REIWA is the peak body for the real estate profession. It represents the interests of its members and the consumers who use REIWA agents in property transactions.
REIWA has a CEO and small team of senior staff. Together, these people oversee the day to day operations of the institute and the many staff who make the services, resources, functions and advocacy possible. They are responsible for managing REIWA's Commercial Services, Agency Practice, Training, Communications, IT, Research and Finances.
Policy development and governance of the Institute, however, is determined by the elected Council. There are nine members on the Council who in turn elect the President and Deputy President from among their ranks.
One third of the Council is required to retire every three years and submit themselves for re-election. Furthermore any person who has been an Ordinary member of REIWA for more than three years prior to the election may nominate for election to Council. Elections are conducted through a postal ballot with all ordinary and Life members entitled to vote.
Council meetings are generally held every month at REIWA's offices in Subiaco, where the Councillors and President use their expertise and experience to make decisions on the governance of the institute, as well as the commercial direction of its assets and business units.
The current Council 2011-2012
President
David Airey
Airey & Associates
David was elected President of REIWA at the October 2011 meeting of REIWA Council for a two year term. David has served on REIWA Council since 2003 and had been Deputy President since 2006. He has also served Council as REIWA's director on the board of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and was elected President of REIA in April 2009 for a two year term.
David is an accomplished agent and well known in Perth's western suburbs where he has an office in Claremont. David is the Licensee for his office and a qualified auctioneer.
David believes that the opportunity to work in a free market environment is essential and that experience, honesty and high ethical standards are critical for REIWA members.
Deputy President
Ian Cornell
Michael Johnson & Co
Ian has served on REIWA Council since 2004 and was elected Deputy President at the October 2011 meeting of REIWA Council. He has over 30 years of hands-on agency practice experience at Professionals Michael Johnson & Co, Mt Lawley, Duncraig and, more recently, in Morley. He is a keen advocate of compulsory professional development for agents.
Ian believes that the greatest impediment to achieving the ‘great Australian dream’ sits squarely on the shoulders of state governments, in particular WA's very high rate of stamp duty, unfair land tax and the ‘insidious penalty on employment - payroll tax’.
Property management is an area Ian feels strongly about and he is keen to improve the profile, status and reputation of property managers both within REIWA and in the wider community.
Chairman Finance Committee
Alan Bourke
Bourkes
Alan Bourke served as REIWA President between 2009 and 2011. On his retirement from this position he was appointed Chairman of the Finance & Risk Management Committee for the Institute. He has served on REIWA Council since 2004.
Alan holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Western Australia and is a licensed real estate agent and auctioneer. He is the principal of Bourkes, prominent in South Perth and surrounding areas.
Alan has worked in real estate for 30 years, initially as a member of the First National Group in the mid-eighties, then chairman of the Professionals Group, as a member of the Ausnet Group and now as an independent agency.
Alan has been involved with REIWA through membership of the Finance Committee, Membership Committee and the Premises Committee and has served in REIWA's public enquiries service for the past 25 years.
Councillor
Jennie Bryant
Jennie Bryant Real Estate
Jennie has served on REIWA Council since 2007. She began her real estate career in 1972 in the western suburbs and after gaining a real estate licence she opened her own office in Claremont in 1978. Jennie created opportunities for several women to join the real estate industry and to mentor them to achieve their own success.
In 1985 Jennie sold her first business to embark on a tertiary degree which she subsequently achieved. Jennie then spent several years in the country areas of Bridgetown, Moora and Toodyay, developing a special interest in rural real estate and then finally coming back to Kalamunda where she opened her own office in a semi-rural environment. Jennie is passionate about the issue of affordable housing and the need for further availability of land.
In addition to being a REIWA Councillor, Jennie also served as REIWA's deputy representative on the Real Estate and Business Agent's Supervisory Board prior to its abolition in 2011.
Councillor
Damian Collins
Momentum Wealth Property
Damian joined REIWA Council in October 2011. He has worked in property for over 18 years and is passionate about the importance of property to our community and economy, and the imperative to improve and enhance the reputation of professionals in property.
Damian has a Bachelor of Business degree and is an accountant by profession. He still holds the qualification of chartered accountant and has post graduate qualifications in applied finance, financial planning and property.
Members of Damian’s team at Momentum Wealth are active participants in REIWA network committees and Damian is personally committed to serving REIWA with a view to enhancing and strengthening the real estate industry.
Councillor
Rob Druitt
Druitt & Shead First National
Rob has served on REIWA Council since 2003 and served as President from 2006-2009. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Paul, who served as REIWA’s President from 1992 to 1994. Rob has had a long involvement with REIWA and since the mid-nineties he has been a member or chair of numerous REIWA committees, taskforces and networks. Rob also serves Council as REIWA's director on the board of the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
Rob commenced real estate in 1989 and operates from Druitt & Shead First National Real Estate in Doubleview. Since obtaining his real estate licence in 1992, he has been the licensee of the office. Rob previously worked in taxation consulting.
Rob is actively involved in selling residential real estate, achieving the highest REIWA Award of Grand Master (2006 & 2007) and Master (2008 & 2009). He is also an accomplished auctioneer and has won the Western Australian Auctioneering championships from 2003-2005 and subsequently represented WA in the Australasian Auctioneering finals on three occasions.
Councillor
Hayden Groves
Dethridge Groves Real Estate
Hayden has served on REIWA Council since 2010. He owns and operates an independent agency in Fremantle, Dethridge Groves Real Estate (formally John Dethridge & Co.), and with a staff of 16 manages a rental portfolio of almost 300 properties. He specialises in residential sales and consulting to Landcorp.
Along with his triennial, Hayden holds an honours degree in politics, has studied law and is a licensed auctioneer. His current industry involvement includes:
• Chairman of the Fremantle Branch since 2006
• REEFWA Executive Committee member
• Joint Form Review Committee member
• Documents and Forms reviewer
• Public Enquiries duties since 2004
Hayden remains committed to genuine engagement with the membership to ensure REIWA maintains its momentum as WA’s peak real estate representative body.
Councillor
Kent Murphy
Mandurah Estate Agency
Kent has served on REIWA Council since 2006. He has been involved in numerous taskforces and committees, mainly in the area of training, which he believes is very important for the success of any real estate agent.
Kent has over 20 years of real estate experience and since 2005 has been the Director/ Principal of the Mandurah Estate Agency. He has been recognised as a Master Salesperson and has consistently ranked in the top 2 per cent in WA for listings and sales throughout his career.
Kent is also the current President of the Real Estate Employers Federation WA, a position he has held for nine years. He was instrumental in lobbying successfully at the Australian Industrials Relations Commission for a real estate-specific award under the new Fair Work Australia frame work. This award came into effect in January 2010 and WA was granted many generous provisions as a result of REEFWA’s advocacy.
Councillor
Brett Thorp
Thorp Realty
Brett joined REIWA Council in October 2011. He commenced his career in real estate as a sales consultant in 1993. After completing an Advanced Certificate of Business (real estate) in 1999, Brett purchased the family real estate business and has owned and operated it ever since with a staff of 16.
Brett has been a REIWA member for 18 years and is currently Chair of the REIWA Goldfields/Esperance Branch. He is also a long-standing member of the Landlink group and has served on its committee.
Brett is very keen to ensure that country members have access to professional development training and that the members of REIWA work together to provide a very professional and ethical service to the communities they operate in.