chair, Dan White (Ray White), Angus Raine (Raine & Horne), Steve Latham (Minter), Joel Deveron (RE/MAX), Damien Hackett (Place), Matt Webster (WebIT), and Peter Hanscomb (Belle Hocking Stuart).
The latest news follows the inking of a memorandum between REIP and the Real Estate Institute of Australia last month.
Recognising their powers together could further bolster their aligned initiatives. REIA’s Hayden Groves had described the MOU as an exciting endeavour – and one that is “poised to promote and work towards creating a better community for agents and consumers alike”.
Ms Smiles had also expressed excitement about the working relationship, commenting that “REIP has very clear pillars around collaboration, industry relevance, fiscal and agent wellbeing, and that we lead for everyone. This is why this relationship with REIA makes absolute sense.”
Reflecting on the momentous nature of the MOU, she also raised it as “the first time two leadership organisations like ours have come together with aligned goals”.
“I know that together, we will be able to set new industry standards that will have a positive impact on our sector and the communities we serve.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
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