_60 second interview with Neil Kay, Head of Residential, WA
What do you do?
I head up the residential office in Perth, Western Australia, encompassing project marketing, residential sales and residential property management.
How did your career path lead to you working for Knight Frank?
I started my career in Edinburgh working for a law firm’s property department, then moved to Savills, where I sold farms, country houses and sporting estates. I was heading for London, reluctantly, when I decided to make a bigger move and emigrate to Perth.
I bought a piece of land to build a house and it happened to be sold by Knight Frank (the things you do to get a job!). That was 16 years ago.
What are the biggest opportunities you see in your job?
Regionally we have recently announced our residential association with Bayleys in New Zealand and now have 435 offices worldwide. Locally, I would like to add to this and expand the number of residential offices in Western Australia.
In addition, we have a strong international project marketing network throughout the Asia Pacific region, who we closely work with to introduce projects, like Sabina in Applecross, to foreign investors and Australian expats. This a massive area for growth and one that we are determined to dominate for project marketing in Perth.
Image: Sabina, Applecross, Perth
If you had a different job, what would it be?
It would either be a property developer, to leverage off my experience to date, or back to my farming roots.
What are your favourite pastimes/hobbies?
My hobbies are skiing, which sadly I cannot do in Western Australia, and rugby, which I now have to watch rather than play. Instead, nowadays, I hack around a golf course and travel with friends and family.
What is your number one work mantra or advice?
I believe in honesty and being accountable in everything you do.
Also as a manager of a great residential team you need to nurture everyone’s career. This is summed up by something a friend said, “you don't build the company, you build the team and the team builds the company".
Please get in touch
Neil Kay
Head of Residential, WA
+61 439 687 688