During her tenure, Ms Ryan led the organisation through major transformations, including renewing the Registered Training Organisation status, delivering a new Constitution, relocating headquarters to a state-of-the-art facility, and strengthening the Institute’s influence across government, media, and the broader community.
Ms Ryan expressed that the decision to leave was difficult but driven by long-held personal ambitions.
“It has been a difficult decision to make as I have been fortunate to work with some incredibly talented people across the industry,” Ms Ryan.
“However, the desire to pursue my own business interests has been an ambition for some time and the opportunity has now arisen to take advantage of this moment.”
The REIV Board has appointed current President Jacob Caine as Interim CEO.
Mr Caine will take a leave of absence from the Board while serving in this temporary executive role.
He brings more than two decades of leadership experience in real estate and strategic governance to the position.
Mr Caine’s extensive background includes serving as CEO of Ray White CRE and as a director of the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
His industry knowledge and understanding of member needs are expected to provide strong continuity during this transition period.
As part of the leadership restructuring, Vice President Sam Hatzistamatis will step into the role of REIV President.
Mr Hatzistamatis, who was initially appointed to the Board in 2022 and elected as a Director in 2023, has been serving as Vice President since 2023.
Mr Hatzistamatis brings valuable operational experience to the presidential role, currently serving as Head of Property Management Operations at Besser & Co.
His background includes senior Property Management positions at Harcourts Rata and Co and Philip Webb Real Estate.
The organisation has announced plans to commence a national search for a permanent CEO.
This recruitment process will aim to find a leader who can continue building on the foundation established during Mr Ryan’s leadership period.
Throughout this transition, the REIV has emphasised its ongoing commitment to serving members and leading positive change across Victoria’s property sector.
The leadership changes come at a time when the real estate industry continues to navigate evolving market conditions and regulatory frameworks.
The Board expressed its gratitude to Ms Ryan for her contributions to the organisation.
Under her leadership, the REIV maintained its position as a key voice for real estate professionals throughout Victoria while modernising its operations and governance structures.
“I would like to thank the Board, staff and broader industry for supporting me across my time,” Ms Ryan said.
