A Hills District agent will carry NSW’s hopes at the national novice auctioneering championships after winning the REINSW competition this week.
Panal Boustani from Manor Real Estate beat fellow finalists Rebecca Shepheard of Elders Real Estate Batemans Bay and Harrison Double from MMJ Real Estate Wollongong to claim the 2026 title.
The win earns Panal a spot at the REIA Novice Australasian Auctioneering Championships in Melbourne this May.
All three finalists had undergone professional training with Chief Judge Ricky Briggs of Advantage Group before competing in the final at Ray White’s Martin Place headquarters, where they auctioned a five-bedroom Mandalong property in a simulated environment.
Panal said the competition pushed him beyond what he’d experienced on actual auction days.
“There were pressure points that felt very different to the auction floor, which forced me to think in new ways,” he said.
“It helped me identify some weak points I didn’t realise I had, which is a great outcome. Overall, it was very nerve-racking, but I’m super glad I did it.”
He credited the structured training with giving competitors practical tools they could take into real auctions.
“There aren’t many platforms in auctioneering where you can truly learn, grow and get proper training,” Panal said.
“It’s great to see an organisation like REINSW that actually takes the time to nurture people at the beginning of their careers.”
His advice for agents considering next year’s competition was simple.
“Just enrol – you’ll learn from there.”
Ricky said Panal’s performance stood out across all three judges.
“Panal delivered a standout performance – strong on numbers and sequence, with a well-rounded call that saw him take top points across all three judges,” he said.
“The growth we’ve seen from competitors between the heats and the finals has been exceptional, and every one of them will walk away a better auctioneer for the experience.”
In the seniors competition, held the same week, Clarence White of Menck White Auctioneers and Emanuel Comino of McGrath Estate Agents Inner West will both progress to the Australasian stage in Melbourne after strong finals performances alongside independent auctioneer Emma Brown-Garrett.
The judging panel included Ricky Briggs, Peter Matthews from Century 21 UAE & India, Stuart Ritchie from McGrath Estate Agents, and Sam Green from Advantage Buyers Agents.