Donna is experienced, driven, and has a natural ability to connect with people—making both buyers and sellers feel confident. With a diverse career spanning national operations management, a highly successful art career, and now real estate, she brings a unique mix of strategic thinking, creativity, and business expertise to the table.

As an international award-winning artist, Donna has spent over a decade creating and selling her work, even opening her own art gallery in Mornington. Before that, she thrived as a National Operations Manager, bringing businesses to life and even building international brands from scratch in Australia, all while managing multiple sites and large teams.

Originally from the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Donna moved to Noosa with her family to embrace the lifestyle she loves—beaches, the great outdoors, and a strong sense of community. When not helping clients achieve outstanding results, you’ll often find her at the Tewantin Tennis Courts, where her husband runs a tennis academy, enjoying nightly sunset walks at Sunrise Beach, and spending time with family, friends, and her beloved dog.

Passionate about Noosa and its unique charm, Donna is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and making every property transaction smooth, successful, and stress-free… even fun, it doesn’t need to be daunting. Whether buying or selling, you’re in expert hands.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

My wife, Kate Cox, and I moved to Noosa 17 years ago after Kate was offered a position within a local agency. I chose to join her as we were living together at the time, and life has only got better since. We’ve recently moved to Noosaville after spending several years residing on Noosa Hill and in Noosa Sound, immersed in the buzz of tourist activity and the enjoyment they get from visiting the area.

I’d spent 25 years working in the wine industry, until four years ago when I made the decision to ‘retire’ from the industry and join Kate in real estate. We now work together to form a part of Team Cox at Reed & Co. Estate Agents.

 

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

After 25 years working across various areas including restaurants, cellar door, wine wholesale, retail, and events, making the move across to real estate was a change to something very different. I had already obtained a Business Degree, majoring in Finance and Marketing, as well as a range of financial qualifications which I’m able to apply to the new role.

Relocating to Noosa was initially a career move, however we quickly fell in love with all that Noosa represents; the perfect blend of sophistication and nature wrapped up in what really is quite a small country town. I like the fact that many of the people who live here have made a conscious decision to relocate and genuinely love the lifestyle.

 

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

I have a keen interest in financial markets and remain an active student of them. I enjoy golf and there are plenty of course options on the Coast, however I don’t get out as frequently as I’d like. I love a swim in the ocean, and the Noosa weather allows for this any time of the year!

I am an active member of Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club and patrol during the summer months. Spending time on the beach, with the ocean as your office, is a great way to clear the mind. It’s also nice to engage with people visiting from different areas, and it’s amazing to see the absolute fearless nature of the young nippers, and the confidence it instils in the next generation.

There’s an immediate connection to nature in Noosa, which facilitates a more balanced lifestyle with an emphasis on relaxation. Compared to how frantic our major cities have become, the pace of Noosa is very favourable, but still only a short plane ride to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, or a quick drive to Brisbane if you’re in need of a ‘city fix’.

 

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?
I would like to think one of my special skills as an agent is my ability to really listen to the client and their needs and, in turn, find them the right property. I like to find the key motivation, or emotional link, of a buyer and look for suitable properties based on this. It’s important to ask the right questions; to understand their household structure and what amenities are important to them. It’s about clarifying what are the non-negotiables and presenting solutions which satisfy those criteria.

I feel honesty is another key ingredient. By providing a potential purchaser with all the available facts, you enable them to make an informed decision based on their own individual requirements.

Having lived amongst the hustle and bustle of Noosa Heads for many years, we have gained extensive knowledge of our key sales area and the lifestyle it presents. We know the different pockets in the area and what they bring to the table, and we base our marketing approach on living a lifestyle which encompasses each of the different aspects that Noosa has to offer.

What does your team look like at Reed & Co?

Our team is made up of Kate, Erin, and myself, and each of us have differing strengths and backgrounds which tend to work to negate our weaknesses.
Kate is our lead agent who liaises with vendors and negotiates the deal at the critical moments. I work more on the buyers; to get an understanding of where they are at and what they are seeking, whilst Erin focuses more on the administrative side and preparing each property to go to market, including working with photographers, stylists, and tradespeople.

All three of us are mature and have quite strong personalities so we have an effective exchange of ideas. We’ve all got backgrounds in other fields prior to real estate, so often we’ll offer solutions and insights to our team operation that may be a little outside the norm. The key element to our success as a team is that we are cohesive and tight knit, and combined we offer over 25 years of real estate experience, but three lifetimes in roles which focus on direct people engagement and customer service, ranging from hospitality to media to airlines.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

I came up to Noosa from Brisbane over thirty years ago and I’ve never looked back. I spent the first couple of years living in Noosaville, before purchasing a property in Sunrise Beach, where I have now lived for 28 years. I love living near the beach and I never tire of running through the Noosa National Park. Like many of the people I meet in Noosa, I’m a very chilled out, easy going person so the relaxed Noosa lifestyle really suits me.

I’ve spent the last thirty years working in finance in a lending capacity, both for a major bank and running my own business. I worked with many real estate agents, as well as being a source of referrals, and over the years I developed long standing, friendly relationships with many of my clients. I really enjoyed the relationship side of this work, and I thought it would be a natural transition to move into the real estate industry.

 

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

I initially moved to Noosa for my career; I was working for a major bank, where my role was financing clients into real estate. I started my own business, Suncoast Home Loans, where as a mortgage broker, I was mainly responsible for assisting people in borrowing money to buy a home. After thirty years in finance, I decided it was time for a change, so over the last couple of years I chose to obtain my full real estate licence and immerse myself in the industry.
The move to Noosa was an easy decision, even if it was predominantly for work. The ability to raise a family in a relatively small town appealed to my wife and me, it’s a very safe and friendly community. We live near many schools and sporting facilities, and we’re only 700 metres from the beach. Not to mention the fact that it really is one of the most beautiful places in Australia.

 

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

I have a strong commitment to keeping fit and there is no better place to train than the natural surrounds of Noosa. I like to run daily, either solo or with friends, as well as do the Noosa Tri Club weekly running sessions. There are so many wonderful places to run in the area; the beautiful beaches, parks, the kilometres of pathways or even up into the Hinterland. My weekends always involve exercise, whether it be a walk along the beach or a hit of tennis, and we’ll often head over to Sunshine Beach Village to dine at one of the fantastic restaurants.

I am also the Chair of the school board at Good Shepherd Lutheran College. This is a voluntary position I have held for many years, which involves monthly meetings and regular correspondence with the college executive team. My children attended the college and loved it, so I enjoy giving back to the college.

 

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?

Ultimately, you’re helping people navigate the processes of, what is usually, the biggest value asset they have. It’s important to understand the reasons why people are looking to buy or sell and take a measured approach to helping them do that. I like to work in a methodical way without using any high-pressure sales tactics. I am a calm and considerate person with great regard for others, and I believe this helps in creating an element of trust with my clients.

Another key strength is the ability to really listen to buyers and vendors; everyone and every house has a story. When people are selling, I want to know what it is they love about their house, which allows me to gain in depth knowledge of what will sell an individual property.

My biggest advantage is my extensive knowledge of Sunrise Beach. After living in the area for thirty years, I’ve basically run through every street and have good knowledge of the homes. Being a long time local is invaluable when talking to buyers and sellers; the little insights like knowing the shortcuts to the beach or the best places to eat is terrific information to pass onto new arrivals to help them transition into a new community.

 

What does your team look like at Reed & Co?

I am just beginning my journey with Reed & Co., but I am looking forward to seeing what lies ahead!

Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

I moved to Noosa from Melbourne about nine years ago with my partner, but I’ve been holidaying here since I was born. I currently reside in Sunshine Beach, and I also did a small stint here back in the 1980’s, where I lived in Peregian Beach and then Coolum Beach for a couple of years before work took me overseas.

I’ve been working in Human Resources for over 25 years, but for many years people continued to tell me that I should get into real estate. A few years ago, my husband and I were heading off on a big trip to Europe, and just before we left, I made the decision to discontinue my HR consulting. I took some time out to consider what I’d like to do next, and I decided it was time to try my hand at real estate. I enrolled in a real estate course and obtained my full license, but Covid hit shortly after, and I thought that would quash any chance I had of getting into the industry. It was anything but the case… As we all know, the market skyrocketed and, as it turns out, my timing was perfect! I was very lucky to have a great mentor and I hit the ground running. It’s been the best decision; I feel like I’ve found my calling. I’m very excited to be joining such a prestigious brand and to be representing Sunshine Beach, where we live and my husband has a successful business, Adrian J Hairdessing.

 

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

I was predominantly educated at Melbourne Grammar School but also spent two years at Kano High School in Japan. I spent 10 years travelling extensively doing openings of hotels and resorts both here in Australia and overseas. I did some further study and then transitioned into working as a HR Manager / Director in large international corporate environments, extensively overseas. When I moved back to Noosa, I started my own small HR Consulting business, and since then I’ve been enjoying the work-life balance that the Noosa lifestyle offers.

Noosa has always felt like home even though I was raised in Melbourne, and I always knew I’d be back to live here permanently. Family had a holiday house here when I was a child; it was one of the first houses on Edgar Bennett Avenue at Picture Point in Noosa Heads. We’d come up here for family holidays every year from Melbourne, it was such an amazing spot.I love the relaxed lifestyle and the beautiful beaches, not to mention the year-round perfect weather. I think Noosa is a very entrepreneurial community; there’s great energy, and people are very accepting. I love the fact that Noosa is big enough to offer fabulous amenities, yet small enough to have a close community spirit. There’s a very relaxed approach to life, I just love it here!

 

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

We love entertaining and dining out. Noosa has so many wonderful restaurants, and it’s great to see a broader diversity of food appearing along the Coast. Both my husband and I enjoy cooking, we love experimenting with new recipes when entertaining. And of course, we love the beach. There’s nothing like a late swim at Little Cove on a balmy afternoon.

There’s a very strong sense of community in Noosa, and there have been two recent times that I think the spirit of the Noosa Community has shone through. During the fires in 2019, I went into the evacuation centre to offer some help and I was handed a long list of requests for accommodation from those who had been evacuated, as well as many offers of accommodation from other people in the area. I took control of accommodation billeting, and organised a system for receiving offers, and allocating people into each accommodation. It was so beautiful to witness the generosity of people in our community. I know of several groups of people who had never met, and were accepted into a stranger’s home, only to become lifelong friends.

Also, during the pandemic in Noosa, a group of us started the initiative ‘YELLOWT’, which basically promoted the concept of connecting with five neighbours to your left, five neighbours to your right and ten neighbours across the road. We encouraged people to exchange phone numbers in case anyone in that group needed help during lock downs. We started promoting services through social media and so many businesses jumped on board, assisting people in need. Again, it was a great example of the generosity and goodwill of the Noosa community.

 

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?

As an agent, we’re dealing with the largest investment most people make in their lives, so it can be a very stressful time for buyers and sellers alike. Honesty and integrity are key; it’s so important to gain the trust of a client given the enormity of the decision. Listening is another important skill to have to be able to guide a vendor or buyer through the process, to the point where they are comfortable, which helps in getting people ‘over the line’.

Coming from a corporate Human Resources background, I believe my negotiation skills have been paramount to my success, but it’s also about being honest and accessible; people are more likely to trust you if you can respond quickly to their needs or enquiries, providing them with the facts they require and really listening to what’s important to them.

Having had a life-long association with Noosa, and having lived here on two separate occasions, spanning numerous decades, I feel I have both a great network and a terrific historical knowledge of the area. With Sunshine Beach being my key sales area, it’s a huge advantage that we live there and that my husband has the salon. We love Sunshine Beach and its laid-back vibe.

 

What does your team look like at Reed & Co?

At this stage I’ll be working solo at Reed & Co., but I am looking forward to building a team and growing within the company. I believe clear communication, direction, and collaboration are key, however providing empowerment will propel a team to succeed with the appropriate processes and parameters.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

My career in real estate took off when I bought my first property, somewhat naively, but fortunately, it turned out well. From then on, I was determined to become an agent.

Noosa has always been my sanctuary, particularly during the winter months, so moving there was inevitable. In 2018, I made the move to Noosa with my young family and coincidentally landed in town just as Reed & Co. was taking shape. I’ve been privileged to be part of building the brand from its inception.

 

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

The first chapter of my professional career was based in Sydney. I did a business degree as soon as I left school, after which I spent 20 years specialising in marketing for multinational companies, including working overseas for Nestle. However, I’ve always had an interest in real estate and a desire to help people make the right decisions when it comes to buying and selling their homes, so I obtained my real estate license and began the journey into a career in real estate.

I originally set out to be a Buyer’s Agent but realised if I wanted to serve my clients better, I would need to be an expert in real estate so I decided to become a Sales Agent. I was lucky enough to work with two of the best agents in Sydney, which helped prepare me for the move to go out on my own. It was only 18 months later we moved to Noosa, and now here I am, six years as a sales agent and I wouldn’t change a thing.

 

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

My social activities consist mainly of going for early morning walks with my friends, and my weekends are spent relaxing around the pool with the kids. I love the weather in Noosa; we are so lucky to be able to enjoy the outdoors year-round.

One of the best parts about living in Noosa is that everyone is happy and relaxed; people are enjoying their surroundings and enjoying each other’s company. There’s a real sense of community and people make time for one another. I feel lucky to have made some great friendships with my neighbours, you’ll often find us chatting to each other in the street. The connections I have made within Noosa Waters and the knowledge I’ve gained of the area have been an imperative part of my real estate career in Noosa. I often see my clients out and about, and I catch up with them regularly.

 

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?

Providing quality service is very important to me. Great service underlies a great sales experience, as well as a great result. I really value honesty, and I believe that open communication is key in providing a better experience for everyone.

I like to make my buyers feel welcome, to give them time to enjoy a home and see if they can imagine their family living there. From there, it’s a matter of making it happen for the buyer and communicating what needs to be done to make the purchase. I work hard to ensure my clients feel adequately informed so they can make the necessary steps to move forward. I believe that my clients should never have to call me; it is my job to remain one step ahead and communicate openly with them throughout every stage of the process.
When it comes to marketing a property, each house has a story and it’s all about bringing that story to life. I have a very good eye for detail, and I know what works and what looks good. I know every street and every house in my key sales area in detail, which makes it easy for me to sell its key attributes, as well as find interested buyers.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an agent at Reed & Co.?

For as long as I can remember, real estate has always been a prominent part of my life. It was always the topic of conversation within our household as a child, and I have had privilege of a lifelong friendship with Adrian Reed and his father, Don Reed; one of the all-time great estate agents in Noosa.

I would say my calling for a career in real estate first came back in 2015 when I was searching for my first investment property. I was disappointed in the poor service and lack of communication I received, and I realised there was a gap in the market which needed to be filled. I had spent much of my working life in sales, so within a year, I had secured myself a position within a local agency and began learning the ropes, but it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to join Reed & Co. Estate Agents in 2019 that my passion for real estate started to flourish. I was able to combine my core beliefs with the best brand in the business, and now I get to share this premium brand across many suburbs in Noosa and the Hinterland.

 

What does your professional journey look like so far, and how did this journey bring you to Noosa?

I have undertaken many different job roles, including horticulture, hospitality, customer service, landscaping, and construction, with the largest portion being in sales. When I look back at my working life and the different career choices in which I have embarked on, I believe it has helped formulate me into a well-rounded professional and develop a great understanding of Noosa. I had already gained a wealth of knowledge of the area, having moved here from Sydney in 1986 whilst on a trip around Australia with my family.

I’ve now spent 36 years living in different areas around Noosa, including Tewantin and Noosa Heads, before purchasing our dream home in the Noosa Hinterland where I currently live with my wife and two daughters.

 

What are your personal interests/commitments and how are they met within the Noosa Community?

Being an outdoors enthusiast, Noosa is the ideal location to raise my family. We are very fortunate to have amazing surf beaches and an expansive river system which is among the best in the world. The Noosa North shore, only a short ferry trip over the Noosa River, offers a fantastic getaway and connects you to Fraser Island; one of my favourite places to visit.

Noosa also offers a profound sense of community, and myself and my family are heavily involved in the sporting community. I am a member of many sporting clubs including the Noosa Surf Club, the Noosa Triathlon Club, Sunshine Coast Cycling Club, Tennis Clubs, and the GS Aquatics Swim Club, which I sponsor, and chair the committee. It is through these sporting events and activities that I can network; meeting people and creating relationships which translate into the office.

 

Tell us about your individual approach as an agent, and the personal qualities which help you achieve this?

I believe one of the standout skills which I possess is the ability to really listen to my clients. I like to ask the questions so I can understand the sellers and their situation, and tailor each campaign to suit the individual client needs. I know from experience that buying and selling houses can be an overwhelming time, but I feel my professional and approachable manner helps my clients feel more at ease and helps them make the right choices.

 

What does your team look like at Reed & Co?

I am fortunate to have a great team working behind the scenes to make Team Hodgkinson what it is today. My Co-listing agent, Cass, possesses comprehensive market knowledge of the Noosa and Hinterland area, combined with a background in law specialising in property and conveyancing. She has a lively energy, as well as a down to earth and approachable personality, which allows her to connect with a wide range of audiences, while her genuine and caring nature ensures that your best interests are her highest priority.

Our team has recently grown with the addition of our executive assistant, Maddie. Growing up in a family who built and sold houses for a living, Maddie gained firsthand experience of the connection between a buyer and an agent, and the importance of nurturing and looking after our clients. Maddie comes with a varied skillset, and we are looking forward to cultivating her career in real estate.

Team Hodgkinson possesses all the necessary skills to help guide our clients through the process of buying and selling property. Combining intrinsic knowledge of the local area with a diverse range of expertise, we offer professionalism along with a gentle approach to deliver a seamless, stress-free experience.