DCM Institute Participants Named State Village Managers of the Year
Two members of the DCM Institute’s professional development program have been recognised as State Village Managers of the Year, reinforcing the growing standard of leadership across the retirement living sector.
Tarmar Christensen, Village Manager at RetireAustralia’s The Verge at Burleigh, was named Queensland Village Manager of the Year by the Retirement Living Council (RLC). In Western Australia, Alison Brockett of Masonic Care WA Forest Lakes was recognised with the same honour.
These awards recognise operational excellence, leadership, and a commitment to delivering positive outcomes for residents, qualities that sit at the core of professional village management.
Both Tarmar and Alison are part of the DCM Institute’s national professional development program. Established in 2019, the Institute supports village managers and sector professionals with structured, ongoing learning designed to strengthen capability, confidence, and performance across village operations.
Professional development in retirement living is no longer optional. It is a requirement of both compliance and customer expectation, with operators increasingly focused on building capability within their teams to meet the demands of an ageing population and evolving regulatory environment.
The full list of State Village Managers of the Year reflects the depth of leadership across the country:
- NSW/ACT: Michelle Bennett, LDK Seniors’ Living
- South Australia/Northern Territory: Daniel Kunzel, Levande
- Victoria/Tasmania: John Smirk, Applewood Retirement Village
The sector also recognised excellence in sales, with the following State Salespersons of the Year:
- NSW/ACT: Ivonne Evans, Aveo Lindfield Gardens
- Queensland: Michele Stevens, Keyton Hibiscus Noosa Outlook and Sunrise Beach Village
- Victoria/Tasmania: Danae Konstantakopoulos, Levande Templestowe and Donvale
- Western Australia: Jo McPhilimey, St Ives Retirement Living
- South Australia/Northern Territory: Katherine Clark, Keyton Townsend Park and Vermont Estate
National winners across both categories will be announced at the RLC National Retirement Living Summit in June 2026.
As the sector continues to evolve, these recognitions point to a clear shift. Professionalism is no longer defined by tenure alone, but by a commitment to ongoing learning, leadership, and delivering better outcomes for residents.
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