REIWA taps new CEO

New executive to succeed Neville Pozzi, who is stepping down after 45 years

REIWA taps new CEO

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has announced that it has appointed Cath Hart as its new chief executive officer. The appointment follows an extensive recruitment process that began last year and drew applicants from around the country, REIWA said.

Hart joins REIWA from the Housing Industry of Australia, where she has served as executive director (WA) since 2018. Prior to that, Hart served as director of advocacy at Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA. She has also served as director of government media for the Office of the Premier.

“Cath has a strong background in advocacy and will bring significant commercial experience to the role,” said REIWA President Damian Collins. “REIWA Council is excited about the great things REIWA can still achieve, and we are confident Cath is the right person for the next phase of REIWA’s ongoing work on behalf of our members and the wider real estate industry.”

“I’m excited and honoured to take on the role of REIWA CEO, particularly as Western Australia faces a significant turning point in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hart said. “Population growth, housing affordability and sustainable activity across the entire housing continuum are all key challenges to ensuring WA becomes the best place in the world to live and do business. On a personal level, my mother and father were both real estate agents, so I grew up in sales offices, spending weekends in display homes and visiting pegged-out estates, so I feel a great sense of pride to be able to represent the hard-working people in the WA real estate sector.”

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Hart will step into her new role on May 02. She succeeds Nevill Pozzi, who is retiring after 45 years at REIWA – the last 10 of which he spent as CEO.

“On behalf of the REIWA Council, our membership and staff, I’d like to thank Neville for his outstanding contribution to REIWA and the real estate industry at large,” Collins said. “Neville has spent almost his entire career at the institute, and has been critical in its success. His innovation and sound financial management has ensured REIWA is the most successful real estate institute in the country. We wish Neville well in retirement and thank him for everything he has given to the institute and its members over the last 45 years.”