Century 21 Australasia showcases innovation and growth at Canberra conference
The Century 21 Australasia network gathered in Canberra last week for its annual conference, highlighting innovation, technology and global expansion across the brand.
Hundreds of real estate professionals from Australia, New Zealand and the Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate network attended the event, which was sponsored by ANZ Bank.
Demographer and author Bernard Salt delivered the keynote address, providing his outlook on Australia's economy and housing market. Mr Salt – known for popularising terms such as sea change shift, man drought and smashed avocados – discussed demographic trends influencing the property market and wider economy.
The Australasian Chairman of Century 21 and Better Homes & Gardens, Charles Tarbey used his address to outline the company's international growth strategy following his acquisition of the master franchise rights for Century 21 India and Century 21 UAE. Mr Tarbey said the move will create new referral pathways for Australasia and strengthen the group's position in an increasingly global real estate market.
"These new partnerships will connect our agents and clients with fresh opportunities across key international markets," he said. "It's a large step toward making our network even more globally integrated."
Technology and the rise of artificial intelligence were also key talking points, with industry experts exploring how AI-driven tools are reshaping real estate sales and marketing. Century 21 highlighted its own development and investment into AI tools that it expects will enhance office and network performance over time.
The Awards Night, hosted by former Australian cricketer Shane Lee, celebrated excellence across the network. Major award recipients included:
- Hall of Fame Inductee: Damien Said, Century 21 On Duporth, Maroochydore QLD – recognised for sustained success in real estate and his community involvement. Incredibly, Mr Said has been a Centurion, or top 2 per cent performer globally, since 2007.
- 2100 Cup: Jarrah Holmes, Century 21 Bayside Brighton, SA — honoured for sales performance and leadership within his local market.
- Sam Raiti Award for Excellence: Justin O'Connell, Century 21 Gold Key Realty, WA – recognised for his ongoing support and mentorship within the network.
- Better Marketing Award: Tracy Kennedy, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Connect, Tarragindi QLD – acknowledged for her creativity and commitment to marketing excellence.
The conference concluded with a closing event at Parliament House, featuring comedian and broadcaster Peter Helliar.
Century 21 CEO, Ray Ellis, said the event reinforced the brand's focus on leadership and innovation across the region.
"This year's conference was about looking ahead – exploring how technology, global connectivity and strong local expertise will continue to drive Century 21 forward," he said.
"The real estate industry, like the wider economy, is experiencing significant change. Professionals who continue to strive for excellence in their local markets, supported by global brands and innovative technology, will be strongly placed to navigate and succeed in this evolving landscape," he concluded.
Century 21 is a global real estate leader with nearly 130,000 independent sales professionals across 81 countries, and the largest residential real estate network in the Asia-Pacific region.
