Ray White annual conference: celebrating curiosity, collaboration, and leadership

Ray White’s Crows Nest 2024 was a three-day gathering, which brought together 190 corporate team members from across Australasia to reflect on their impact over the past year and explore ways to advance the business.

The highlight of the conference was Curiosity Day, where 55 team members presented their five-minute pitches, covering topics ranging from a tiered property management service to a recruitment hub and new pathways for sales associates.

Chairman Brian White’s mantra, “There’s no such thing as a bad curiosity, the only bad thing is having no curiosity,” underscored the event’s spirit.

Ray White Managing Director Dan White emphasised the importance of the conference in evaluating the group’s progress.

“For a 122-year-old group like ours, the test we are always asking ourselves is ‘are we at our best?’” he said. “Curiosity keeps us young and ambitious, ensuring we continually improve while maintaining our unique identity.”

Ray White’s market share across Australia and New Zealand reached an all-time high of 14.55 per cent, with its auction share at a dominant 25 per cent.

Business development leader Martin Millard highlighted the potential to double the group’s business within five years with just one extra sale per agent per month.

The conference also celebrated cross-collaboration between the White family businesses, including LMG and Ailo. LMG Executive Chairman Sam White reported that the group’s 5,500 brokers in Australia and 1,500 in New Zealand lodged over 276,000 loans last year.

Meanwhile, Ben White highlighted the growth of the Ailo platform, now managing 65,000 properties and serving 200,000 users.

Analyst Jordan Tormey addressed Ray White’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions, noting an increase in market share from 9 per cent to 14.55 per cent over 18 years.

“Our competitive edge lies in efficiency within our offices and among our salespeople,” he said.

The Together Initiative, led by Georgia Holden and Natalie Hortz, further illustrated the group’s commitment to fostering a supportive and productive workplace.

Programs like STEPtember, Movember, and the Leadership Academy contributed to team development and community engagement.

A case study presented by Ray White New Zealand CEO Daniel Coulson examined leadership challenges and interventions at Ray White Ponsonby, offering valuable insights for managing similar situations.

Additionally, Ray White Head of Organisational Behaviour Natalie Hortz reflected on lessons from the group’s 2017 brand refresh, highlighting the importance of a unified identity.

Georgia Holden — Ray White Head of Organisational Behaviour Natalie Hortz

Technology also took centre stage, with NurtureCloud CEO Michal Kot discussing the potential to transform real estate through prop tech innovation.

“Our platform saw 1.8 million interactions last month, and we’re poised for growth,” he said.

The conference concluded with the Chairman’s Cup awards, recognising outstanding contributions across the group.

Bianca Denham received the Chairman’s Cup for her impactful work in performance and recognition programmes, while Ben Cowie was honoured with the White Family Trophy for his significant contributions over 13 years.