Change is in the air at First National Real Estate.
Not only has the largest network of independent real estate agents in Australia recently appointed David Edwards as chief executive officer, but a change in management structure has also seen four women take on greater leadership roles.
First National Real Estate Marschall Principal, Jennifer Nitschke, has been appointed to the national Board of Directors, while Allison Holzer, Kelly Isaacs and Sylvia Presepio have each been appointed as chair of their state regional council.
One of the network’s unique features is that its management structure is made up of agents who are members of the network – historically, men have dominated those positions.
But given women own agencies, run and dominate property management departments and are responsible for billions of dollars worth of property investments, First National wants to better recognise their achievements and see its board and Regional Councils more accurately reflect the wide reaching success women contribute to the network.
National Chair Rob Westwood says with a new CEO appointed and the network’s annual convention in Kuala Lumpur recently completed, a groundswell of new energy and engagement has taken off amongst the women of First National Real Estate.
“The network believes it has a role to play in demonstrating how important women’s expertise and contributions are, so young women in the industry and network will aspire to more leadership positions – starting their own agencies within First National and accepting office-bearing positions within the network,” he says.
“With First National recognising the achievements of women and continuing to offer support, encouragement and career paths, the network could well see a future Board of Directors dominated by women.”
The right person for the job
After 34 years in real estate, including 24 with the network, First National Real Estate Marschall Principal, Jennifer Nitschke, says taking a seat on the Board of Directors is an honour.
“I’ve been on South Australia’s Regional Council for four years and I was chair last year,” she says.
“Our board representative for South Australia/Northern Territory was actually from Darwin which led to some gaps in our representation in South Australia.
“So, I decided to have a go. I didn’t think I should be there (on the board) because I’m a woman, I needed to be there because we needed a voice.
“I felt like I was the right person for the job.”
A third generation real estate professional in Waikerie, on the banks of the Murray River, Jennifer says her family business has operated in the town for more than 100 years, including in real estate since the 1960s.
Her grandfather and father both previously ran the business and her grandmother, Eileen, worked in the agency until she was 98.
“Even though she was under five feet, she was quite a powerful woman,” Jennifer recalls.
“I think she would be especially proud (that I’m on the Board of Directors) because she worked in the business every day up until she died.
“She lived and breathed it, so I think she’d be saying, ‘Wow, this is definitely the next step’.”
Jennifer hopes other women working under the First National banner see her taking a position on the board and aspire to do the same themselves.
“There’s a real change in the air within First National and it’s really nice to see and be a part of it,” she says.
“It feels so inclusive now and the transparency is incredible.
“Women can do it all … I run a business, I have two kids, I have a husband, I’m on other committees, and my kids play sports, so I’m on other committees within the community.”
Proactively changing the status quo
For First National Real Estate Neilson Partners Director, Allison Holzer, her appointment as Regional Council chair for Victoria and Tasmania, comes after 30 years in real estate.
Her agency has offices in Berwick, Narre Warren and Pakenham and, as well as leasing and selling residential, rural and commercial properties, manages more than 1,500 residential properties and more than 300 commercial premises.
Allison says she’s glad First National is proactively changing the status quo when it comes to women in leadership roles in real estate.
“Like any industry, real estate had a fairly archaic imbalance of women in leadership roles when I first started 30 years ago,” she says.
“I recall being the only woman, at the time, training for my auctioneer’s certificate in a group of a dozen men who found my presence and drive rather outlandish.
“The property management industry is largely occupied by women, yet senior roles have been held by men with sometimes little to no insight into the sector.
“Times are certainly changing, and women are being more fairly represented in leadership roles these days, but we still have a way to go.”
Allison says she’s participated on the Regional Council for three years and even though she’s now the chair, her goals for taking the position remain the same as when she joined.
As well as personal growth, developing her skill set and gaining an insight into how the network runs, Allison says she had two other reasons for joining.
“I felt that the board and council, who were all men at the time, could benefit from a woman’s perspective when addressing issues that impacted the hundreds of women working as staff within the First National offices,” she says.
“Also, the men who made up the council and board, all predominantly came from sales backgrounds, and I wanted to be a voice for the property management sector and ensure fair and effective representation of that part of the business.”
Allison says she also hopes to generate more conversations around the importance of gender equality in work and leadership roles.
“Role models are important and if I can demonstrate what is possible, maybe other women will be inspired to shake off the shackles and reach for higher goals that they maybe didn’t think were possible before,” she says.
“I’m proud to be a part of First National’s efforts to break the industry and network mould – we need women at all levels to change the dynamic and reshape the conversation.”
Allison says that women think and process things differently to their male counterparts, and often approach challenges and problems differently.
She says it’s vital to acknowledge and embrace the strengths of the entire network so that new solutions, directions and opportunities are not lost.
“First National is taking a proactive approach by not only accepting women into leadership roles but actively looking to identify, encourage and promote women from within the network,” Allison says.
“They recognise that women in key decision-making positions are offering new ways to deliver better company performance and greater productivity.
“The network’s National Support Office is actively stripping away the last remnants of a boy’s club era, and earnestly encouraging involvement by strong and capable business women to strengthen the entire network.”
Mentoring the next generation
First National Real Estate Murray Bridge Director Sylvia Presepio joined the South Australia and Northern Territory Regional Council about 10 years ago with the training and property management portfolio.
Her experience in the industry and Murray Bridge now exceeds 38 years.
Now that she’s been named chair her goals are clear.
“I firmly believe in the principles of honesty, transparency, and approachability as pillars of effective leadership,” she says.
“I am committed to hosting regular open forum principal meetings, providing comprehensive training opportunities, maintaining a down-to-earth approach in all interactions with our members, and engaging members to enjoy each other’s ideas, relationship building and also younger staff to embrace leadership with men and women within our network.”
Sylvia says as a business owner, and now as the Regional Council chair, she loves mentoring other women in the First National network on how to navigate the business world and to embrace their own skills and success.
“I encourage young women to be confident and to be proud of themselves,” she says.
“We are not perfect, and there is too much attention on how we look and act, but by being ourselves and working hard, young women can achieve success.”
Making some noise
First National Real Estate Wynnum Manly Principal Kelly Isaacs says she was “practically born into real estate” and recalls helping her dad with his prospecting when she was still in school.
In 2006 they bought an office together in Manly, in Queensland, and in 2016 they rebranded to First National.
Kelly has been on the Queensland Regional Council for five years and says a lot has changed for women in real estate since she first started in the profession.
“It makes me so happy now to think about all the fabulous women that own and operate businesses especially in First National,” she says.
“We have so many good role models here that have great businesses and inspire me every day.”
And Kelly says those role models are very much needed, especially for women, as they tend to focus on the job at hand and keep their hands down when it comes to putting themselves forward for leadership roles.
“I think women tend to be, ‘let’s just get in and get it done’, but they are
not always the loudest voice in the room,” she says.
“Sometimes that has meant they have been overlooked.”
Kelly says she’s confident First National is committed to pushing the network forward and an important way to do that includes having women in leadership positions on the Board of Directors and the Regional Councils.
“We want the best people in our key positions, and we need a pathway to make sure women are willing and able to take on those roles if they are that person,” she says.
“If seeing other women in those leadership roles sparks the thought process for another woman to think she can do it too, and she puts her hand up, then we have done the right thing.
“I hope a younger woman looks at me and thinks, ‘I can do that’ and then goes out there and does it.
“Hopefully even better than I did. That is when we will know we have been successful.”
