Did your strata manager rate at the recent ACT awards?

The Vantage Strata Management Team that took out the Strata Management Business of the Year award, at the recent CHU ACT Strata Community Awards.

For decades strata managers have received a bad wrap. Traditionally they have been at the bottom of the property industry pile. But with the epic shift in Canberra towards apartment living, and the work of the Strata Community Association, strata managers are becoming the innovators and front runners of the property industry of the 21st Century.

Highlighting the rise of the ‘strata manager’, the Strata Community Association (ACT), last Friday, held it’s CHU Strata Community Awards at the National Arboretum Canberra.

“Each and every organization, individual and committee within the strata community is unique, but we are all striving to reach a common goal, excellence,” said SCA (ACT) General Manager, Shari Ujdur.

Vantage Strata Management took out the Strata Management Business of the Year award, sponsored by Body Corporate Brokers. This award recognises organisations that have made a significant contribution to the industry and their clients within the past 12 months.

Chris Miller, Vantage Strata managing director, said, “The strata community has undergone a much needed revolution in the past decade. We are pleased to be at the vanguard of that revolution.”

“I’d like to thank the great work of our local Canberra team, the judges and the tireless work of the Strata Community Association in Canberra.”

Vantage Strata is the result of a long collaboration over many years between leading Canberra property professionals – Paul Powderly & Rupert Cullen of Colliers, Peter Maloney of Maloney’s Real Estate and Chris Miller, a strata professional of 10 years.

At various points throughout their extensive individual careers, they all shared the same view that a gap existed in the Canberra strata management industry when it came to understanding complex buildings and mixed-use environments. Vantage Strata emerged because of this gap in the market.

Judith Farrelly, from LJ Hooker took out the Strata Manager of the Year award, sponsored by Inside Outside Facility Services. This award recognises an individual who displays excellence as a strata manager and demonstrates success in leadership, work ethic and client relationship management.

Judith finds Commercial Strata Management both challenging and rewarding, as she is managing not only buildings containing people’s assets, but in a lot of cases buildings that contain their livelihoods.

“It was very exciting to see all of the awards, except for the Strata Management Business of the Year, being taken out by women,” said SCA (ACT) General Manager, Shari Ujdur.

Independent Strata Management award winners, Nicole Robb, Sally Shaw and Barbara Phillips.

Nicole Robb, from Independent Strata Management, took out the Student of the Year award, sponsored by Laser Plumbing. Kelly McMahon, from City Strata Management, took out the Rising Star of the Year award, sponsored by Maritex Commercial.

Sally Shaw, from Independent Strata Management took out the Professional Commitment to Ethics and Service, sponsored by Schindler Lifts. And Barbara Phillips, from Independent Strata Management took out the Support Team Member of the Year, sponsored by Horizon Coatings.

“We have seen a lot of growth and positive change in the strata industry, especially over the last few years. The SCA is doing great work by focussing on the education of members and executive committees.”

“Strata management now involves many team members with specialised roles who work very hard on behalf of their clients. These awards are a great way to recognise the commitment of our team members and others who work in the industry across Canberra,” said Sally Shaw.

SCA ACT thanked Suzanne Orr, MLA, Andrew Satsias, President of the Hellenic Club and Paul Keating, Managing Director of Strata Community Insurance for judging the awards and the continued support from Naming Rights Sponsors, CHU, silver event sponsors, BPS and CCA, and bronze event sponsor, Macquarie Bank.

So, there you have it, the best strata managers in Canberra have been announced for 2017. Did yours make the cut?