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.