Queensland’s best real estate agents awarded at gala ceremony

Queensland’s best performing real estate agents were honoured for their work across a high-performing year, at an annual state awards show on Saturday night.

The 2024 Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s (REIQ) Awards for Excellence was hosted at The Star Brisbane, where more than 1,000 people from the industry gathered to see the show in its 33rd year.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s (REIQ) ‘Residential Salesperson of the Year’ award for 2024 was given to Tristan Rowland of Stone Real Estate Aspley, after five years of being a finalist.

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Yianni Mooney of Yianni Mooney Property had been a finalist for ‘Auctioneer of the Year’ in 2021 and 2022, before getting the award this year.

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29 award categories were given across the gala, with the prized ‘Residential Salesperson of the Year’ award going to Tristan Rowland of Stone Real Estate Aspley.

Mr Rowland managed to beat 16 other finalists for the award. This was his fifth year of being a finalist for the award, with 19 years of experience in the industry and the all time suburb record sale for Aspley.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said these awards were given to showcase the Queensland professionals “pushing the boundaries” of service in their field.

“As the state peak body, it’s our chance to cheer on our industry’s highest achievers and give them the recognition they deserve for their dedication throughout the year,” she said.

“Taking home a trophy is never easy. These kinds of inspiring results are not reached without endless hours of hard work and a laser focus on best practice delivery for clients.”

’Buyers Agent of the Year’ went to Melinda Jennison, managing director of Streamline Property Buyers.

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Ben Ada of Amir Prestige was recognised by the Courier Mail as one of 2024’s young gun real estate agents, and now has 2024’s award for ‘Rising Star Salesperson of the year’.

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The award for ‘Commercial Salesperson of the Year’ was given to Adam Grbcic of Kollosche Commercial, with ‘Auctioneer of the Year’ being awarded to Yianni Mooney from Yianni Mooney Property.

Melinda Jennison of Streamline Property Buyers took home ‘Buyers Agent of the Year’ for 2024. ‘Residential Property Manager of the Year’ was awarded to Rebecca Fogarty of Blackbird and Finch, with the Commercial Property Manager award given to Dale Hoghton of Trident Property Advisory.

Regional Queensland saw Jacqui Walker of RE/MAX Success take home two awards: one for ‘Settled Commissions’ and one for ‘Settled Transactions’ for the Residential Salesperson Regional category.

Meanwhile, Michael Kollosche of Kollosche and Cara Bergmann of Cara Bergmann properties took the South-East Queensland (SEQ) awards for Settled Commissions and Settled Transactions, respectively.

Rising Star awards were given to salespersons and property managers as well: with Ben Ada of Amir Prestige taking salesperson and Sarah Moxon of McAdam & Turnbull Realty taking the award for property manager. As for up-and-coming auctioneers, Kobe Rae of Harcourts took home ‘Novice Auctioneer of the Year’.

Finally, Travis Latter of Infinity Business Brokers won ‘Business Broker of the Year’, Karissa Tigges with RE/MAX Success was given ‘Business Development Manager of the Year’, and Rhiannon Winkler of Little Real Estate grabbed ‘Agency Support Person of the Year’.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said she had seen a lot of hard work going into a busy year for Queensland’s housing market. Picture: Stewart McLean

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Three new additions were also made to the REIQ Hall of Fame, with a place awarded to those who were able to hold the same award for three years in a row.

This year, the awards honoured Chris Gilmour, who retained the award for Residential Salesperson, SEQ, Settled Transactions, from 2021 to 2023.

Meanwhile, agency RE/MAX Success was honoured for holding two awards in that same time span: Sales Agency Regional Settled Transactions, and Sales Agency Regional Settled Commissions.

Ms Mercorella said she believed the work being celebrated was showing the values of Queensland’s industry professionals across the state.

“As I looked out at the room, buzzing with over a thousand real estate professionals, I was filled with pride for the strength, skill and passion in our community,” she said.

Rebecca Fogarty of Blackbird and Finch was given ‘Residential Property Manager of the Year’, after her business won several awards in 2023.

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All Properties Group’s Chris Gilmour was recognised for winning Residential Salesperson, SEQ, Settled Transactions, for three years in a row.

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See the full list of winners below:

Agency Support Person of the Year – Rhiannon Winkler, Little Real Estate

Rising Star Salesperson of the Year – Ben Ada, Amir Prestige

Rising Star Property Manager of the Year – Sarah Moxon, McAdam & Turnbull Realty

Business Development Manager of the Year – Karissa Tigges, RE/MAX Success

Multimedia Award – Kollosche

Buyer’s Agent of the Year – Melinda Jennison, Streamline Property Buyers

Business Broker of the Year – Travis Latter, Infinity Business Brokers

Contribution to the Community Award – McGrath North Lakes

Auctioneer of the Year – Yianni Mooney, Yianni Mooney Property

Novice Auctioneer of the Year – Kobe Rae, Harcourts

Commercial Property Manager of the Year – Dale Hoghton, Trident Property Advisory

Commercial Salesperson of the Year – Adam Grbcic, Kollosche Commercial

Residential Salesperson of the Year – Tristan Rowland, Stone Real Estate Aspley

Residential Property Manager of the Year – Rebecca Fogarty, Blackbird and Finch

Industry Innovation – SimpleRent

Residential Salesperson Regional – Settled Commissions – Jacqui Walker, RE/MAX Success

Residential Salesperson Regional – Settled Transactions – Jacqui Walker, RE/MAX Success

Residential Salesperson SEQ – Settled Commissions – Michael Kollosche, Kollosche

Residential Salesperson SEQ – Settled Transactions – Cara Bergmann, Cara Bergmann Properties

Sales Agency Regional – Settled Commissions – Belle Property Townsville

Sales Agency Regional – Settled Transactions – Belle Property Townsville

Sales Agency SEQ – Settled Commissions – COASTAL Property Agents

Sales Agency SEQ – Settled Transactions – COASTAL Property Agents

Buyers’ Agency of the Year – Streamline Property Buyers

Commercial and Industrial Agency of the Year – Chase Commercial

Regional Residential Agency of the Year – Kingsberry Harcourts

Small Residential Agency of the Year – Island Sands Asset Management

Medium Residential Agency of the Year – McGrath North Lakes

Large Residential Agency of the Year – Ray White Marsden