PHOTO: She Took the Call at 12 – Now She’s Calling the Shots: Leanne Pilkington’s Rise to Real Estate Royalty. CommBank
She closed her first deal with an eyeliner pencil. Now she’s one of the most powerful figures in Australian real estate.
Leanne Pilkington, president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and CEO of the Laing + Simmons network, didn’t just enter real estate—she was born into it. Raised in a family agency in Sydney’s Hills District, Pilkington was answering phones in her father’s office before she was even a teenager.
“My mum was in the business too. It was all I ever knew,” she recalls. “I thought I’d be a school teacher, but my dad said, ‘Come work with me while you wait for uni.’ And, well, the rest is history.”
💼 Real Estate in Her Blood – and Eyeliner in Her Bag
At just 18, Pilkington made her first sale—$64,000 for a home in Winston Hills—without even a pen in her handbag.
“I had to write their details on the back of my business card using eyeliner,” she laughs. “I’ll never forget it. I was so surprised they wanted to buy it.”
That spontaneous sale sparked a passion that would turn into a life’s work—and a mission.
Leanne Pilkington is one of the most listened-to voices in Australia’s real-estate industry.
📣 The Voice of a New Generation in Property
Today, Pilkington is one of the most listened-to voices in Australia’s real estate industry. As head of Laing + Simmons, she balances front-line fieldwork with high-level strategy—steering policy, mentoring agency owners, and championing a smarter, more ethical future for the profession.
She’s also a go-to mentor for rising agents and an active member of leadership mastermind groups. Her current read? The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.
“Real estate has changed massively. Agents used to be the gatekeepers of information. Now, buyers and sellers often know more than the agents. That means we’ve had to evolve too—and fast.”
🏡 The Supply Crisis That Keeps Her Up at Night
At the top of Pilkington’s national agenda? Australia’s chronic housing supply shortage—an issue she says is driving up prices and punishing renters.
“There’s been so much talk, so many promises—but not enough action. The lack of supply is the biggest issue in real estate right now,” she warns.
“If the federal government could deliver on housing, not just talk about it, everyone would benefit.”
“I’ve been around for so long that back in the early days, there just weren’t many women.”
🚀 A 10-Year Plan to Change the Game
Now four years into a 10-year growth plan for Laing + Simmons, Pilkington is laser-focused on scaling sustainably and supporting innovation within the industry.
“I love connecting with people—no matter where they’re from or what they do. That’s always been the heart of this job.”
📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Leanne Pilkington made her first sale at 18—using eyeliner to take client notes
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She’s now President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and CEO of Laing + Simmons
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She’s spearheading a national conversation on housing supply reform
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Pilkington is passionate about mentorship, innovation, and elevating real estate standards
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Her leadership style blends empathy, big-picture thinking, and no-nonsense advocacy
From humble beginnings behind a desk phone to boardroom influence and national advocacy, Leanne Pilkington’s journey is proof that real estate success isn’t just about property—it’s about purpose, people, and persistence.
SOURCE: THE DOMAIN