After 30 years in the public sector, Jacqui would be forgiven for trading her office chair for a beach recliner and reflecting on her distinguished career as the waves roll in. 

But – in leadership, and in life – that’s not who Jacqui is.

Instead, she has taken the reins as Nesti’s Managing Director. A pivot inspired by the people and purpose that Nesti Housing encompasses. 

First Impressions

Q. If you had to describe your first few months – in just three words – what would they be, and why?

A. Welcomed; lighter; excited. 

The team at Nesti have been incredibly warm and welcoming and I already feel part of the Nesti family, like I have come home. I feel lighter because this role gives me more freedom to be creative and innovative, and with that comes the excitement about the possibilities and opportunities.   

Q.  Has there been a moment where you thought, “Yes, this is exactly why I took this role”?

A. Yes – there have been several times since I started where I have thought that. I have always been a systems thinker and problem solver and this role has allowed me to consider how the different components of Nesti can work together, along with our partners within PeopleKind Group, and really think outside the box in terms of how we address the current housing challenge. 

People Power

Q.  What’s been your favourite conversation so far – the one that stuck with you after it ended?

A. My first site visit to an SDA property in High Wycombe was inspiring and there were a number of conversations during the visit that have stayed with me.

Speaking with the parents, support coordinator, developers, and our Housing Engagement team, it really got me thinking about how we can support families to provide a safe and supported home for young adults transitioning to independence. As a registered SDA provider and licensed real estate agency we are well placed to connect with relevant stakeholders and work with families to create a community. A community where young people can be supported to live independently and thrive, while also providing families with peace of mind.

Q. What have you learned about the people here that doesn’t show up on an org chart?

A. Without exception, the passion that the Nesti team has shines through. The desire to make a positive difference is genuine, in the support of our tenants and families, and collaborative work with our chosen partners.

Q. What’s one small ritual or habit you’ve already picked up since joining? 

A. Chatting with the team, sharing updates and whereabouts, and the occasional meme on the Nesti Water Cooler.

Fresh Eyes

Q. Looking at the business with fresh eyes, what feels most full of potential right now? 

A. With my previous experience at the Department of Communities, there is real potential to identify opportunities and work with families, developers, and service providers to support people to access the right home for them. We know that great homes, in ideal locations, can create a community and have a life changing impact.

Q. What’s one thing you’ve spotted that will benefit from your experience? 

A. Nesti is a young organisation that has a proud history. With origins that have always put people at the heart of what we do, we provide opportunities for safe and secure homes. It is important for me to continue to build on this strong foundation of people, processes, and housing solutions. My aim is to strengthen and grow the four departments of Nesti, while building on the collaborative partnerships we have with likeminded organisations.

Q. What’s been the biggest learning curve in your first month? 

A. While I have a background in housing, I have had limited exposure to the operations of traditional real estate and Specialist Disability Accommodation. So, that has been a big learning curve for me. Learning the jargon and acronyms is always a challenge in a new job. And as this is my first role with a not-for-profit organisation, I’m still wrapping my head around all the salary packaging benefits.

Looking Ahead

Q. Without giving too much away, what excites you most about what’s ahead?

A. Nesti is in a unique position to provide housing solutions and maintenance services to empower vulnerable people, and to collaborate with others to achieve that. The combination of the Nesti Realty business, Community Housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation, and Maintenance team, provides an exciting value proposition that has the potential to be a game changer. We can respond to the housing crisis and deliver tangible benefits for those that need it most.

Q. What would success look like one year on, not just for the business, but for the people?

A. Success one year on means achieving sustainable growth and a strong and recognisable brand, while fostering a healthy, skilled, and engaged Nesti team. We want to continue uplifting our positive culture – where people feel valued, balanced, and personally fulfilled in their roles.

A Personal Flourish

Q. We noticed that you love a meeting agenda. What’s one thing in your personal calendar that is a non-negotiable?

A. Getting to Pilates or Yoga most days each week. Exercising keeps me strong and focused and helps me maintain a positive mindset. I also make sure I get to the beach most Sunday mornings for a swim.

My daughter graduates from university next year, so we are planning a trip for Christmas in 2027 to celebrate.

Q. Is there a book, podcast, or show you’ve been enjoying lately?

A. I am currently listening to The Diary of a CEO – The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett. He is very practical and down-to-earth, and much of what he shares is applicable and relevant. 

I’ve also just finished watching ‘The Beast in Me’ on Netflix which was a good, thought-provoking psychological thriller.

Q. If your first month had a soundtrack, what song would be on repeat?

Can I pick two? To represent my first month, it would have to be “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen and Tom Petty’s “Learning to Fly”.

We shouldn’t play favourites..

but at Nesti HQ – March is a marvellous time of year. The leaves are turning, the afternoons linger, and it’s the ideal time to settle into something new (like a new home, perhaps?)

Built to HPS Specialist Disability Accommodation Standards

Balga has long shed its reputation of the 90’s and has fast become one of the most requested suburbs in the Nesti portfolio. With a strong sense of community and great access to everything north of the river, we’re proud to present two brand-new, park-side homes. 

Open to Appendix H and flexible funding options.

Feature packed:

• Assistive technology throughout  
• Accessible kitchens with open living & dining  
• Landscaped private backyards 
• Near to amenities, parklands, and health services 
• White goods & shared furniture included  
• Choice of housewarming gift or customisations

See the listing

The keys to this boutique block of just six apartments will soon be in the hands of the Nesti team. With flexible living arrangements available – solo, with a loved one, or even a pet. This is adaptable beauty will suit your lifestyle to a tee, no matter your preference. 
 

All the trimmings come included – like height-adjustable bench-tops, smart-tech integration, and even a bike rack on entry. Built-in robes and personal storage keep things tidy, and reverse-cycle air conditioning keeps the climate right, all year round. 

With seamless connection to Belmont Forum, health centres, and transport direct to the CBD. Explore what is right outside your door, knowing a quiet retreat awaits your return home.

Arrange a tour

In a sector where checks and balances can vary widely, working with a licensed team guarantees your SDA investment or tenancy are handled with compliance and care.

As a licensed Real Estate; Pam, Jodi and the Nesti Realty team are uniquely positioned to deliver property management you can trust.

If you’d like to speak to them for their expert advice, you can get in touch here.

SIL Providers: Your Key to a Karnup Gem

4 bed | 3 bath | 2 car

Built to HPS SDA Standards. For Rent $825 p/week

A peaceful combination of modern comfort with accessibility. This property is poised for a trusted and reputable SIL provider, looking to deliver high-quality support services, in a highly-quality home, right in the heart of the Karnup.

View the listing here

Is Your Abode Autumn Ready?

Our Maintenance Team have had a massive summer (shout out Darren and Guido!). They’ll now turn their attention to prepping homes for the cooler months. Cleaning gutters, trimming trees, sealing gaps in waterproofing. Anything your property needs for the months ahead – they’re the ones for the job. 

Book a maintenance quote

As you round the corner of this High Wycombe development, you sense that something is different. Perhaps, it’s the umbrella of the Macadamia tree, hugging the street frontage. The textural earth walls that rise to meet the spring sky. The joyful trades on site – singing along to the boombox – as they put the finishing touches to the exterior cladding.

It feels like a natural extension of what’s always been here, paired with an undeniable sense that these will be homes unlike any we’ve seen before.

In the first of our Meet the Makers series, we sit down with Mike and Chantelle, the dual minds behind Solterra Building Co, to unpack their design practice known as ‘neuroarchitecture’. As they look to rewrite the standard of SDA in Western Australia. 

Nesti: Let’s start with an introduction from yourself & a bit about the Green Building Co. Philosophy.

Solterra: Sure, so we are Mike and Chantelle. We created Solterra homes to be a point of different in the market. We are about building homes that feel good. That are filled with light. Materials that you just want to touch. And spaces that promote a sense of wellbeing. 

Nesti: From the Macadamia trees to the rammed-earth walls, there is a homage to the natural environment at play in this build. How important is respecting that to your overall vision for these homes?

Solterra: The trees are what initially drew us to this site, as we’ve gotten Macadamias and flame trees that anchor the build and determined the positioning for the three homes. The rammed-earth walls not only look beautiful and tactile but are a sustainable option that retain heat in winter and keep the homes cool in summer. 

Our vision has been realised by bringing nature in, wherever possible. The floor to ceiling windows, as well as access to courtyards, means the flow not only feels good – but promotes a calm and serene environment to live in. 

Nesti: In terms of how you approached this development – where did you draw inspiration from?

Solterra: In the homes at High Wycombe, we’ve found inspiration in the emerging field of neuroarchitecture. A design philosophy that explores how our brains and bodies respond to spaces and places. And we use these cues throughout the homes; hallways that glimpse the green outdoors, living spaces that are orientated to feel like a sanctuary, and double-glazed windows for a noise-free environment. We’ve delved deep – not only on functionality – but how you feel here. 

Nesti: What made you choose the Nesti team to collaborate with in bringing these homes to life?

Solterra: We joined with Nesti at the very beginning stages of this project, right after we secured the site. They have been pivotal in guiding us through what works and what doesn’t and encouraged us to go above and beyond the Specialist Disability Accommodation guidelines. It’s been a fantastic relationship and we’re so excited for them to manage these properties and support the people who will call these homes their own.

Nesti: What does a day in the life look like for a resident who choose to live here?

Solterra: High Wycombe remains a bit of a hidden gem. It’s a location that is so central – with easy access to the city, or a short drive up the hills into the quaintness of Kalamunda. There are cafes and amenities on your doorstep. Plus a real community feel with the homes being side by side. 

If you choose to spend the day at home, you’ll have a range of relaxing spaces to enjoy. Every bedroom is a peaceful retreat, the kitchen is communal and fitted with high-end appliances, plus there are two living and lounge areas to choose from to watch a movie or the breeze through the trees outside. 

Nesti: Can you give us three words that describe the homes at what you’ve achieved here?

Solterra: Sanctuary. Wellbeing. Grounded. 

2 x 3-bedroom homes for High Physical Support

1 x 2-bedroom home for High Physical Support

Estimated move in date: February 2026

View the vacancies

Flipping the script

In a real estate market dominated by rising prices and profit margins, one Perth agency is flipping the script, offering a values-driven alternative where every property transaction helps build a better future.

Nesti Realty is a first-of-its-kind, profit-for-purpose real estate agency right here in Perth, where every sale or lease helps fund much-needed social and community housing across WA.

Launched just 18 months ago, it’s the brainchild of the team behind Nesti Housing, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to addressing WA’s housing crisis. Backed by a combined 100+ years of experience in the property sector, the Nesti Realty team isn’t just helping people buy and sell homes – they’re helping others find them too.

The dream? To scale up this model and offer homes to even more people in need across the state.

Pam, a seasoned Perth real estate expert of over 30 years, is the first to admit the industry hasn’t always had the best reputation. But she’s on a mission to change that.

And in a state grappling with population growth and a critical housing shortage, the timing couldn’t be better.

“We’re the fastest growing state in the country. The demand is there – but traditional models alone aren’t keeping up,” she adds. “That’s where we come in.”

If you’re a property owner or investor, Nesti offers more than just warm fuzzies. Their team combines deep industry knowledge with affordable pricing, and thanks to their charity status, they can pass on discounts in areas like marketing. “Clients love that they’re working with long-established agents and helping others at the same time,” says Pam. “It’s a win-win.”

The team at Nesti knows this model has the potential to reshape real estate in WA. But to grow, they need more locals to jump on board. “We know West Aussies care about their communities,” Pam says. “If you’re values-driven and looking for something better, we’re here.”

Whether you’re ready to list a property or just curious to learn more, they’re inviting you to grab a coffee and discover how real estate can do more.

This article was original published by Perth is OK.