Agribusiness Property Valuation and Advisory

Victoria Gracie

Areas of Expertise

• Residential
• Advisory
• Government Services
• Tax Depreciation
• Local Consulting and Advisory

Industry Experience

Victoria is the Regional Director at Opteon and is responsible for business operations and valuationservices in relation to performance and client relationships.

Victoria oversees the daily provision of quotes,tender applications and appointing the right Valuers across the Central and North Queensland areas to deliver client outcomes.

This region encompasses Opteon’s Regional Queensland localities Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone,Rockhampton, Biloela, Emerald, Mackay, Whitsundays, Townsville, Mount Isa and Cairns.

Victoria started her career in the Mackay Property Market in 2009; where she gained experience in both the residential and commercial fields of valuation.

Victoria joined the Opteon Team in October 2011. Sshe has presented at numerous local events on topical local issues including the impact of Mining on the property market.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Certified Practising Valuer registration No. 3561
• Bachelor of Property

Andrew Bray

Areas of Expertise

• Rural valuations including grazing, cropping, vineyards, horticultural property, irrigation property, feedlots, market gardens, agro forestry, grain handling and processing facilities and wind farms
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for Family law purposes
• Asset valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Valuations for estate management purposes Valuations for property taxation, legislation and policy purposes
• Valuations for capital gains tax purposes
• Valuations for compulsory acquisition and forensic accounting purposes
• Commercial and residential property valuations

Industry Experience

Andrew has 20 years of experience as a valuer and has been employed by Opteon for 16 years. He is the Director of Agribusiness for Victoria which co-ordinates the Agribusiness Department and undertakes valuations in the western districts of Victoria. Before entering the property field Andrew worked on various rural properties throughout NSW as well as a family-owned mixed farming enterprise.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• API Accredited Specialist Water Valuer Bachelor of Commerce (Land Economy)
• Associate Diploma in Farm Management

Julian Nichols

Areas of Expertise

Julian is regularly engaged to provide Expert Witness advice in property disputes including Land Aquisition/Compensation, Family Law, Will disputes and various other litigation matters. This has included giving evidence in the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) through to the Supreme Court. At Opteon, Julian is responsible for the Agribusiness, Commercial and Residential operations throughout Regional Western Australia and Northern Territory. Julian is involved with Business and Strategic Development at Opteon.

Industry Experience

Julian joined the Valuer General’s Office in 1993 which marked the beginning of his valuation career. In 1995 he joined a private valuation firm before becoming a director of Valuation Partners WA Pty Ltd in 2000 later known as Quantia which became one of Western Australia’s largest and most experienced property valuation consultancy with extensive geographic coverage.

Julian was a founding Director of Opteon (Western Australia) and continues to work in the valuation field. In January 2017 Julian was appointed to the position of Regional Director for Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Julian currently undertakes a considerable amount of valuation and consulting advice for a number of the corporate farming interests both Australian and International that own land within the Western Australia agricultural region. This involves pre purchase advice which gives Opteon a significant involvement in current market conditions and major drivers in the market from a buyer’s perspective.

Formal Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Master of Property
• Associate of the Australian Property Institute (AAPI) – API No: 65252
• Licensed Valuer (Qld) – QVRB No: 4091MR

Matt Morton

Areas of Expertise

• Industrial property valuations
• Commercial property valuations
• Development feasibility
• Rental valuations
• Residential valuations
• Asset valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Government valuations

Industry Experience

Matthew has more than 15 years’ valuation experience in North Queensland over a broad spectrum of commercial and residential properties.

This experience includes valuation and property advice in both commercial and residential matters pertaining to resumptions, insurance valuations, rating appeals, Family, Federal and Supreme Court Matters, rental determinations, residential development feasibility and high value industrial facilities.

Matthew’s current role also involves training of cadet valuers, quotations, authorisation and distribution of valuation assignments to the other valuers and management support for the whole Queensland commercial team.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer (2697)
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (3172)
• Bachelor of Business (Property Studies) – University of Queensland

Murray Davis

Areas of Expertise

• Pastoral and Agricultural Land Valuations for mortgage security and succession planning
• Valuation of Agribusiness Facilities and Associated Infrastructure
• Compensation Assessments for Land Acquisitions and Resumptions including mining, energy and gas, general infrastructure including roads, railways and power lines, compensation for damages and change of land use.
• Rural improvements valuations for tax purposes
• Valuation for Property Taxation and Legislation

Industry Experience

Murray commenced his career as an Agricultural Economist and Farm Financial Counsellor with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries from 1999 until 2003 working in Emerald, Bundaberg and Goondiwindi. Following this Murray was employed as an Agribusiness Specialist by the Commonwealth Bank, Emerald and Biloela until 2007 when he founded Powers Agribusiness Services in Biloela and worked as a Rural Consultant until 2011. During this time, Murray was also employed by NPR Valuers and become a Registered Valuer in November 2010.

Opteon (Central and Southern QLD) Pty Ltd purchased NPR Valuers in 2011. Murray became a partner of Opteon (Central Queensland) Pty Ltd in July 2014 which has now amalgamated into Opteon. Murray was appointed as Director – Specialised & Advisory in April 2017 and oversees rural property valuations undertaken in Queensland.

Murray specialises in the Agribusiness field and grew up on a family mixed farming operation. He has run his own cattle and dryland and irrigated cropping business since 2002 with properties located on the Darling Downs and in Central Queensland.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Bachelor of Business (Property Studies)
• Bachelor of Agricultural Economics

Stephen Incerti

Areas of Expertise

• Commercial/Industrial
• Infrastructure ground leases
• Service stations/Roadhouses
• Tourist resorts/complexes
• Licensed premises
• Irrigated agricultural properties
• Hypothetical/Feasibility consultancy
• Receivers/Mortgagee in Possession
• All types of Residential
• Government valutions

Industry Experience

Steve is the Director – Regional WA.

Opteon has offices in Perth, Dunsborough, Broome, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie. Steve works from the Perth office and manages the WA team of valuers as well as being directly responsible in providing services to clients within the Pilbara region which he travels to regularly.

Steve has in excess of 30 years’ experience in valuation and consultancy. Initially having worked in Perth for both government and private entities, Steve relocated to Broome in March 2000 until his return to Perth in December 2014.

He has excellent knowledge of all types of property particularly within the North-West region which is a unique property market.

Formal Qualifications

• Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Certified Practising Valuer WA – License No 37965
• Bachelor of Business

Karen Bates

Areas of Expertise

• Commercial, industrial and rural properties in the Greater Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Central Coast
• Specialised property valuations, including service stations, heritage buildings, biodiversity stewardship and conservation sites, vineyards, contaminated land and mine subsidence affected land
• Compulsory acquisition and compensation valuations under Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation)

Industry Experience

Karen is an experienced property valuer providing commercial, industrial, rural and specialist valuations across Newcastle, Hunter Valley and the Central Coast.

Karen provides high quality valuation reports for mortgage security and specialist purposes, including compulsory acquisition and compensation valuations under Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 and valuations as an expert witness pursuant to Division 15 of the Family Law Rules 2004.

She has developed strong working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders including local and state government, sales agents, property developers, and investors, and she is able to draw on this network to provide important insight into the property market and valuation drivers in the region.

Karen also plays a leadership role in the industry. She is currently a member of the API NSW State Committee, as well as being an API Examiner for valuer candidates, and she is a founding member of the Women in Property Valuation network.

Prior to returning to the property valuation profession, Karen spent 15 years as a regional economic development specialist working across Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, both on the ground, and in higher level policy development, leadership and management positions.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 81519)
• Master of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business in Property

Thomas Dowling

Areas of Expertise

• Residential Valuations
• Serviced commercial, retail, office and industrial property valuations
• Asset Valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Valuation Risk and Compliance

Industry Experience

Tom has been working with Opteon for seven years across multiple different departments with a broad knowledge of the entire valuation process, including three years’ experience as Team Leader Compliance – Australia, specialising in Valuation Compliance and later transitioning to specialisation in Commercial Valuations.

Tom is considered a commercial property expert for North Sydney, Northern Beaches and Central Coast NSW for serviced commercial, retail, office and industrial property valuations.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practicing Valuer
• Associate of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 84628)
• Bachelor of Property, Central Queensland University

Edward Ellis

Areas of Expertise

• Agribusiness valuations including grazing, broadacre cropping, viticulture, horticulture and irrigation properties
• Commercial and Industrial property valuations
• Residential and Rural Residential property valuations
• Residential Development valuations
• Valuations for Family Law and property settlement purposes – court-related matters
• Valuation & Consultancy to Receivers/ Managers

Industry Experience

Edward is a Senior Certified Practicing Valuer based in Adelaide. Edward has worked with Opteon since 2008, previously based in Orange NSW before relocating to South Australia in early 2020.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API)
• Certified Practising Valuer (CPV)
• Bachelor of Agribusiness (Marketing) – University of New England, Armidale
• Advanced Diploma of Property Valuation Open Training Education Network (OTEN), Strathfield

Michael Schild

Areas of Expertise

• Agribusiness valuations including broad acre cropping, grazing, horticulture, vineyards, dairy farms and orchards in Regional South Australia for banks, private sector and government clients
• Valuations of Commercial and Industrial Assets in Regional South Australia for banks and local government clients
• Valuations for acquisition and disposal purposes
• Freehold and leasehold properties along the Murray River
• Valuations of Residential and rural lifestyle properties

Industry Experience

Michael has been with Opteon since December 2008 and has extensive experience in agribusiness, commercial and residential valuations throughout regional South Australia particularly in the Barossa, South east, Riverland, Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieiu and Mid North among other areas.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API No. 64350)
• Bachelor of Business (Commerce and Property)

Scott Gibson

Areas of Expertise

• Rural / Agribusiness valuations
• Rural lifestyle property valuations
• Residential property valuations
• Residential development valuations
• Commercial valuations

Industry Experience

Scott commenced valuations in 2012 as a cadet valuer working on specialised agribusiness valuations at Agribusiness Valuations Australia and has been with Opteon Property Group since 2014.

Scott is a key member of Opteon’s agribusiness and rural team as well as undertaking residential valuations throughout the Yarra Ranges, Cardinia and Casey areas. He is a Certified Practising Valuer (CPV), and has undertaken valuations for specialised agribusiness, rural lifestyle and rural properties.

Scott has also had experience with residential and residential development properties, as well as regional commercial and industrial properties.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Property and Valuations) with Honours 1st Class

Tim Adams

Areas of Expertise

• Mortgage valuations for lending institutions
• Rural Valuations including coastal grazing and sugar cane properties
• Commercial/ Industrial Valuations
• Residential Valuations
• Asset Valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Compulsory acquisition valuations
• Rental valuations
• Strata Replacement Insurance valuations
• Valuations for tax implications
• Tax Depreciation

Industry Experience

Tim Adams was Registered as a Valuer in 1991 and has worked in both private valuation practice and Government valuations services in South East Queensland and Central Queensland. He commenced work with Opteon in Mackay in 2002. Since 2006 he has been based full time in the Airlie Beach office. Tim has gained extensive valuation experience in a wide range of regional property types and markets in the Whitsunday, Mackay and Burdekin regions of Central Queensland. Work completed includes residential, rural residential, Island property, agribusiness (coastal grazing and sugar cane), commercial and industrial properties and compulsory acquisition. Tim provides reports for mortgage purposes, Government Departments, Local Authorities and Private users. Tim has completed courses in Asset Valuation for Financial Reporting and Specialist Water Valuer assessment through the A.P.I.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Certified Practicing Valuer (API No. 66172)
• Registered Qld Valuer No. 1870
• Associate Diploma of Business (Real Estate Valuation) Qld University 1991

Troy Pettersson

Areas of Expertise

• Agribusiness property valuations
• Valuations for financial reporting and advisory purposes
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for various litigation purposes
• Rural leasing valuations

Industry Experience

Troy commenced his career in the valuation industry in 2015, working primarily in agribusiness and commercial valuations, based in Opteon’s South West and Perth offices. Troy has been involved in valuations of numerous types of agricultural properties, including many specialised assets such as vineyards, piggeries, poultry farms, horticultural plantations as well as broad acre farms throughout the Western Australian Wheatbelt.

Commercial properties Troy has completed valuations for include industrial properties, development sites and trading properties such as caravan parks.Troy is currently based in the South West of WA, completing both agribusiness and commercial valuations throughout the state for a wide variety of clients. Troy is an associate member of the Australian Property Institute and is a registered panel valuer with many financial institutions operating within Australia.Troy is also a member of the Opteon Youth Leadership Team, a committee of Opteon employees under 30 years of age charged with leading various research and innovation projects for the business.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 83807)
• Licensed Valuer in the State of Western Australia, License No. 44977
• Bachelor of Commerce, Property Development and Valuation Major – Curtin University WA

Eva Schmidt

Areas of Expertise

• Residential property valuations
• Commercial Property valuations
• Industrial Property valuations
• Rural valuations
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for compulsory acquisition
• Valuations for property taxation, legislation and policy purposes
• Valuations for pre-purchase / pre-sale advice purposes
• Asset valuations for financial reporting purposes
• Rental valuations

Industry Experience

Eva has worked with Opteon for over 18 years based in the Maryborough office whilst working throughout the Wide Bay region. Eva has a broad knowledge base and works in residential, commercial, industrial and rural property valuations. Eva regularly provides reports to property portfolio owners for commercial property, including mortgage security, acquisition and disposal requirements, compulsory acquisition and rental assessment amongst others.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 66563)
• QLD Registered Valuer (QVRB No. 2771)
• Bachelor of Business (Property Studies) 2003 University of Queensland

Jodie Rolf

Areas of Expertise

• Agribusiness valuations (several major Tasmanian properties) including grazing, cropping, dairy, viticulture and intensive horticulture
• Forestry land
• Residential and rural lifestyle property
• Valuations for a range of purposes (eg financial reporting, matrimonial, purchase/sale, estate management, mortgage finance, insurance)
• Tax Depreciation Schedules
• Compulsory acquisitions

Industry Experience

Jodie has approximately nine years of experience working in the property valuation industry. Employed by Opteon since 2011 and as a Property Valuer with Opteon – Hobart since June 2014.

Jodie has been qualified as a Residential Property Valuer since June 2014, originally as a provisional member of the Australian Property Institute (RPV), and in 2015 as an associate member of the Australian Property Institute (CPV).

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate of the Australian Property Institute
• Bachelor of Property
• Certificate of Compliance with the Australian Property Institute Continuing Professional Development Program
• Certificate II in Agriculture

Oliver Evans

Areas of Expertise

• Residential property valuations
• Rural lifestyle property valuations
• Rural valuations
• Valuations for family law purposes
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for mortgagee in possession purposes
• Pre-purchase / Pre-sale advice

Industry Experience

Oliver has over 7 years of experience as a valuer and has been employed by Opteon since January 2014. Prior to Opteon, Oliver spent 12 months as a graduate valuer at the Brimbank City Council.

Oliver has a strong working knowledge of the local area completing a large number of valuations of Residential and Rural properties across multiple municipalities mainly specialising in the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Property and Valuation)

Tadgh O'Brien

Areas of Expertise

• Mixed Farming Valuations
• Broadacre Dryland Valuations
• Broadacre Irrigation Valuations
• Rural Lifestyle Valuations
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for pre-purchase/pre-sale advice purposes
• Valuations for market value

Industry Experience

Tadgh came on board with Opteon as an agribusiness/rural specialist valuer servicing central and western New South Wales. He has been exposed to a broad range of valuation types and asset classes throughout New South Wales with a focus on rural and residential property. Tadgh is an Associate of the Australian Property Institute, and a Certified Practicing Valuer. He comes from an agricultural background and was in Agri-finance prior to coming into valuation. Tadgh focuses on agribusiness/rural valuations for mortgage and market value purposes for a broad range of clients.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 106439)
• Certified Practising Valuer
• Graduate Diploma of Property - Deakin University
• Bachelor of Business - University of New England

Timothy Pegler

Areas of Expertise

• Rural & Agribusiness property valuations
• Valuations for mortgage security purposes
• Valuations for pre-purchase / pre-sale advice purposes
• Asset valuations for financial reporting purposes

Industry Experience

Tim began his career at Opteon in 2019. He has broad experience in the Agriculture Sector including broadacre farming, forestry, viticulture and bio-fertiliser. Servicing the Mid-West and Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia he specialises in Broadacre farming.

Formal Qualifications

• Certified Practising Valuer
• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 85950)
• Licensed Valuer in the State of Western Australia, License No. 45047
• Bachelor of Commerce (Property) – Curtin University (2009)

Wendy Walsh

Areas of Expertise

• Market Value Assessments
• Banking and Finance Valuations
• Matrimonial and Family Court Valuations
• Taxation (Stamp Duty, Capital Gains & GST)
• Replacement Insurance Value Assessments
• Tax Depreciation Schedules

Industry Experience

Wendy joined the Opteon business in 2015 leading business development, marketing, communications and client services for the South Coast NSW and Snowy Monaro regions. She undertakes valuations for the Residential and Commercial teams, as well as a research role for the Rating and Taxing Team. More recently Wendy has undertaken Agribusiness and Government Services valuation work.

Wendy has 20 years’ experience in corporate planning, strategy, and policy development. Prior to joining the property industry Wendy held various roles in the environment sector. For the NSW Government she was a technical advisor for law and compliance and led community behaviour change programs. Wendy has worked as the NSW Government departmental liaison for the Environment Minister and Executive Director of the Waste and Resources Sector.

Wendy has 20 years’ experience in corporate planning, strategy, and policy development. Prior to joining the property industry Wendy held various roles in the environment sector. For the NSW Government she was a technical advisor for law and compliance and led community behaviour change programs. Wendy has worked as the NSW Government departmental liaison for the Environment Minister and Executive Director of the Waste and Resources Sector.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 102767)
• Certified Practising Valuer
• Diploma of Property, Deakin University
• Editing & Proofreading, Thompson Education
• Environmental Auditor ISO 14001, RABQSA Int.
• Post Grad Cert in Environmental Management, Macquarie University
• Bachelor of Environmental Science Degree (Honours), Monash University

Bret Taylor

Areas of Expertise

• Asset Valuations for Financial Reporting
• Central Business District – Office/Retail
• Commercial Office/Retail, Industrial
• Compensation Assessments
• Depreciation Schedules
• Lessor/Lessee’s interests
• Rental Valuations
• Residential/Prestige Residential
• Rural Land
• Rural Lifestyle/Agribusiness
• Broad acre Farming & Irrigated Land
• Sub Divisional Land
• Hotels, Motels & Caravan Parks
• Multi-Unit Development and Feasibility Studies

Industry Experience

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Certified Practising Valuer QLD 1404

Martin Tremain

Formal Qualifications

• Fellow of Australian Property Institute (FAPI)
• Certified Practising Valuer
• Registered Valuer NSWNo. 2362
• Registered Valuer QLD No 2057
• Member of Agriculture Institute of Australia,
• Certified Practising Agriculturist (CPAg)
• Diploma of Business (Valuation) – Hawkesbury Agriculture College
• Associate Diploma of Farm management –
• University of New England
• Professional Certificate in Plant and Machinery
• Valuation – University of Technology Sydney

Industry Experience

Martin has 36 years’ experience in the Australian property industry with significant experience across a very broad range of property types.

With a farming background and a professional education in valuation and agriculture,Martin specialises in the valuation of all categories of rural properties including: broadacre dryland and irrigated farming, mixed grazing properties, diverse range of intensive livestock properties, range of horticultural properties and agricultural processing properties including grain and fibre. The valuation of corporate scale rural holdings and portfolios is a long-term specialty service for both national and international clients.

In addition to Agriculture, significant experience in the valuation of commercial and industrial properties including specialised going concern properties.

Martin also provides valuation of Plant and Machinery and in particular Agriculture equipment and Agriculture Processing plants. Non valuation consultancy services include general agribusiness plus acquisition and divestment roles with large scale transport and logistic infrastructure projects.

Areas of Expertise

• Valuation of cotton properties across NSW and QLD
• Broadacre cropping and large-scale grazing properties
• Intensive livestock properties including cattle feedlots and poultry
• Horticulture/vineyards/wineries
• Agriculture processing and storage facilities
• Plant and equipment valuations
• Property and general agribusiness consulting
• Statutory valuation advice
• Asset valuations for financial reporting
• Compensation assessments
• Litigation matters and expert witness
• Acquisitions
• Specialised commercial, industrial and going concerns
• Non valuation consulting services including acquisition and divestment
• roles on state and national infrastructure projects

Stuart Prowse

Industry Experience

Stuart has more than 30 years’ experience in undertaking property valuation in Australia. With a background and professional education in Agriculture, Stuart specialises in valuations for broadacre, dryland and irrigated cropping and grazing properties, diverse horticultural enterprises as well as Agriculture Processing and Storage Facilities.

In addition to valuation of Agricultural land, Stuart has a strong background in providing advice on a broad range of Commercial and Industrial property including Going

Concern property in the hospitality sector. As a Senior Valuer, Stuart provides statutory valuation advice, this includes the provision of rating and taxing valuations, objection briefing services and parallel valuations for NSW Government.

Samuel Palmer

Areas of Expertise

• Market Value Assessments
• Rural, Office, Industrial, Retail and Residential valuations for acquisition, disposal, stamp duty, family law, rental advice, and mortgage purposes
• Valuation work carried out on behalf of the RMS, State Property Authority, Land and Property Information, Defence Housing Australia, Housing NSW, Wagga Wagga City Council, ANZ, NAB, Westpac, St George, CBA, Property Fund Managers and private owners and developers
• Development feasibility studies
• Tax depreciation
• Rental determinations

Industry Experience

Sam has been working within property valuations since completing his degree at the University of Western Sydney in 2012. He worked throughout Sydney for 2 years valuing high end industrial property before moving back home to Wagga Wagga where he has worked across all property valuation fields throughout the Riverina and Southern NSW.

Formal Qualifications

• Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute (API Member No. 78311)
• Certified Practising Valuer
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) – 6905399
• Bachelor of Business & Commerce (Property)