2023 Centre Manager of the Year: Anita Broers

The LFRA is proud to celebrate the immense achievements of the industry and more specifically, its Centre Managers operating across the diverse range of Large Format Retail centres and precincts nationwide.

This year, the LFRA recognised Anita Broers for her tremendous contribution to the industry.

Since joining CBRE to manage centres for the Harvey Norman portfolio in January 2016, Anita currently expertly manages over 160,000 GLA of Large Format Retail to date.

At Springvale, Bendigo, and Taylors Lakes Homemaker Centres she has navigated the challenges of the pandemic, significantly enhancing crisis management systems.

Most importantly, Anita implemented a centre-wide WhatsApp group which facilitated much-needed communication between centres during the COVID-19 crisis.

Her strategies have ensured effective communication among stakeholders, tenants, and customers to strengthen effective crises management.

Anita’s initiatives in retail, leasing, sustainability, and community engagement have notably impacted the national Harvey Norman portfolio.

Her leadership has driven advancements in sustainability, leasing, and capital improvements, including the analysis of global retail trends, economic shifts, and sustainable practices.

Over the years Anita has grown the management team to reach new heights in sustainability, leasing, and capital improvement.

A key part of this has been the constant review of worldwide retail trends, economic changes and upcoming sustainability initiatives that are investigated and implemented where possible.

This has also included working with external stakeholders in specific areas of expertise to ensure the Homemaker Centres remain at the forefront of retail innovation and sustainable design.

Anita also spearheaded capital improvements, including a transformative rebranding of Taylor Lakes Homemaker Centre.

Through Anita’s work and significant contribution, she has lifted the standard of the centre exponentially including new gardens, upgraded carpark works, CCTV and even centre music, which has made it more enticing to visit, and increased centre dwell-times.

This has demonstrated her capability through her acquisition of new sites across Melbourne and the continued success in leasing and lease renewals; which has seen not only a retailer retention rate of 96% across her portfolio in the past 8 years, but has also led to a strong relationship with Harvey Norman.

Anita has attributed open and ongoing communication as a fundamental pillar to her success as a Centre Manager.

The LFRA congratulates Anita on her achievements and looks forward to her future contributions to the industry.