Our Board

Leanne Pilkington is Chief Executive Officer and Director of boutique real estate network Laing+Simmons and is the immediate past President of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW). Leanne was elected Deputy President of REIA in 2021 and is a Director of REI Super.

Leanne’s 40 years’ experience covers the full spectrum of real estate services: sales, property management, retail, and commercial leasing and management as well as property development.

Being recognised in a range of awards such as Telstra and Optus Business awards to mention just two, she is considered a thought leader and one of the industry’s most influential people.

Leanne has pioneered a range of industry firsts, including being the founder of the Real Women in Real Estate (RWIRE) network holding events around the country, improving diversity on the REI Board, and champions the growth of industry professionalism.

Hannah is the Director of Property Management at the Property Collective and the President of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT.

She brings over thirteen years experience in property management as well as build-to-rent, affordable housing and people and culture.

Hannah is an accomplished industry speaker and consultant which was recognised at the 2020 Telstra Businesswoman of the Year (Medium & Large Business).

Adrian is the founder and CEO of View Real Estate which is an independent agency comprising seven sales and property management offices across Tasmania.

Adrian is a licensed real estate agent and auctioneer, Director of the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania, a past President of the REIT and the immediate past president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia (2018 – 2021). Adrian is a Director on the Property Agents Board which is the regulatory authority in Tasmania and is a Fellow of the REIA.

Adrian was born and raised in Hobart and has worked in the Tasmanian real estate industry since 1990.

Adrian’s real estate experience covers a broad range including residential sales, property management, and commercial sales including hotels and motels. He is also an accomplished auctioneer specialising in plant and equipment and asset sales.

Andrew Bell and his brother Greg own and operate the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group. The largest real estate company in Queensland with over 200 staff operating through a wide range of real estate activities from all forms of residential, prestige homes, project marketing, commercial and industrial. They have been Ray White’s No.1 Residential office internationally on more than twenty occasions, as well as Ray White’s No.1 Commercial sales office internationally on numerous occasions.

Andrew has over 40 years experience in the real estate industry, first operating a three-office group in Sydney and now the largest independently owned real estate group in Queensland. Andrew is regarded as one of Australia’s most experienced and professional auctioneers. With his vast experience, Andrew is called upon to speak at many conferences and business groups and having been through five real estate cycles has a very clear understanding of the various stages of the real estate cycle.

Cain is the Executive Chair of the Real Estate Institute of Australia South Australia.

Cain has held a range of roles in key South Australian and national brands including Discovery Parks, Specsavers, Cibo Espresso, Boost Juice & Century 21 Australia.

Cain was named in South Australia’s inaugural InDaily 40 Under 40 Business Leaders.

Carol Need, Need Real Estate, has over 20 years’ experience in the NT Market, specializing in Property Management, Sales, and Relocation Services.

Carol is Vice President of the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory and President of the Women’s Network NT.

Carol has a Diploma in Property and is a Cert 4 trainer and Assessor. Since 1999, Carol has been a key trainer at the Real Estate Institute NT since 1999.

Joe is the current President of the Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) and is a longstanding member of the REIWA Council, representing members from 2002-2004 and 2013 to the present.

During his time on the Council he has also served as the Deputy President and Chair of the Finance and Risk Management Committee.

Joe is the Director of JMW Real Estate in Dunsborough. With over 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, he has extensive knowledge of WA’s property market, particularly in the regions.

He has a business degree and a keen eye for statistics, town planning implications and housing trends. Joe is particularly passionate about housing supply and diversity, housing affordability, and housing for the vulnerable.

Peter Matthews began his career in 1991 and at the age of 19 was listing and selling real estate in Sydney. For more than 30 years Peter has served the Real Estate Industry and clients in a range of roles as a Real Estate Franchisor and Franchisee.

Peter started calling Auctions at the age of 22 and has amassed over 28,000 auctions across Australia and New Zealand and was awarded state’s number 1 Auctioneer.

Peter is the CEO and co-founder of Realtair, a middleware platform serving the real estate industry. Realtair’s evolutionary technology provides an end-to-end integrated real estate sales solution creating efficiency and genuine time savings for Agents and Agencies alike across Australia and New Zealand.

Realtair empowers agents with innovative technology to add value to their clients & deliver a greater customer experience.

Peter is the Immediate Past President of the Real Estate Institute of NSW and is a contributing member of the Professional Standards initiative across the country. Peter has recently been appointed to the Board of the Real Estate Institute of Australia.

Richard Simpson is a partner in W. B. Simpson & Son, a family real estate business situated in North Melbourne with over 150 years of history.

As a Principal in a business that sells and leases both residential & commercial property, Richard has developed an excellent understanding of the major issues facing the real estate industry today.

Prior to joining W.B. Simpson & Son, Richard spent 10 years as a chartered accountant with KPMG. He reached the level of Senior Manager in the practice where he specialised in Property, Banking, and Finance.

Richard has a Bachelor of Business (Property) at RMIT and a Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University.

Richard was elected to the Board of the REIV in 2015 and is the current Senior Vice President.