Executive Director’s 2016 Report 

It is an honour and pleasure to provide my first annual report on the Property Council’s achievements in WA in 2016.  

I am proud to say that our work at the start of the year to promote policies to keep WA growing, create more jobs, and build strong communities, is now a common theme across government and industries generally. In 2016 we completely refreshed our advocacy program and we took a strong public position on the priority issues affecting the WA property industry.  This included retaining Development Assessment Panels; land tax reform; infrastructure security; improved local planning; and strata reform.  On all these issues, we have secured positive commitments from the major parties contesting the 2017 state election. 

We are investing heavily in leading research to support our advocacy and in 2016 we landed two landmark reports, including: #Designperth; and Benchmarking Local Government Planning Performance.  

We stepped up our community leadership work in 2016.  We achieved the largest ever take-up of  mentoring opportunities by women advancing their careers in property and we will achieve our 2016 target of 40% participation of women on Property Council committees.

This year we completed another successful networking and conference program for members.  Highlights included the annual Women in Property signature lunch, the new WA Property Awards and a series of events showing how new technology will reshape property development.   

I would like to thank the hundreds of members who participated on Property Council committees in 2016.  And I would especially like to acknowledge the work of the Property Council staff in WA who deliver the advocacy and commercial programs we see daily.   

On behalf of the Property Council I wish you and your families a most joyful Christmas and a happy and productive New Year.

Lino Iacomella
WA Executive Director
Property Council of Australia