Judges

Adam Franklin is the author of Web Marketing That Works — an Amazon #1 best seller. He is a professional speaker, marketing coach and CEO of Bluewire Media. Accolades include being named Australia’s #1 business blog, #7 LinkedIn Expert in Asia Pacific and #9 on Entrepreneur magazine’s top marketing podcasts. Adam’s work has featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, The Australian, and the Sydney Morning Herald. Adam helps businesses win high-value clients via LinkedIn. He teaches 1000s of students via his online courses and coaching programs and his weekly ‘Bluewire News’ email goes out to over 35,000 business owners worldwide.

Andrew Phanartzis is the visionary Director of Property Association, Australia’s boutique consultancy for residential developers. Under his leadership, the firm delivers end-to-end expertise—from site acquisition and strategic planning through creative marketing, sales execution, and ongoing property management—helping clients transform land parcels into thriving communities.
With more than 15 years’ hands-on experience alongside some of the nation’s largest master-planned communities, apartment complexes and house-and-land subdivisions, Andrew has contributed to more than $2 billion in residential projects across the East coast of Australia. His strengths lie in anticipating market shifts, innovating sales strategies, and unlocking hidden value at every stage of the development lifecycle.
A licensed real-estate agent and FS146-qualified financial planner, Andrew holds a BA in Human Resource Management and English from the University of New South Wales. He is celebrated for his unwavering professionalism, unrelenting work ethic and a client-first mentality that consistently delivers above-market returns

Brett is a second-generation mortgage stalwart, having been actively involved in the Mortgage & Finance industry for over 30 years after starting his career working at the family-owned lender Interstar (now Advantedge). He then went onto to run the Stargate Group where he pioneered outsourced mortgage processing services by creating the first BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) operation for Mortgage Brokers and was instrumental in introducing the first Mortgage Broker CRM Systems in the early 2000’s, used by over 5000 mortgage brokers prior to its acquisition by then ASX listed Rubik Financial Limited (RFL).
Instead of moving off into the sunset, Brett set about using AI to build industry leading platforms for Brokers, Lenders and Real Estate Professionals using his vast experience to bring Drag & Drop Data Capture solutions to facilitate digital customer acquisitions.
He also serves as the current Board member of the FBAA to give back to the industry that has given him so much, to support a team that he respects and to help shape a better industry for all of its participants. He is passionate about meeting people and hearing their stories, but most passionate about helping them achieve their goals.

Chris Eves is Professor in Property at RMIT University and the Associate Dean, Research and Innovation in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management. Chris is also the Higher Degree Research Director in the PCPM School.
Prior to his appointment at RMIT, Chris was the Professor of Property Economics and Academic Program Director at Queensland University of Technology from 2009 to 2017 and the Professor of Property Studies at Lincoln University from 2006 to 2008. He has also held positions at the University of Western Sydney, where he completed his Master (Hons) and PhD degrees in the areas of rural property values and investment performance.
Chris is A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is currently appointed to the RICS Global Land and Resources Board. He is also an Associate of the Australian Property Institute and has been a member of the API National Education Committee since 2009. He has appointments on national and international Journal editorial boards in the fields of Property and Valuation
Before commencing his academic career at UWS, Chris was employed for 16 years with the State Bank of NSW in Valuation, Agribusiness and Credit Administration roles.
Chris has numerous publications in Australian and International journals on topics ranging from valuation methodology, property stigma to property investment performance and market analysis.

Hayley Mitchell started in Real Estate in 1999 and has built a successful career working in all facets of Property Management including owning her own businesses. A fully licenced Estate Agent, Hayley has won numerous awards and accolades including REIV Property Manager of the year twice and was also named one of Elite Agents Top 50 Industry influencers in 2017, 2018 & 2019. She is passionate about improving the standards in the Industry and shares her knowledge with others through her training and Events Company – MitchellPT. This business provides training that is Innovative, relative, and useful.

Jeff Zulman the leading expert when it comes to helping Mortgage Brokers buy, grow and sell their businesses.

Jeff’s mission is to help smart business owners grow, manage and sell their businesses so they maximise profit and minimise the stress that comes with owning an SMB.

In Jeff’s role as the Managing Director of Trailblazer Finance, he’s helped thousands of Mortgage Brokers with expert advice, industry leading valuations and access to the finance they need for growth.

In Jeff’s role at Trailblazer Finance, he works closely with ambitious brokers who are committed to achieving business success.

Jess Densley is the founder of the Elite Agency Success System, a leading real estate consultancy group working with business owners and sales people to achieve peak performance in their business worldwide.
He has previously been a high performing real estate agent ranked in the top 2% of agents in Australia, inside the countries largest franchise group operating from a regional market place. Jess also has been a leading business owner who operated an awarding winning real estate business that was crowned the number one regional business a record 4 times across Victoria & Tasmania.
As well as being a leading sales coach, Jess also has credentials as an accredited level one (ICG) human behaviour coach working with corporate organisations on unlocking potential in their individuals and teams.

Kirsty is a dynamic entrepreneur whose career began at just 15, simultaneously launching her first business and stepping into the world of real estate (with the glamorous title of filing slave). At 21, she co-founded her first real estate agency and was soon recognised as Australia's Youngest Ever Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year.
Over the years, Kirsty has built a diverse and impactful career spanning real estate, property investment, public speaking, writing, finance, and strategic governance. She has founded and led numerous companies, three with seven-figure exits, mentored startups, and contributed significantly to community and financial institutions through her board roles.
Her decade-long career in mortgage broking saw her personally write over $800 million in loans an extraordinary achievement in one of Australia's smallest markets, Tasmania, where her average loan size hovered around $300,000. In her first 12 months alone, she settled 155 loans, and in her peak year, she wrote $175 million in lending. Kirsty led a thriving team at Up Loans in Launceston, Tasmania, which remains a market leader.
Kirsty brings a future-focused, values-driven approach to leadership, with recognised strengths in stakeholder engagement, innovation, and cultural alignment. Her unique blend of hands-on operational experience and strategic board insight makes her a compelling and credible voice in any setting.
Known for her energetic and authentic delivery, Kirsty makes complex topics in business, sales, and leadership engaging and empowering. Whether she's sharing her entrepreneurial journey or exploring the future of ethical finance, audiences connect with her candid storytelling and practical wisdom.

Peter Lynch is a leader in Professional Indemnity Insurance in the real estate, valuation and management right industry sectors.
He boasts over 30 years’ experience with Aon Risk Solutions and as the Client Manager is responsible for developing new business within the real estate sector including the identification of business opportunities with franchise groups and other stakeholders.
He took a significant role in providing advice and support to introduce a Real Estate specific indemnity insurance scheme and is responsible for the highly successful REIQ/REINT schemes which he coordinated with the assistance of industry, lawyers, underwriters and claims staff.
Peter has a strong interest in promoting safe and quality business practices in real estate and has been a regular contributor to course materials, presentations and editorial submissions. He has been called upon to be a guest speaker at training forums for the REIQ, REIA, REINT, REIWA and various franchise groups.
Peter also provides individual Risk Management training to a number of his Franchise Group clients.

Rex Afrasiabi, the founder of M A Legal, was recognized by Forbes Magazine in 2023 as the top choice lawyer for real estate agencies throughout Australia. With a diverse clientele in the real estate sector, including some of Victoria’s largest real estate offices, Rex has built a wealth of experience and deep knowledge of the industry's inner workings over the years.

Furthermore, Rex co-hosts the real estate-focused business advisory show "Real Estate Renovators," where he has welcomed notable guests from the industry. Rex's expertise has been recognized by leading publications like Forbes, Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Herald Sun, being a guest on numerous podcasts, and he has been a finalist for a number of legal awards.

Renowned for his business acumen, Rex not only navigates clients through complex legal matters and negotiations but also offers strategic guidance for their growth and planning needs. He has been instrumental in assisting both startups and established large agencies in achieving their business goals, and was also recognised by Forbes in 2023 as a top 5 business mentor in Australia.

With over 25 years of experience as a property valuer in New South Wales and Victoria, Gareth has valued more than 15,000 properties, encompassing a diverse range of asset types. From residential home units and industrial development sites to luxury harbour-front dwellings, working farms, and commercial properties, Gareth brings an unmatched breadth of expertise to every valuation.

A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, where he earned a Bachelor of Land Economics in 1999, he is recognised as a Certified Practising Valuer and an Associate of the Australian Property Institute and is regularly called upon to provide expert evidence in a range of litigation matters. These qualifications underpin his commitment to the highest professional standards.

In addition to valuation, Gareth is a licensed Buyer's Agent with a proven track record of purchasing high-performing properties in every state and territory across Australia over the past decade. This dual expertise provides unique insights into property markets nationwide, blending analytical precision with strategic investment acumen.

Having collaborated extensively with lawyers, accountants, mortgage professionals, financial planners, and property developers, Gareth specialises in complex litigation matters. His experience includes being cross-examined as an expert witness and consulting with finance and accounting professionals on challenging taxation cases. This combination of technical expertise and strategic problem-solving has solidified their reputation as a trusted authority in property valuation and acquisition.