Our Board
REIA’s Board of Directors set the property priorities for public policies and guide our advocacy strategies. Our board consists of one representative from each state or territory, nominated by their Real Estate Institutes
Hayden Groves, REIA President
Hayden Groves was elected President of REIA in December 2021.
Since 2015, Hayden served as REIA’s Deputy President and Chair of the REIA Finance, Risk, and Audit Committee. He is also the immediate past President of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) and past Real Estate Employers’ Federation (REEF) of Western Australia.
Hayden wants everyone to win in real estate: business, customers, governments, and the broader community and believes furthering industry excellence and through Australia’s State and Territory Institutes is fundamental to achieving this goal.
Hayden has owned and operated leading independent Fremantle agency dethridgeGROVES since 2004. dethridgeGROVES excels in residential sales and property management and has been awarded the REIWA Large Agency of the Year 2020, Marketing and Communications Award 2020 and 2021; REIA Marketing and Communications Award 2021 and Rate My Agent Agency of the Year, Fremantle 2020 and 2021.
Hayden holds a Bachelor of Politics (Hons) from Monash University, is a licensed real estate agent, auctioneer and is an Associate of REIA.
Hayden wants everyone to win in real estate: business, customers, governments, and the broader community and believes furthering industry excellence and through Australia’s State and Territory Institutes is fundamental to achieving this goal.
Hayden has owned and operated leading independent Fremantle agency dethridgeGROVES since 2004. dethridgeGROVES excels in residential sales and property management and has been awarded the REIWA Large Agency of the Year 2020, Marketing and Communications Award 2020 and 2021; REIA Marketing and Communications Award 2021 and Rate My Agent Agency of the Year, Fremantle 2020 and 2021.
Hayden holds a Bachelor of Politics (Hons) from Monash University, is a licensed real estate agent, auctioneer and is an Associate of REIA.
Leanne Pilkington, REIA Deputy President and REINSW Director
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.
Leanne is a licensed real estate agent, has completed her Property Valuation qualifications from the University of Technology Sydney, and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Sydney Graduate School of Management.
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.
Leanne is a licensed real estate agent, has completed her Property Valuation qualifications from the University of Technology Sydney, and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Sydney Graduate School of Management.
Craig Bright, REIACT Director
Craig Bright is Managing Director of Total Property Management, one of Canberra’s most awarded residential and commercial property management and sales agencies. Craig is a current Board Director and past president of REIACT.
With more than 20 years committed to professional service in the Capital region, Craig believes that providing a dedicated management service to residential investment property owners ensures that clients’ needs are put first and foremost in the leasing process.
Craig is a licensed agent and auctioneer in both the ACT and NSW and is an Associate of REIA. He has served on a range of expert panels for the ACT Government including the ACT Housing Joint Venture Panel and ACT Business Consultative Panel Representative.
Craig is a licensed agent and auctioneer in both the ACT and NSW and is an Associate of REIA. He has served on a range of expert panels for the ACT Government including the ACT Housing Joint Venture Panel and ACT Business Consultative Panel Representative.
Damian Collins, REIWA Director
Damian Collins is the current President of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) following his re-election in October 2020. Damian has served on REIWA Council since 2011 and actively supports and champions the WA real estate community through this leadership role.
Damian is the founder and Managing Director of Momentum Wealth and Chairman of Westbridge Funds Management. Having been an active investor himself for over 25 years, Damian continues to apply his extensive experience in property to help fellow investors make successful investments through direct and syndicated property.
Damian has a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University in Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Property from Curtin University in Perth, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment through FINSIA. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Damian has a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University in Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Property from Curtin University in Perth, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment through FINSIA. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Diane Davis, REINT Director
Diane is the President of Real Estate Institute of Northern Territory and has been a member of the real estate industry for over 30 years.
She is the owner of a small boutique real estate agency. Diane is passionate about the industry and is an Industry Representative Member on the Northern Territory Agents Licensing Board (ALB) as well as President of the Real Estate Industry Board of Management, and Commissioner of Oaths NT.
In her spare time, Diane enjoys playing a round of golf, reading a good book, and travelling, particularly on the water.
In her spare time, Diane enjoys playing a round of golf, reading a good book, and travelling, particularly on the water.
Ray Ellis, Additional Director
Ray Ellis is an Australian businessman and CEO of the First National Real Estate network.
During Ray’s tenure, the network has undergone an almost complete revolution of its product and service offering, developed industry-leading internet marketing technologies, dramatically altered its corporate culture, arrested years of financial losses, and returned to a position of growth.
These products and services have attracted recognition from the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), the Cannes International Festival, and many other leading organizations which have delivered to the network’s agent’s greater efficiency and business growth.
In 2019 First National launched the most comprehensive package of marketing designed to communicate with the ‘Social Media’ generation. This generation places greater emphasis on obtaining information when and how they want it which has severely disrupted traditional methods of marketing and news delivery. This quantum leap further enhances the reputation of the First National Agency being the – local expert combined with a distribution channel that fits with today’s consumer.
These products and services have attracted recognition from the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), the Cannes International Festival, and many other leading organizations which have delivered to the network’s agent’s greater efficiency and business growth.
In 2019 First National launched the most comprehensive package of marketing designed to communicate with the ‘Social Media’ generation. This generation places greater emphasis on obtaining information when and how they want it which has severely disrupted traditional methods of marketing and news delivery. This quantum leap further enhances the reputation of the First National Agency being the – local expert combined with a distribution channel that fits with today’s consumer.
Adrian Kelly, REIT Director
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.
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.
Richard Simpson, REIV Director
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. Richard is a past President of REIV (2017-2018) and is a current Director of the real estate industry’s super fund, REI Super.
Richard was elected to the Board of REIA in 2018 and was appointed chair of the REIA Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Chair in 2021.
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. Richard is a past President of REIV (2017-2018) and is a current Director of the real estate industry’s super fund, REI Super.
Richard was elected to the Board of REIA in 2018 and was appointed chair of the REIA Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Chair in 2021.