Jellis Craig Boroondara’s Property Management GM Sophie Lyon has been announced as a new board member of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV). The REIV is the professional association for Victoria’s real estate industry and has over 2,000 agencies as members.
Lyon’s appointment means that she will be one of three female members on the eight-member board; whereas during her previous term as a Director, she was the sole female member. Lyon will also be the second Director who holds a role with a sole property management focus, historically Directors have come from Sales based backgrounds.
“Property management has long been in the background,” said Lyon. “Over recent years it has evolved greatly, but it would still be a wonderful thing if we saw more focus from the institute into property management.”
Lyon is joining in a time of leadership transition for the board.
“There’s a huge opportunity within the real estate industry and at the REIV right at the moment,” according to Lyon. “With the change in leadership that the REIV is going through right now, there’s an opportunity there to positively impact the direction of the institute, and in that way impact the industry overall, and hopefully give it some new direction and new vitality and new focus.”
Lyon has been involved with the REIV since 1994 as a trainer, chairperson of the Property Management Chapter, member of the Ethics Committee, and Members Council Representative. She currently represents the REIV on the Residential Tenancies Act Review Consultation Group. This is her second appointment to the board. She was a member from 2010-2014 and served as vice president during that time.
Lyon expressed excitement about the increased representation of women on the board.
“Now that there are three of us there, I think that in itself is showing the evolution of the REIV and the evolution that I think the members want to see… They want broader recognition. They want broader coverage, and they want different people with different voices on the board to give a balanced perspective.”
Lyon recently joined Melbourne real estate leader Jellis Craig Boroondara as the General  Manager of Property Management.
Her term will begin in October and last three years.
