Former Property Council national president Jim Service AO leaves behind an extraordinary legacy
Jim Service, who died on 29 September aged 88, dedicated his life to community-shaping and business ventures that transformed the nation’s capital and the property industry. He was Property Council National President from 1994 to 1996. Ken Morrison, the Property Council’s chief executive, says Jim “left a great legacy to the industry, the people of Canberra and the Property Council”.
“As national president he saw the opportunity to reposition our industry in the political arena and led our transformation from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) to the Property Council of Australia,” Ken Morrison says. “This sparked an era of modernisation for the organisation and we’ve never looked back.”
Former chief executive Peter Verwer AO, who led the organisation through the transition, agrees. “It was characteristic of Jim Service’s far-sighted vision that he led the transformation from BOMA to the Property Council of Australia. In doing so, he sought not only to change the organisation’s name, but to forge a new style of advocacy based on practical solutions and a positive nation-building ethos.”
Speaking to The Canberra Times, former prime minister John Howard noted Service’s “remarkable commitment to the life of Canberra”. “It is hard to think of any aspect of the life of our national capital which did not benefit from his energy,” Howard said.
Although not a politician or senior bureaucrat, Jim was often referred to as ‘Mr Canberra” – a remarkable acknowledgement of the civic-minded businessman. He established JG Service Pty Ltd, a national property and development consultancy based in Canberra, with offices also in New Zealand, the UK and the USA.
There are so many boards he participated in, patiently shaping and providing leadership – far too many to roll-call. Jim served as Chair of Advance Bank, long-term Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Chairman of the National Museum of Australia, Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation, Chairman of the Canberra Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the ACT Advisory Board on Tourism, Chair of ACTEW, and Chair of the ACT Board of Health. His leadership of the property sector extended to inaugural Chairman of the Australian Building Codes Board and Chair of the builder, Barclay Mowlem & Co. He also served terms on the boards of Challenger, Australand, and CapitaLand (Singapore).
Jim was a mentor to many, including the Property Council’s group executive of advocacy and policy Michael Zorbas, who started his career with JG Service in 1998, and former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell.
NT Division Life Member Trevor Dalton first met Jim when he was National President of BOMA and Chairman of the Territory Insurance Office (TIO). Back in 1994, together with Peter Linton (then Board Secretary and Head of Property for TIO) Trevor convened a meeting of property people in Darwin that Jim addressed which led to the establishment of an NT Division of BOMA/PCA. This would not have happened with the strong support of Jim at the national level – and his recognition of the initiative and commitment of business people in the smaller jurisdictions.
Jim is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 66 years, and four children, including son James who runs JG Service and is a Past ACT Property Council President.
A life well lived, and a great contribution made. Vale Jim Service AO.