Longstanding Property Council CEO Peter Verwer has announced his retirement from the Property Council of Australia, leaving the national property investment advocacy body to explore international opportunities.
Finishing up in May, he will also retire from his many volunteer board positions prior to is move to either Asia or the Emirates, including his position as Chair of Livable Housing Australia, Chair of the Construction Forecasting Council, and Chair of the Australia-New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee’s Business Advisory Group on Mass Gatherings.
Verwer, who took over the Property Council reins in 1992, spent over a decade contributing to the trade organisation, as well as the nation’s property and construction industry.
According to Property Council National President Darren Steinberg, this includes leading solutions-based advocacy, guiding the organisation as it forged “first-class relationships with” major political leaders, and demonstrating the economic and social contribution the property industry has made to the broader community.
Verwer notably led the successful commercial expansion of the Property Council, which has grown from annual revenues of $7 million to $26 million during his tenure.He was also a founding board director of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), playing an instrumental role in driving the organisation’s establishment and success.
“His multi-layered contributions to the GBCA over the years – guiding technical, policy and financial decisions – has been invaluable,” the GBCA commented in a public statement.
“[Verwer] has been a vocal supporter of the Green Star rating system for buildings and communities, and in voluntary mechanisms which push best practice benchmarks for green building. His steadfast commitment to sustainability has driven a rapid transformation and today 20 per cent of Australia’s office space is Green Star-certified.
“His involvement with collaborative events and activities such as the Green Cities conferences, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and the Built Environment Meets Parliament summit has far exceeded his responsibilities as CEO of the Property Council.”
Verwer has said that he will leave the organisation with mixed emotions. The board of the Property Council has commenced a process to search for his successor.
