Board Members
David Whitburn LL.B BSc – President
David is a professional property investor, lawyer and educator. He has graduated with both law and science degrees from the University of Auckland and holds a current legal practising certificate. David is author of best-selling book Invest and Prosper with Property published by Random House in 2011. He is a director and trustee of his own, family members and clients' property owning entities. His passion is for long-term property investment and growing wealth for himself and his private clients. David is regularly sought by New Zealand and also international media for his opinions on the property market. He has appeared on major live television programmes like Close Up, AMP Business and the 6pm news, as well as numerous times on the leading radio stations, in major newspapers, in the NZ Property Investor Magazine and major financial websites. David blogs on the APIA website and regularly on his own website at www.davidwhitburn.com. David is frequently sought as a speaker and has been a paid presenter in a number of countries and has spoken at New Zealand Property Investors' Federation Conferences and at regional property investors' associations around New Zealand. He spends a lot of time on his quality property investment information courses offered through Positive Property Investment.
David has served on the Board of APIA since June 2004. David has grown a multi-million dollar property portfolio since he started investing in 2002. He loves to watch cricket, rugby, soccer and plays indoor soccer and tennis and also enjoys playing the piano and guitar, lying on beaches, reading non-fiction books, watching movies and to spend quality time with his wife and young family & close friends, and holidaying at Auckland’s beautiful Waiheke Island.
Andrew Bruce - Vice President
Andrew has been a member of APIA since 2004 and joined the Board in 2009.
Andrew’s interest in property steams back to his university days where he qualified as a valuer gaining a BCom in Valuation and Property Management from Lincoln University. Subsequent to graduating he spent a year and a half playing and coaching tennis professionally in Germany before commencing a career within the property industry. Currently he splits his time between his own project management company and working on projects within his property portfolio.
Outside of property Andrew’s other interests include tennis, golf, general fitness, completing the Taupo Ironman in 2004 and adventure travel including cycling around various parts of Asia plus an epic cycle journey of 1200km from Lhasa in Tibet to Kathmandu which included cycling up to Everest base camp.
Jan Galloway BA Cert Crim (criminology) – Property Manager, Board Secretary
Jan has had 18 years experience as a property investor, property developer and landlord, including several years of managing rental property for various Real Estate companies. She managed city apartments and newly established subdivisions, before establishing her own company. Jan founded and directs Corinthian Limited, an independent property management company which was established seven years ago. Corinthian now employs three staff to help look after their growing portfolio, which has a strong West Auckland base, but includes properties on the North Shore and in central Auckland. Jan's many clients live throughout New Zealand, and overseas. Jan has been an APIA member for a number of years, and she is heavily involved with an Auckland group of Independent Property Managers. She was also a member of the Action International West Auckland business group for two years. She was a franchise holder with New Zealand’s largest snack and drink vending distribution company in the early 2000’s and served several years on their Franchise Council. She has also volunteered on the Titirangi Plunket Committee for several years, and been involved in various school activities. Jan is married, with three sons, and lives in Titirangi.
At the 2009 New Zealand Property Investors' Federation ("NZPIF") Annual Conference Jan and her husband Lyle Galloway were awarded the runner-up position in the NZPIF/Department of Building & Housing Landlord of the Year Award. Jan takes her personal investment and property management success into her business, and acts as property manager for a number of APIA members. She is sought by media for her opinion on property management related issues, and has presented regularly on tenancy management, tenancy issues, changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and at Department of Building and Housing seminars. Jan processes a lot of communications for APIA, and provides sound strategic decision making and organisational excellence.
Ann Cooper-Smith BCom, ACCM, CA (PP) - Treasurer
Ann is a chartered accountant and director of StreetSMART Accountants Limited, business advisors and chartered accountants, based in Mount Wellington, Auckland. StreetSMART has a large base of property clients involved in long term commercial and residential investing, property development, as well as property trading. She also has her own investment portfolio which includes direct and indirect property investments. Ann was a the“Strategic Investing” columnist for NZ Property Investor Magazine from 2005 to 2008. She is also a regular speaker at various expos and seminars on topics ranging from business, property investment, and being successful. Her passion is helping people become financially independent, whether by creating passive income through business or investing. Ann joined the APIA board in February 2008. She is also a board member of Northern Cochlear Implant Trust. Brought up on a farm in South Otago, Ann graduated from Otago University in 1979 and has lived in Auckland since 1980. She started her own chartered accounting business in 1987 while profoundly deaf, and had a successful cochlear implant operation in 1996. Ann has two sons studying at Otago and Canterbury Universities and a step daughter studying at Unitec in Auckland. Ann enjoys jogging, reading, movies, and travelling.
Andrew King, Vice President NZPIF - Board Member
Andrew saved for and purchased his first home plus an investment property by the age of 24. He completed a Diploma in Business Studies at Massey University, developing an interest in Strategic Business Planning. This experience has been carried over to Property Investment and a belief that all Property Investors should develop their own Property Business Plan. This is especially true with the current changes occurring within the investment property market.
Andrew developed the Auckland Landlord newsletter in 1996, which provided current and independent information to Auckland Property Investors. The newsletter grew into the national publication, Residential Property Investor Magazine, which he sold in 2002.
Andrew was board member of the Auckland Property Investors' Association from 1997 to 2008, being President for eight and Treasurer for one of those years. Under his direction, APIA was the only association in New Zealand to increase membership number by more than 10% each year for the slump period between 1998 and 2001, then achieved around 30% growth in membership numbers between 2002 and 2005.
Andrew has been Vice President of the New Zealand Property Investors' Federation since 2005. He has spoken at property investment seminars, written for several magazines and newspapers. He has frequently appeared on television programmes and documentaries and is often sought by radio stations to share his knowledge on property investment matters. Andrew knows how APIA can gain positive media attention.
Andrew has written two books on residential investment property, both becoming nationwide best sellers. His first book, The Complete Guide to Residential Property in New Zealand was awarded a premier NZ Bestseller award in August 2004 after just over a year in publication. Only one other New Zealand business book has received this level of achievement in our nation's history.
His second book, Planning for Property Success is unique in providing readers with a guide to forming their own property plans rather than the author's view of a good investment. Andrew has a strong belief that property is a business more than an investment and participants should have a Property Business Plan to ensure they set realistic goals, maximise their opportunities and reduce risk.
Andrew is not involved in any form of property sales and believes that it is preferable that anyone providing training or information in this area should remain independent. Andrew believes that Association grow when the focus is on the memberships' needs.
Andrew bought a cabin hire business late in 2009 and has since increased the number of cabins from 49 to 58, with more than 99% occupancy rates over the past two months.
Amanda Watt BCom, BSc, PG Dip Mgmt Studies, MTaxS (Hons), and CA - Board Member
Amanda is an Associate Principal with WHK based in Auckland CBD. With over 15 years experience as a Business Advisor and Chartered Accountant Amanda advises and works with many clients from a wide variety of industries with specific interest in property, construction, manufacturing, advertising and professional services.
Amanda works alongside clients to guide and help them to successfully develop and implement strategies that suit the goals of the business.
For Amanda, it’s all about achieving client goals and aspirations. This includes the basics of ensuring their accounts and tax structures are accurate to the more complex and long term goals in ensuring their strategy is correct and relevant for the direction of their business.
Amanda is actively involved with ABEL, the Professional Accounting School arm of NZICA where she acts as facilitator and marker.
Amanda was a member of Youthline for many years and was on the management team of Youthline for two years.
Amanda person passionate is property and she is a keen investor herself. Amanda is married with a young son. She enjoys travelling, vintage champagne and spending time with her family.
Amanda is very enthusiastic about being a Board member of APIA and working to build the membership of the association.
Joanne Johnson - Board Member
Joanne's background is solely based in the legal sector encompassing areas such as conveyancing, company, estates and commercial law. Her deepest interests are in the changes to law and tax regimes, which affect property investors. Joanne is keenly following the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and Units Titles Act.
Joanne sits on two body corporate committees and understand the challenges of Strata titles. She is an Associate Member of the New Zealand Law Society and Associate member of New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives and is currently completing a Bachelor of Business. She has owned property since 1996 and commenced investing in rental property in 2000. Currently she owns 4 rental properties with a mix of self managed and managed.
Joanne's goals as a board member of APIA are to keeping the networking and educational opportunities of APIA running smoothly - whether it’s setting out chairs or contacting potential speakers. Joanne is an accomplished Toastmaster and enjoys motorsports.