Honouring those who contribute

By Laura Bos, General Manager, SCA (QLD)

For most of its life, the strata industry has been a small, tight knit community. Strata is built on community and the relationships formed within that. The essence of that closeness is still present; however, we are much bigger than we once were. As SCA (Qld) grows and moves into our 40th year, we believe it is important for us to honour our past and those who have contributed over the decades to get us where we are today.

Plus it’s important that we highlight the depth of experience that exists in strata and is supporting the growth and development of strata in Queensland.

With that in mind, SCA (Qld) is pleased to dedicate this month’s Resort News column to two of our new Life Members - Con Iconomidis and Cathy Pashley. These are two people with decades of experience and support for our sector and it is our pleasure to honour their contribution.

Con Iconomidis

Whilst it is obvious throughout my chat with Con that he knows his stuff when it comes to insurance, the passion rises in his voice when he talks about the relationships he has built and giving back to the strata industry and community that has given him so much.

Con says that fellow SCA (Qld) life members Kerri Anton, Colin Archer and Simon Barnard are some of his closest friends, whilst he counts Peter Cassels as his oldest continuing friend, and the first person he met in strata. Con credits Kerri, Col and Simon for teaching him an enormous amount about business and life and their lessons to him have been instrumental in driving his own desire to pay it forward and bring new people into the industry.

Con has taken a very personal approach to bringing people in the industry by having fi ve daughters, four of whom work in strata or the insurance industry! Illiana works at Direct Insurance Brokers, Christina works at BCSystems, while Karli and Stacey work with Con at SCI. Wife Carla has also dipped her toes working at Hartley’s Body Corporate and has a background in sales and insurance. Daughter Stephanie Works in HR at a pharmaceutical company but Con still loves her despite her aversion to strata. Con’s appreciation for his family is not trivial, it is the cornerstone of his life.

With over 20 years of contribution including helping fundamentally change the lives of thousands of people in Queensland’s North, Con was an obvious choice for SCA

(Qld) life membership. Anyone who saw Con on the night he was awarded life membership knows just how passionate he is about this sector. The genuine surprise coupled with the outpouring of emotion was atypical of a guy who is generally quiet and driven by service. But it was well deserved and simply reflected a lifetime of service. Con describes himself as a simple man, but perhaps a better description is that he is an uncommon, common man. He is a man who does not seek adulation or applause, but considers his highest purpose to serve others, take care of his family, and be a great friend. It is this simple philosophy that has led to an exceptional life, one very worthy of SCA (Qld) life membership.

Cathy Pashley

Cath’s sense of camaraderie and feeling absorbed in this industry led her to become a consistent instructor of new body corporate managers. Cath’s already warm demeanour brightens even further when she discusses this aspect of her service to SCA (Qld).

“I just love watching the student in the room who is enthralled;” she pauses “I can tell they are set for a long career in our wonderful industry, and it gives me a unique sense of joy I can’t really get from anything else.”

Those instructed by Cath over the years know how unforgett able she can be in front of a microphone.

Cath’s own business journey has been unique and intertwined very strongly with friends and family. Cath’s daughterin-law Anna is her personal assistant, and her cousin Louise is her Office Manager.

After buying out her siblings in 2020, Cath and husband Huw sought to elevate the businesses using Cath’s patented brand of vivacious energy and Huw’s lateral thinking. They certainly did this and proceeded to winning the Small and then

Medium Strata Management Business Awards from SCA (Qld) in quick succession.

Cath, never one to rest on her laurels, decided that having built the business up and achieved excellence she wanted to be part of something bigger and partnered with the Bright and Duggan Group in 2022. She’s proud of being part of this outstanding brand and also the point of diff erence she and Huw bring.

Cath describes how she met Huw fondly, and it again shows just how important having a tight circle is to this incredible woman. “I met Huw first at my sister’s wedding some 30 years ago, I used to see him from time to time at her place and over time we forged a deep friendship and connection. He is a huge support to me, and we make a formidable team.” This deep connection has worked in business and in life.”

Despite her successes, Cath is modest in her demeanour, and you can tell what she loves most is elevating others. She bursts with pride as she talks about her three now grown children, Andrew, Cameron, and Emily, who are all business owners or managers, with Cameron devoting his spare time to helping enhance the use of technology within Cath’s business also.

Anyone who saw Cath receive her Life Membership, or who has dealt with her in any small capacity knows she is a woman with great love for the industry. Cath is suited to strata like a turtle to its shell. She is personable, high energy and loves finding solutions to challenges.

Cath loves being able to “contour the legislation to solve people’s problems,” as she puts it. It’s this determination to be solutions focused, inspire others and seemingly find a conductor for her boundless energy that has led to decades of personal and professional success in our industry, and we welcome her with open arms to life membership of SCA (Qld) our passionate Pashley.