Culture of excellence in care recognised with prestigious real estate award

Keyline Realty’s Nicky Ellem was presented with the Lesley Johnston Medal for Exceptional Client Care at a black-tie real estate ceremony in Sydney on the 25th of November.

The Lesley Johnston Medal for Exceptional Client Care is an award presented at the Australasian Real Estate Awards, which is associated with the Smartre Group real estate training organisation.

The award recognises individuals or teams within the real estate industry who consistently go above and beyond in their care and support for clients and their community. The medal is not awarded every year, but only when a nominee truly embodies these exceptional standards.

The medal is named in honour of Lesley Johnston, who worked for many years at St John of God hospital and was highly regarded for her caring nature. She was the late wife of Michael Johnston formally of the highly successful Wilsons real estate agency.

Michael had a long association with the Smartre Group during and after he ended his hands on role in real estate.

“He was a mentor to me and numerous Smartre principals whose goal is to be successful - but not at the expense of their clients,” Keyline Realty Principal, Andrew Hicks said.

“I was absolutely blown away by this award,” Nicky said. “It actually means a great deal to me to have been recognised in this way.”

Nicky’s commitment to building strong client relationships and providing an exceptional level of care is deeply aligned with the values of her peers at Nambour’s family-owned Keyline Realty.

“Unfortunately, real estate agents are not always well regarded, so I think that it is important to align yourself with other professionals who share your personal ethos and care for not just clients, but our broader community,” she said.

Mr Hicks, praised Nicky, who is one of only a handful of real estate professionals across Australia to have received this award.

“This medal isn’t given out every year; it’s only awarded when someone truly goes above and beyond in their service and commitment to their clients,” he said.

“It’s one of the most meaningful recognitions in our industry because it reflects genuine care, consistency and heart. Nicky embodies all of that.

“Not only is she a deeply caring and dedicated professional, but she also consistently delivers exceptional outcomes for her vendors. In an incredibly competitive market, Nicky repeatedly secures the highest prices, thanks to her skill, diligence and unwavering commitment.

That’s exactly why Nicky also received a Platinum Badge Award—one of the highest achievements in the industry,” he said.

“Nicky’s hard work, professionalism and the way she shows up for people every single day doesn’t go unnoticed, and these awards reflect exactly that.”

Nicky Ellem at the Awards ceremony with Michael Johnson and Andrew Trim from the Smart Real Estate Group.