Armidale’s Rebecca Poulter has emerged as a standout at this year’s Ray White Rural & Livestock Awards, being named Office/Operations Manager of the Year. An accolade she shared with Kelle Nicholas of Ray White Rural Albury Wodonga.
Hosted amid considerable fanfare on the Gold Coast in August, the event brought together more than 250 guests to celebrate peak performance across offices and individuals within the rural and livestock network Ray White.
The ceremony was notable not just for the awards, but for the broader spirit of connection and forward-thinking momentum described by Ray White Rural & Livestock CEO Matt White as marking a “Connect year.” He highlighted that while Ray White Rural may be a “small but intrinsic part of the group,” its promotional leadership—most notably in property videos—sets the bar for the broader real estate industry Ray White.
Ms Poulter unfortunately couldn’t attend the awards ceremony, which was held at the Gold Coast, but that hasn’t taken the shine of the win whatsoever.
“Matt White actually travelled out to our office to present the award to me in person which was wonderful,” said Ms Poulter.
Nominated by the director of the Armidale & Guyra offices, Andrew Starr, Ms Poulter puts her success down to being across all aspects of real estate.
With roots in the regional markets of Armidale and Guyra, Rebecca advanced from earlier roles in negotiation and sales, and property management, to become Office Manager—overseeing both Ray White’s rural property and residential teams across the two offices. Her ability to coordinate operations and lead effectively across regions has been instrumental in achieving the high standards celebrated by the awards ceremony.
“I love the admin side of things, I still like to dabble in sales occasionally but I also really love helping the agents, particularly with marketing and setting up for auctions,” she said.
Rebecca’s management style and operational excellence are clearly aligned with Ray White’s strong emphasis on people, and the group’s belief that its greatest investment lies in its people and leaders.
When asked what her approach is to managing her team of 9, she jokingly said, “They all call me Switzerland.”
“Things can be quite high pressure in this industry but I’ve got a bright outlook, I stay calm and I don’t let things get to me.”
Having a career that spans over 20 years in the industry also means that Ms Poulter has seen many changes.
“The biggest for us now is AI- how we can use it for our digital and socials is so advanced now, and it makes everything so much easier. It’s all right at your fingertips.”
This award casts a deserved spotlight on the critical role that office and operations managers play in the success of rural property businesses. These professionals ensure that administrative infrastructures, team cohesion, client service quality, and strategic workflows remain robust and resilient.
In an industry where major awards often focus on sales or marketing, celebrating operational leadership sends a powerful message: that success is a team effort built upon the reliability and efficiency of those behind the scenes.
When asked if she has any big career plans now Ms Poulter said, “Honestly no, I love what I do and I’m happy to keep doing it.”
“I’d just like to say a huge thank you to Andrew for the nomination and to my whole team for being so wonderful to work with.”
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