Ray White Queensland celebrates its 2026 winners

From Cairns to Coolangatta, Ray White Queensland CEO Jason Andrew said it was incredible to see so many members come together to celebrate the year that was.

“FY26 tested our industry, it tested our businesses, and it tested our resolve. But market headwinds do not alter our destination. They demand a higher standard of leadership. They demand that we are, unequivocally, Best in Market.” Mr Andrew said.

Mr Andrew said FY26 had been a year of two distinct halves for the Queensland network.

“We started the year with tremendous velocity, outperforming the market and setting records. But as the year progressed, the broader economic climate caught up with us, global instability, stubborn inflation, elevated interest rates and a federal budget that has hit the housing sector hard,” he said.

“Many networks would use conditions like that as an excuse to slow down. We choose to use them as our proving ground.”

Despite the headwinds, Mr Andrew said the network’s ambitions for the year ahead remained unchanged: to sell one in every four homes across the state, to have 60,000 properties under management, and to conduct 10,000 auctions.

“Those ambitions are non-negotiable. They measure our market dominance from Cairns to Coolangatta,” he said.

“Achieving them means doubling down on the strategy that has underpinned this network for six years running - a relentless pursuit of being best in market in everything we do, with every customer interaction.”

Mr Andrew said the year ahead would demand deliberate change across recruitment, commission discipline, auctions, property management, resilience and leadership.

“We can’t control interest rate decisions, global conflict or government policy. What we can control is how we turn up, our call volume, our face-to-face cadence, our energy,” he said.

“The strong will aggregate market share, the disciplined will prosper, and Ray White will demonstrate why it is that we are market leaders.”

Ray White Managing Director Dan White said the 124 year old group’s market share was at record levels, 14.66 per cent across Australia and New Zealand (selling one in seven properties), with auction market share around 25–30 per cent. He noted the gap to the next-largest group had never been wider. 

He argued sales volume and profit could be misleading since they fluctuate with market mood, whereas market share was the truer measure of performance because it reflects the group's own leadership and effort, gained even in tough markets. 

Now in its 47th year, the prestigious Max White Award, Ray White’s highest individual honour, went to the Ray White Collective Group Operations Manager Leesa Paull who has spent three decades with the group, raising standards in our industry. 

“She is modest, she is unassuming but her impact on our network is absolute,” Mr Andrew said.

Everyone in the room stood and clapped as the undeniable network favourite Leesa Paull took to the stage to accept her award.  

“I can't believe it. I've worked with so many Max White award winners over the years. Treacy McGowan, Judy Goodger, George Hadgelias, Matt Lancashire and Haesley Cush. I have had so many wonderful leaders in my life. Both Peter Camphin and Tony Warland have been just amazing. And the White family, Dan and Brian, thank you for never forgetting about the administrators in our group,” Ms Paull said. 

“This is for the administrators, the receptionists, the EAs and the operations managers, the ones who get in early in the morning and are there late at night. They dot our i's and cross our t's and they're just amazing.”

Ray White New Farm once again took out the top spot as the Number 1 Ray White office in the state. 

The powerhouse agency, headed up by Matt Lancashire and Haesley Cush, sits under the Ray White Collective banner, which was also named Top Business - for the state and Number 1 International Multi-Partner Group. Ray White Collective spans offices across New Farm, Bulimba, Toowong, Clayfield and Kim Olsen Property.

Haesley Cush and Matt Lancashire, who just ticked over 21 years of ownership at Ray White New Farm, thanked their mentors over the years. 

“I was really lucky. I worked for the White family. Brian, Dan and Sam, and they were all amazing to me. Thank you to Paul and Matt White too. Peter Camphin and Tony Warland were just incredible. Dwight Ferguson, Phil Parker and the late David Price. “I just always wanted to own a Ray White business. That's all I wanted to do,” Mr Cush said.  

“Everyone told me not to do it, except for Dwight and then David Price called me and said, 'Do the math on the market. Buy the business.' I'll never forget that phone call. It was one of the best calls of my life.

“The value that the franchisor offers is undeniable, and we are very loyal supporters. We just love being a part of this group," Mr Cush said.

“To be number one is something we never take for granted and we're incredibly humbled by.

“The well-worn path to this stage is no secret. But when the market turns and you're saying no to things you really want to do, that's when the character calls. We'll be showing real character in this market and we'll see you back here next year."

Ray White Collective Luxury principal Matt Lancashire was named Number 1 Principal and Number 2 International Principal, while the unstoppable Rochelle Adgo of Ray White Mitchelton was named Number 1 Salesperson in the Queensland network and Number 1 International Salesperson.