Our board is a mix of seasoned property investment professionals

The PIPA Board of Directors all volunteer their time to help improve the professionalism of the property investment sector which strengthens consumer protection within the industry.

Nicola McDougall

Bachelor of Journalism, Master of Creative Writing

Chair

Nicola is the Director of Bricks & Mortar Media, a public relations and media consultancy that specialises in property and finance.

Nicola has been continually published as an award-winning journalist, professional writer and editor in Australia and New Zealand since 2002. 

She has also previously been the editor of Australian Property Investor (API) magazine and is the author of The Female Investor – Creating Wealth, Security, and Freedom Through Property.

In 2006, Nicola joined the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), where she rose up the ranks to become Executive Manager Corporate Affairs. A key part of her role was acting as the managing editor of the REIQ’s monthly 56-page industry magazine, as well as detailed property research and analysis.

Nicola brings her familiarity with membership organisations, in-depth understanding of real estate matters as well as her own property investment experience to the PIPA board. 

Linkedin

Peter Koulizos

QPIA®, Master of Business (Property), Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Teaching Degree

Director

Peter is currently the Program Director of the Master of Property at the University of Adelaide. He has been teaching in real estate and investment for over 20 years. Peter also personally invests in property and currently holds several properties.

Peter has the ability to combine the theory of property investment with the practical aspects so as to teach people how to make money for themselves from investing in property, whether they be buying, selling, renting, renovating, or developing property.

Peter researches property markets around the nation, looking for the best suburbs to invest in in each capital city. He has published three books, The Property Professor’s Top Australian Suburbs, Property vs Shares, and more recently, The Diary of a Small Developer. 

He is also a regular contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines, and websites and is sought after by TV and radio for his research, analysis, and comments on the property market.

Linkedin

Richard Crabb

QPIA®, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Diploma of Financial Planning, SMSF certification, and an active property investor

Director

Richard is the Founder and Managing Director of the ASPIRE Property Advisor Network.  After an extensive career in corporate finance and through his personal investing experience, Richard identified the need to create a system and framework that supports ethical, independent property investment advisors who operate in the new property market. 

The ASPIRE Property Advisor Network now supports independent property advisers across Australia by providing their business engine and acquisition process, designed around concepts of future compliance in the brand new property sector.

Richard together with the ASPIRE team have also developed a complete end-to-end software platform, which is leading the way to deliver property investment advice in the new property space.

Linkedin

Richie Muir

Bachelor of laws (University of Glasgow), Australian Lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia

Director

Richie is the legal director at lawlab, a leading national property law firm that has reimagined the conveyancing experience making property transactions simpler and more secure for customers and more transparent for property professionals.

Richie has extensive experience in the residential and commercial property law sectors and provides legal and compliance advice to property professionals, developers, real estate funds, proptechs, fintechs and home buyers and investors across multiple jurisdictions.

As a leader of a team that has managed over 45,000 property transactions throughout Australia in the last few years, Richie brings a depth of legal and service delivery experience to the PIPA board.

Linkedin

Lachlan Vidler

Bachelor of Business, Master of Commerce (Finance), Graduate Certificate in Property Investment

Director

Lachlan Vidler is a former Naval Officer and is the founder and Director of Atlas Property Group. Atlas Property Group is an investment focused residential buyers agency that helps clients from around Australia to invest on a national scale.

As a former military officer and management consultant, Lachlan identified an opportunity to create a buyers agency that focused on a long-term strategic approach for clients. Lachlan is the co-author of A Military Guide to Property Investing and was a finalist for Buyers Agent of the Year and Rising Star in the 2022 REB Awards.

Linkedin

Veronica Morgan

QPIA®, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication), Masters of Commerce (Marketing

Director

Veronica is co-founder of Home Buyer Academy, co-host of Your First Home Buyer Guide podcast and The Elephant in the Room property podcast, co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Relocation Relocation Australia, Buyers Agent Mentor.

Veronica is also principal of Good Deeds Property Buyers in Sydney, co-founder of Surburb Help, and author of “Auction Ready: how to buy property at auction even though you’re scared sh!#less.”

Linkedin

Mike Mortlock

Registered Tax Agent, Diploma of Business Management (Real Estate), Bachelor Construction Management, and Masters in Property

Director

Mike is a leading figure in tax depreciation, actively contributing to reforms for the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors by presenting their new industry whitepaper. With extensive experience as an expert depreciation consultant for major firms like McDonald’s, Canberra Airport, Hilton Hotels, and Stockland, Mike has crafted thousands of depreciation schedules for both commercial and residential properties.

He is sought after as a public speaker and frequently appears in the media as a property investment analyst, offering unique insights into investor behaviour and tax depreciation. Mike’s deep expertise and enthusiasm for maximising depreciation entitlements consistently deliver outstanding results for MCG’s clients.

Linkedin

Catherine (Cate) Bakos

QPIA®, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Bachelor of Science (Chemistry Hons)

Director

Cate Bakos completed a degree with honours in Chemistry at Monash University in 1996, but she held a passion for property long before her career in science. Winning both 2013 and 2018’s #1 National Buyer’s Agent of the Year Award marked high watermarks for Cate.  Cate has since amassed multiple industry awards.

Cate also holds a mortgage broking qualification and considers her financial services training one of the most valuable apprenticeships she could have served. Her appreciation of lending policy, loan restrictions, borrowing capacity calculation, and cashflow analysis is what sets her apart as a Buyer’s Advocate.

Cate has worked as a Buyers Agent since 2011, having held a directorship at a large Melbourne firm until launching Cate Bakos Property in 2014.  Cate’s extensive asset-selection experience not only in Melbourne metro suburbs but also in Victorian regional markets including Ballarat and Geelong has given her a valuable point of difference to offer her cashflow-driven clients. Cate has assisted over 2,000 clients with their property purchases, strategies, and decisions over this time.

Cate is a regular commentator in the media, and contributes weekly to newspapers, live television, podcasts, and publications including Domain, Australian Financial Review, The Australian, Your Investment Property, Herald Sun, Fox Business, Smart Property, and commercial television. Cate shares her knowledge and experience regularly at seminars, volunteers her bidding skills often, and enjoys mentoring young people in the industry she so loves.

Cate was President for REBAA (Real Estate Buyers Agents’ Association (national body) from 2019 – 2023 and served as Vice President two years prior. Cate is a co-host on the podcast series, “The Property Trio” alongside her industry friends, David Johnston and Mike Mortlock. Cate is publishing her second book (co-authored with Pete Wargent) following her 2016 publication, “Successful Property Investment”. At a personal level, Cate has continued to build a sizeable property portfolio alongside her husband and the pair have vast experience with renovating and value-adding.

Linkedin

We strive to bring accountability, ethics, and education to the property investment industry.

PIPA exists to improve the professional standards of anyone providing property investment advice to consumers. Our voluntary Code of Conduct means that members adhere to a high set of professional standards to help protect consumers. Qualified Property Investment Advisers (QPIAs®) have the highest form of industry-recognised, specialist training and can be trusted to provide tailored and unbiased advice to consumers.

PIPA also regularly produces research, analysis, and publications to help educate our members, media, and consumers about the property investment sector.

By signing up for our newsletter, you will gain access to two of our most valued resources – the Annual Investor Sentiment Survey report and the quarterly PIPA Adviser e-magazine.

2023 Investor Sentiment Survey

The Annual PIPA Investor Sentiment Survey is a rare snapshot of the buying intentions of property investors.

PIPA Adviser Magazine

The PIPA Adviser provides the latest research on market conditions, including forecasts for next year.