President and CEO Report – Third Edition 2025

Twelve months ago, the strata industry often found itself under fire. Headlines focused on insurance affordability, building defects, and governance failures. Public inquiries and media scrutiny painted the sector as reactive, sometimes even resistant to change. For many professionals, it felt like a year of defence, justifying the value of the industry rather than driving the conversation forward.

Today, the story is very different. Across Australia and New Zealand, the strata sector has repositioned itself as a constructive force, committed to reform and progress. Through stronger advocacy, heightened professionalism, and collaboration with government, strata is not just responding to challenges but shaping solutions.

A more confident voice

One of the most striking changes has been the sector’s public voice. As the peak body for the industry, SCA has been advocating with clarity and confidence, engaging directly with media, government, and owners. Rather than reacting to criticism, the sector is taking the lead in shaping debates on housing, sustainability, and consumer protection.

Media coverage that once highlighted shortcomings is now more likely to reference strata’s leadership role. Whether it is submissions to government reviews, policies on insurance reform, or proposals for sustainable housing policy, the sector is seen as offering evidencebased, practical solutions. This new tone is not accidental. It reflects a deliberate strategy to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and readiness to adapt.

From scrutiny to reform

Last year’s pressure has become this year’s progress. Challenges that once placed strata on the defensive, including insurance commissions, defect management, and disclosure, are now being addressed through structured reform, with SCA leading the way. SCA representatives are sitting at the table with ministers, commissioners, and regulators, helping design systems that better protect owners and strengthen professionalism.

For example, the debate around conflicted remuneration in New South Wales has been reframed. Instead of being accused of opacity, the industry is now contributing to an independent review, providing data and insights to help government balance consumer value with viable business models. In Victoria, hundreds of member voices informed a comprehensive submission on the Owners Corporations Act, ensuring the reforms reflect the lived realities of managers and communities. Across the country, strata has become a partner in reform, not a target of it.

Professionalism at the core

Another pillar of this transformation is a renewed focus on professionalism. National codes of ethics, minimum education standards, accreditation pathways, and continuing professional development are no longer aspirational goals. They are becoming everyday expectations.

By raising the bar for managers, the sector is building greater trust with owners, residents, and government. A more professional workforce not only addresses past criticisms but also positions strata as a long-term, sustainable career path. It also gives the industry stronger authority when advocating for fair remuneration, better regulation, and recognition of the vital role managers play in housing.

Progress on housing and sustainability

The sector’s influence now extends beyond traditional issues of governance and insurance. Governments increasingly recognise that strata must be part of broader housing and sustainability strategies. Whether it is advocating for affordable housing through medium-rise development, or ensuring strata residents are not left behind in the transition to renewable energy and EV charging, strata is demonstrating its central role in building resilient communities.

This proactive approach has helped reposition the industry from a background service sector to a key partner in national housing policy. The message is clear: reform in housing cannot succeed without reform in strata.

Looking ahead

The past year marks a turning point. By shifting from defence to progress, the strata industry has shown it can adapt, reform, and lead. Challenges remain, with affordability, building quality, insurance, and sustainability continuing to test the sector, but the foundations for longterm change are now in place.

Owners, residents, and governments are beginning to see strata not as a problem to solve but as a partner in shaping stronger, fairer, and more sustainable communities. That transformation is the result of collective effort: thousands of professionals and volunteers who refused to accept the status quo and instead pushed for progress.

If last year was a story of defence, this year is a story of confidence and reform. For the millions of people who live and work in strata, that shift promises a future built not on reaction but on resilience, innovation, and trust.

ALISHA FISHER, AUSTRALASIA CEO 

JOSHUA BALDWIN, AUSTRALASIA PRESIDENT