These are the nominees as at Tuesday, 20 October 2015. All nominations must be received by 5pm Thursday, 22 October 2015 by the SCA (NSW) General Manager.
Voting for all board positions will occur at the AGM on Friday, 6 November 2015 at 8.15am and to be held at the Hilton Hotel, George Street, Sydney. The following positions representing each of the chapters are vacant and open for nomination:
| Strata Manager Chapter | 3 positions |
| Associate Chapter | 1 position |
| Strata Services Chapter | 1 position |
| Strata Owner Chapter | 1 position |
Strata Manager (Licensed) Chapter
Natalie Fitzgerald
Natalie Fitzgerald has been part of the strata industry since 2001 and is a managing partner at Strata Sense. As an advocate for customer engagement Natalie has presented to both owners and industry professionals across various forums focusing on the importance of engaging owners to create better strata communities and more rewarding strata careers.
Recognising the importance of fluidity to a sector that is experiencing not only great growth but enormous change Natalie believes her ability to be innovative with a view of creating positive and imaginative solutions would be of benefit to all members of SCA (NSW). With experience being a member of the Professional Standards Committee for a number of years Natalie has a particular passion for supporting and growing young professionals in the sector and would like to see SCA (NSW) engage more directly with the major universities to recruit talented people into strata. If elected to the board and afforded the opportunity Natalie would work to assist in having strata presented as an exciting, long term career option for the next generation of property professionals.
As a managing partner in a small but rapidly growing business Natalie still manages a portfolio of clients while working directly on business growth, innovation, resourcing and the continued development and engagement of staff. An active participant in the strata sector for a number of years Natalie is a respected and networked professional looking to contribute more meaningfully to the strata sector.
Michele A Hemmings CPA
I am a licensed Strata Managing Agent operating the specialised strata management firm Exclusively Strata for the past 10 years. I am also a Certified Practising Accountant, have three Accounting degrees (Bachelors, Honours, Masters), and spent 20 years prior to starting the strata business as an Accounting Academic: Senior Lecturer, published Author, recognised researcher of corporate accounting, company takeovers and the accounting standard setting process in Australia and other Western nations. My strata business began in 2005 and has grown exponentially ever since. I have taken an active role in the recent legislative reforms, being a voluntary member of the initial SCA (NSW) Strata Reform Working Party and submitted my own 64 page commentary to the government and then more recently, a briefer submission on the 2015 Bill. I am passionate about this industry and would support the moves to recognise strata management as a profession in its own right. My experience with the Accounting Profession will add valuable kudos to the profile of SCA (NSW).
I wish to be a part of the Board of Directors for SCA (NSW) for several reasons: to offer my CPA credentials and expertise to the Board, to assist with policy enhancement (especially membership categories and access to services), to represent regional NSW, to encourage growth of the strata industry in these locales, and to add a female voice to all of the above!
Tony Irvine
Tony Irvine has been involved in the strata industry for the past 10 years. He was a supplier to the industry before opening his own strata business six years ago. He is now the principal of Irvine Strata Management – a smaller operator with seven employees.
Tony joined the board at the end of 2014 to fill a vacancy and has attended every board meeting since. Tony is also the chairman of the Professional Standards Committee.
Since joining the board, Tony has brought forward two initiatives to support members.
Firstly, a formal ‘Mentoring Program’ designed to allow all members to participate as a mentor or mentoree. The program creates an environment where experienced members can become involved with other members who are seeking guidance and building their network. The mentoring is in the trial phase at present.
Secondly, Tony suggested a collective purchasing program whereby members can gain access to a variety of discounted products and services. This initial idea has evolved into an ‘Rewards Program’ where members and their staff can obtain real discounts on everyday purchases. This positivity offsets the cost of membership.
Tony’s focus as a board member in 2016 will be to:
- Continue to contribute at a board and Professional Standards Committee level in 2016 as the industry and its participants deal with a significant change to our operating environment;
- Be an advocate for smaller businesses and the opportunities and challenges these members face, and;
- To realise the value-adding benefits to members and their staff through the Mentoring and Rewards Programs.
Daniel Linders
With a strata career spanning over 20 years, Daniel has served in many roles within Strata Community Australia (NSW). Currently as a Board Member in the capacity of Senior Vice President, also as a member of the Code of Conduct panel, the Professional Standards committee and Legislative Reform committee.
Daniel is the Group Managing Director of Strata Choice. Daniel’s consultative approach and his ability to understand the needs of his clients, has seen Strata Choice deliver comprehensive management solutions to all of their clients. Over the years Strata Choice has grown with Daniel ensuring that the company retains the personal and professional service, for which Strata Choice has become renowned.
Daniel has an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and also holds a Diploma of Business in Real Estate.
Outside of the office, Daniel enjoys playing soccer, boating, kayaking, mountain biking and spending quality time with his family.
Hugh McCormack
I am a serving director of SCA (NSW) and joint managing director at McCormacks Strata Management. I have worked in the strata industry for 16 years with several companies and have a Bachelor of Business from Bond University majoring in Real Estate, Finance and Sustainable Development.
I am an active board member believing that SCA needs a strong voice with government whilst delivering member benefits in education, events and professional standards. I wish to continue the work SCA (NSW) is doing to embrace all our stakeholders to build a stronger organisation and sector as a whole.
I am passionate about our industry being seen as a profession and our members as respected property advisors. With a strong education and accreditation pathway I believe SCA will can develop the industry as a profession and offer incoming participants a clear career development path.
The new legislation is to be seen as an opportunity to refresh and promote our industry and as a board member I actively welcome the opportunity to serve the members in these exciting times.
Reena Van Aalst
My management experience spans 26 years, 15 being strata specific. I am the General Manager of Portfolio Management and Licensee–in-Charge of Dynamic Property Services. I hold Bachelor of Pharmacy (Sydney University). This year I complete a Masters in Professional Accounting (UTS). I also hold a Diploma in Business Management (Real Estate Management) Macleay College.
From 2004 to 2006 I was Senior Vice President of the Institute of Strata Title Management and in 2013, I was awarded Reuters Award (UTS) for academic excellence. In 2011 and 2012 I won SCA Strata Manager of the Year.
I want to apply my skills, experience and academic achievements for the benefit of SCA and its members, to assist its development and ensure its continued relevance.
It is important to embrace change, adapt and apply skills to new disciplines. I am a team player and value learning, flexibility and embracing innovative ideas. It is essential to encourage the best and brightest and embrace technological change.
The new legislation is the beginning, not the end, of an important journey. It is vital to continue interaction with government and stakeholders to maximise and build on our achievements so far.
I am passionate about strata management becoming a well-respected profession. This will be achieved by strata managers attaining a recognised level of education. SCA has programs in place and my ultimate goal is for all managers to achieve a level of public perception and qualification of which they will be proud.
There are wonderful opportunities and exciting times ahead. Complacency must be avoided or we will rue the day. Success is hard and maintaining it is harder. I am success-driven and hope to be given the opportunity to share my skills and experience as a board member.
Change is not something to be feared but embraced.
Strata Manager (Associate) Chapter
Melissa Truscott
Melissa Truscott has been a member of the Board for Strata Community Australia (NSW) since 2012. She is currently Chairperson of the Education Committee (NSW) and a member of the National Education Committee.
Melissa was recently appointed as Chief Operating Officer for Bright & Duggan (Large Strata Management Company of the Year 2015). Previously, she held the position of Managing Director for GK Strata Management.
Prior to entering the strata management industry almost 10 years ago, Melissa’s primary corporate business experience has been in project management and business process improvement. She also has extensive experience in human resource management, client relationship management, compliance and regulatory liaison, all skills that have been transferrable to the strata management industry and particularly useful in fulfilling her duties as a current Board Member.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Business (BMgmt/IBMgmt) and is a licensed strata manager. She is a presenter for the City of Sydney’s Strata 101 program and regularly presents for Strata Community Australia (NSW) at lot owner seminars regarding industry best practice.
Melissa is very passionate about education within the industry, not just for strata managers, but also for the owner and services chapters. She believes that improved industry knowledge for all members will encourage better working relationships between the parties and elevate the status of the industry within the community.
Strata Services Chapter
David Bannerman
David Bannerman is the principal of Bannermans Lawyers providing specialised legal services for the Strata industry, the Development industry, the Construction industry and the Insurance industry.
David is a qualified lawyer on the roll of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia. He is an Accredited Property Law Specialist with the Law Society of New South Wales and has over 15 years extensive experience in all aspects of property law and building litigation. David has a keen interest in education and training. He demonstrates his commitment by regularly presenting education seminars to lawyers, experts, certifiers and strata managers.
David Bannerman has been a director since 2007 and brings his extensive legal expertise and his broad industry knowledge to help support and promote the supplier services members of SCA (NSW) throughout the strata industry. David continues to support SCA (NSW) by being involved in a wide range of committees and working groups, which further reinforces his commitment to the members of SCA (NSW). David’s broad and extensive committee and working group involvement includes:
• Chair of the Ethics Panel
• Home Warranty Working Group
• Strata Services Committee
• Professional Standards Committee
• Strata Owners Committee
David has been drafting and contributing to many submissions addressing the extensive legal reform underway for SCA (NSW) and is actively involved in addressing transitional issues between SCA (NSW) and SCA. David continues to promote and support the members of SCA (NSW) and would like to continue his involvement and support by being re-elected as a Director.”
Strata Owners Chapter
Catherine Lezer
Catherine is a dynamic business woman with a record of success; post graduate qualified she is a franchisee of Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisors Sydney.
Always active Catherine became a Director of Juventus Pty Ltd, a Perth based property Development Company, engaged in Margaret River development projects. She continues to provide her business acumen to the strategic planning, quality, governance and marketing of projects, commuting as needed.
Owning in strata property for many years, she has been volunteering on various executive committees for 15 years.
Currently Catherine chairs two of the buildings where she owns property. Always seeking to be involved in her community she has been actively dealing with legal matters, interior, lift and exterior upgrades, defects and a multitude of day-to-day strata matters.
In each building Catherine is driving implementation of sustainable projects, including the first strata solar retrofit in City of Sydney, which are saving the strata schemes significantly on energy costs/carbon emissions as well as creating a commercial advantage.
Catherine willingly shares knowledge and is currently a member of the Strata Owners Committee. Her passion for strata and high energy has led her to write numerous articles for industry publications and present the strata industry to government and community audiences in presentations and information sessions.