MAIN IMAGE: Christo Weilbach, IEASA president
The Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA) has a new president Christo Weilbach who follows in the steps of their former president Lanice Steward.
Steward, who became president in 2015, was only the second woman to hold this position. During her term as president, which included the 80th anniversary of IEASA, she rebranded voluntary organisation and implemented the Benefit Partners programme whereby members can access discounts on various products.
According to a press statement by IEASA Steward stepped down due to work commitments, but she will remain on the board in the capacity of past president working with Weibach on various projects commenced in her term. They express their gratitude to her for the contribution that she made while president.
Weilbach has served on the IEASA North board of directors since September 2013 where he currently holds the portfolio of vice chairman. He was nominated by his board to be the regional representative on the national board and as a consequence has formed a good understanding of the regional as well as the national requirements and challenges.
As background, Weilbach started his real estate career in 2003 as an estate agent. He was named runner-up Rookie Agent of the Year in the franchise group he worked at. In 2013 he decided to get involved with IEASA as a director. Currently Weilbach serves as a board member with the Estate Agency Affairs Board of South Africa (EAAB) and is also a board member of the Property Sector Charter Council Board. He has portfolios on various sub-committees within these boards, ranging from transformation to finance.
Weilbach’s focus during his term will be the promotion of transformation and finding a way for real estate stakeholders to work together for the advancement of the profession. He believes that with growing membership numbers, much more benefits can be unlocked for members and members can be better represented on all levels of decision making.
The Institute of Estate Agents & Auctioneers of South Africa (IEAASA) was founded in 1937 by four provincial estate agent associations with Henry Hermann as the first president of the national body. The auctioneers formed their own association in the 1960s. In 1967 IEAASA changed its name to the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA), except for the period 1995-2001 when it was called the Institute of Realtors of SA.
Recent national presidents of IEASA have been: Des Nish (1994-96), Varick von Broembsen (1996-98), Mike Bisset (1998-2000), Jeff Mashigo (2000-02), Bill Rawson (2002-06), Dr Willie Marais (2006-09), Dr Andrew Golding (2009-11), Johalna Minnaar (2011-13), Jeanne van Jaarsveldt (2013-15) and Lanice Steward (2015–18).
