Future Leadership isn’t loud. It’s relational.
Leadership in retirement living is often misunderstood. It’s easy to imagine it as directive, procedural, or defined by authority. But spend time with Sabrina Brar, and a different picture emerges. One that is quieter, more human, and far more powerful.
Recognised as a Future Leader in 2025 at the National Retirement Living Awards by her peers, Sabrina doesn’t frame leadership as something you announce. She describes it as something you practise. Every day. Often in moments no one sees.
“Being recognised was humbling,” she reflects. “It made me pause and think about the impact we have, not just on operations, but on people’s lives.”
That pause matters. In a sector moving quickly, reflection is becoming a leadership skill in its own right.
Sabrina’s pathway into retirement living wasn’t linear. She originally planned to become a registered nurse, driven by a deep desire to care for others. Life, as it often does, offered a different opportunity. A move into operational roles led her first to residential care, then into retirement living. When she arrived, something clicked.
“I realised how much influence I had on residents’ day-to-day experience,” she says. “And I loved that I could see the impact of my work immediately.”
That sense of connection is no accident. It’s shaped by a close relationship with her grandmother, who played a significant role in raising her, and by an instinctive respect for older people that shows up in how she leads.
At Anglicare, Sabrina’s leadership is anchored in wellbeing, but not as a checklist or program. For her, wellbeing lives in the margins. In walking alongside residents through grief. In stopping for a conversation in the corridor. In creating opportunities for people to feel useful and valued.
One initiative she’s particularly proud of is “This Is Your Life”, where residents interview one another about their stories. It’s simple, but transformative. New residents feel known. Long-term residents feel seen. Community deepens.
She’s also introduced hands-on cooking classes led by an ex-chef, and playful Residents vs Staff activities that prioritise laughter and belonging. “None of this happens without a strong team,” she’s quick to point out. “Leadership is never a solo act.”
That awareness is especially important as the sector evolves. Sabrina has seen firsthand how the shortage of residential aged care beds is pushing higher support needs into retirement villages. Expectations are changing. Complexity is increasing. The pressure on frontline teams is real.
“The challenge is balancing safety, dignity and choice,” she says. “We need to advocate for what residents genuinely need, while making sure our teams are supported to deliver it.” It’s a perspective grounded in lived experience, not theory.
What excites her about the future is the move away from transactional models toward truly relational communities. “It feels less like a service and more like an extended family,” she says. But she’s clear-eyed about what that requires. Investment in people. Training. Time. Support.
It’s one reason Sabrina actively engages with the DCM Institute. For her, learning isn’t an add-on. It’s how leaders stay curious, grounded and connected to peers who understand the weight of the role.
When asked what advice she’d give to other emerging leaders, she doesn’t hesitate. “Stay curious. Say yes to opportunities that feel uncomfortable. Seek feedback. Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s a privilege.”
In a sector searching for its next generation of leaders, Sabrina Brar stands out not because she speaks the loudest, but because she listens deeply. And in retirement living, that may be the leadership trait that matters most.
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