The Property Council of Australia is delighted to announce that Salta Properties Managing Director, Sam Tarascio, has been elected as its new Victorian President. Anne Jolic, Lendlease, and Melissa Kidd, ARA Group, have also been elected as the Victorian Vice Presidents and together they form the diverse industry association’s leadership team.
Victorian Executive Director Danni Hunter, welcomed the new leadership team saying that, “Victoria’s economic recovery is going to be powered by property and the Property Council is at the forefront of government engagement and industry leadership on behalf of this important sector.”
Mr Tarascio is one of Australia’s most respected property professionals and leads Salta Properties which is developing over $5 billion of projects across multiple strategic sites. Salta owns and manages a large portfolio of blue-chip commercial, industrial and retail properties, and maintains a pipeline of over 5,000 apartments in locations throughout Melbourne.
Mr Tarascio has served 5 years on the Property Council’s Victorian Division Council and has been a member of several advisory committees and working groups within industry and government.
Mr Tarascio said that he was excited to take on the role at a critical time for the industry and the Victorian economy.
“Our industry worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to continue to provide jobs and drive economic activity. As we move forward into the recovery phase, I look forward to playing an important leadership role with the Property Council,” Mr Tarascio said.
The property industry is the economy’s largest sector and employer. It makes up 13.8 per cent of the Victorian economy and employs one in four Victorians. The industry contributes $58.8 billion to Gross State Product and accounts for 59 per cent or $17.9 billion of Victoria’s tax revenue.
“Now that Victoria is positioning itself for economic recovery, it is time to harness the hard work of the property industry, supercharge the project pipeline and drive investment that will create long term jobs and growth for the State.
“The Property Council’s immediate agenda will be focused on reactivating Melbourne’s CBD and moving forward on the Return to Office roadmap, and working in partnership with the Victorian Government to stimulate the economy through industry activity that will provide homes, workplaces and jobs for Victorians.
Mr Tarascio steps into the role following Grocon’s Head of Home BTR, Christian Grahame, who has successfully led the Property Council over a challenging two-year period.
“Mr Grahame’s leadership, passion and hard work has been appreciated by the Division Council, the executive team and our members. He has championed the Property Council’s advocacy to establish a Build-to-Rent sector in Victoria and will be credited with making a lasting impact on the property industry as a strong leader and industry participant,” said Danni Hunter, Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council.
The Division Council is comprised of 18 of the Victorian property industry’s leaders and incorporates members with a range of expertise across the full spectrum of property sectors.
The 2021-22 Victorian Division Council is comprised of:
- Anne Jolic – Senior Vice President – Lendlease
- Melissa Kidd – Vice President – ARA Australia
- Christian Grahame – Immediate Past President – Grocon
- Elysa Anderson – Mirvac Group
- Sarah Bloom – Frasers Property Australia
- Mike Davis – Stockland
- Tony Gallagher – Peet Limited
- Will Green – Brookfield Properties
- Sarah Horsfield – Urbis
- Peter Hutchins – Charter Keck Cramer
- Fiona Mackenzie – Vicinity Centres
- Michelle McNally – Australia Post
- Adrian Pozzo – Cbus Property
- Darren Searle – LOGOS Group
- Simon Stockfeld – Charter Hall
- Roland Van Benten – Dexus
- Melinda Van Der Westhuizen – ISPT
