Inaugural Urban Leader Award Winners Honoured as Nominations for 2025 Open

Submissions are now open for the Urban Leader Awards presented by Zagga, The Urban Developer’s annual celebration recognising the people and businesses shaping the future of Australia’s cities.

From emerging talent to seasoned leaders, the awards showcase excellence across valuation, planning, construction, sustainability, proptech, marketing and more.

To mark the launch, we look back at the standout winners from 2024—individuals and organisations who raised the bar for innovation, leadership and impact across the property industry.

Valuation & Advisory

Winner: Manvir Singh – KPMG
Recognised for his expertise in social infrastructure and natural capital, Singh’s innovative approach and rapid career progression impressed the judges.

Legal

Winner: Nick Holuigue – Maddocks
Holuigue has led the rapid growth of Maddocks’ 40-strong property development team, representing major developers and shaping the sector through leadership and client partnerships.

Planning

Winner: Belinda De Lia – Urbaniste
De Lia’s entrepreneurial success in building Urbaniste and her track record in both strategic and statutory planning earned her the win.

Engineering

Winner: Omid Safai – Rise Consulting Engineers
Safai’s firm has delivered almost 1000 projects, known for innovative, sustainable engineering solutions across NSW, QLD and VIC.

Finance

Winners: Drew Bowie & Cathy Houston – MA Financial
From $10 million in seed capital to $3 billion in committed loans, the duo have built one of the nation’s largest real estate credit platforms.

Construction

Winner: Mancini Made
Brothers Paul and Anthony Mancini have delivered more than 200 projects with a vertically integrated model blending architecture, construction, and a powerful social media presence.

Real Estate

Winner: Tas Costi – Costi Cohen
Costi pioneered the commercial buyers agency model in Australia, securing more than $500 million in transactions in just five years.

Community

Winner: Adelene Teh – Beulah Foundation
Through the Beulah Foundation, Teh integrates property with the arts, sustainability, and wellbeing to foster healthier, more inclusive communities.

Sustainability

Winners: Liam Wallis & Katya Crema – HIP v. HYPE
The pair have delivered multiple sustainable housing projects while advising government and private clients on integrating sustainability into planning and development.

Marketing

Winner: Michelle Savona – Savi Communications
Savona has grown her agency from a solo operation into a 34-person team delivering bold, results-driven campaigns for property clients.

PropTech

Winner: John Paige – DisplaySweet
Paige has transformed the off-the-plan buying experience with immersive technology now used by 80% of Australia’s leading developers.

Architecture & Design

Winner: Dom Cerantonio – Cera Stribley Architects
Cerantonio has grown the practice to 100 staff across three cities, building a reputation for sustainability, social impact, and design excellence.

Future Leader (Under 35)

Winner: Oscar Ledlin – Ledlin Developments
At 32, Ledlin has built a $212 million portfolio, creating innovative projects such as Flexie storage and Springvale Business Park.

Developer of the Year

Winners: Rob & Andrew Gray – Graya
The brothers have grown their vertically integrated business to a $250-million pipeline, delivering bold, design-led projects in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

2025 entries now open

The Urban Leader Awards presented by Zagga recognise the best and brightest in the industry—from the boardroom to the building site.

Nominations for 2025 are now open. Categories span every sector of the industry, offering emerging leaders and established players alike the opportunity to be recognised on a national stage.

Submit your entry now and join us in celebrating the people transforming the built environment.

Click here to learn more.