As we say goodbye to 2025, we asked some of REBAA’s executive committee to share their thoughts on the year and what lessons they have learned over the past 12 months both personally and professionally.
Melinda Jennison, President
If 2025 reinforced anything for me, it’s that doing the right thing is never the wrong decision, even when it’s not the easiest one.
This year, I’ve watched our industry evolve rapidly. The pace of growth, the influx of new entrants, and the noise of “quick wins” reminded me why ethics, education, and advocacy matter more than ever.
This year reminded me that sometimes you have to slow down to stay true to your standards. Whether that means pausing rapid growth or making time to guide others, it’s those choices that create lasting impact.
Personally, it’s reminded me that leadership isn’t about volume or visibility; it’s about consistency, integrity, and helping others rise with you. If we can all carry that mindset forward into 2026, I think our entire profession will be stronger for it.
Bryan Loughnan, REBAA Treasurer
2025 has taught me the importance of being present and being consistent – both professionally and personally.
For me, being present is about showing up fully in conversations and interactions. Whether it’s a work meeting, a casual catch-up with friends, or a conversation with family, I’ve made a conscious effort to be more focused and engaged. I’ve tried to clear my mind before meetings so I can give clients and colleagues my full attention. And at home – even around the dinner table – I’ve worked on setting aside the “work noise” so I can be genuinely present with the people who matter most. It’s not always easy, especially when my mind is juggling a hundred things at once, but it has made a noticeable difference. It’s increased my productivity in professional settings and strengthened my personal relationships. It’s obvious when someone is truly present, and when they’re not.
Consistency, for me, is about controlling the controllables. In work, fitness, and life in general, being consistent with the things I can influence doesn’t always guarantee better outcomes, but it reinforces the reality that not everything is within our control.
Both presence and consistency will be major areas of focus for me throughout 2026.
Sam Spillsbury, Tasmanian Representative
This year taught me the importance of balancing ambition with sustainability – both in business and in life.
Running a busy buyers agency while raising young children meant I had to become far more intentional with my time, energy, and priorities. I realised that the most meaningful progress happens when you create space for clarity, not chaos.
Professionally, I learned that strong boundaries, clear communication, and working with people who genuinely value your expertise make all the difference. Personally, I learned to give myself permission to slow down when needed, and to celebrate the small wins that are easy to overlook in a fast-moving market.
Heading into 2026, I’m taking forward a renewed appreciation for focus, purpose, and the power of saying “yes” only to the things that truly matter.”
Luke Assigal, Victorian Representative
What 2025 reminded me was that strategy, patience, and positioning are everything, kind of like trying to find a car park at a shopping centre in the lead up to Christmas. You could rush in and grab the first spot (and regret it later), or you could play it cool, circle once more, and land the perfect one just as someone pulls out.
The market tested our nerves, teased our optimism, and reminded us that buying smart isn’t about luck, it’s about timing, reading the signs, and occasionally resisting the urge to honk at the chaos around you.
Simon Clarke, Sponsorship Coordinator
This year reinforced just how personal property buying really is.
No matter how many transactions we complete, every client has their own story, pressures, hopes, and timing. Slowing down, listening deeply, and meeting people exactly where they’re at has been more impactful than any strategy or market insight.
2025 also reminded me that strong relationships still win – with clients, agents, and our own team. The best outcomes came from being present, being local, and genuinely caring about the people involved. It’s a simple lesson, but it’s shaped how we’ll continue to show up in 2026.
Peter Gavalas, Western Australian Representative
One of the biggest lessons I learned in 2025 is don’t expect what happened in 2024 to just repeat itself in 2025. It was a new year with new challenges, and things and circumstances changed. I quickly had to adapt and make changes early on in 2025 to adjust to what I could see would be the norm. You can’t sit back and just hope things will change, it’s important to identify and see the signs early.
Professionally, I set 2025 as a goal to make changes and increase my visibility in the marketplace, expand my education and professional development. That has been one thing I have done well in 2025, and I will continue to use that momentum in 2026.
Health and fitness was one area I had set some goals for in 2025, but didn’t do as well as hoped, so it’s certainly something I need to focus more time and energy on in 2026.
Claire Corby, ACT Representative
It’s been an interesting year, hasn’t it? Our industry has shifted, new entrants aplenty, rising awareness amongst consumers, and ever the challenge of how to differentiate the skill and diligence we bring as REBAA members.
It marks my tenth year as a REBAA member, and I remember my first conference clear as day. I was packing it; I knew no one, not a soul, aside from having met Rich Harvey for a hot minute.
It didn’t take long to find new friends though, and I truly felt that I’d found “my people”. Friendships forged that have seen me through the ups and downs of this gig we call buyer’s agency (well, some of us call it advocacy, but let’s not reopen that can of worms!)
It turns out, that turning up and being my dorky self has led to some amazing things. And it’s not just fellow comrades, or solidifying relationships that have borne the juicy fruit. I received an incredible email recently.
I’d given some frank advice in 2020 to a random enquiry who’d reached out about buying off the plan. I had explained that her idea was fraught with risk, and that if I were her, I’d be doing things quite differently, and why. I pretty much talked myself out of the job, let’s be honest!
Over five years later, I got a reply last month.
“If I had given you a dollar for every time I had thought about your advice, below, since 7 April 2020, you’d probably consider retiring!” was her opening line.
She had beaten herself up for five long years, watched on as pandemic prices smashed her budget, and her deposit was sadly the thing of legend. Talk about the road not taken.
A giant dose of kindness and self-compassion later, they decided to change tack. We bought a brilliant home at auction, and they’re finally moving out of their little unit on December 17. Huzzah!
That one email I’d bashed out on the keyboard five years ago? Turns out the recipient has referred 12 of her friends and colleagues over the years, before becoming a client herself. The same applies for lurkers. You know, the ones who always read your newsletter emails (multiple times) and open every link… they lurk. Yet they can be our greatest advocates whenever they overhear someone who’s struggling to buy. One random email. One post that resonated deeply. You just never know when the work you did in the past will come back around.
In the words of Warren Buffet this week about hanging up his hat professionally, “Kindness is costless, but also priceless”.
Business seems to me to be a lot like gardening. Yes, gardening. An unexpected analogy, perhaps, but to me, there’s much to compare… It requires planning and vision, constant maintenance, seasonal pruning, and you can outsource a lot, but if your gardeners don’t know what they’re doing, well, guess what? They’ll pull out your dahlias and not your weeds.
So, here’s to the seeds we’ve planted. May yours bring you an endless bouquet of kindness, compassion, friendship, and solidarity. Or just a packet of Tim Tams that never runs out. x
