As president and board chair of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), Ashley Smith is the face of Metro Vancouver’s housing market.
Passionate about leadership and governance, Smith represents more than 14,000 area realtors and serves as the organization’s media spokeswoman. She is the youngest president in its 100-year history, and one of just a few women to have taken on the role.
Smith gained experience at Royal LePage, where, along with her team, she made her way to the top 1% in Canada.
An Oakwyn Realty agent and a realtor since 2008, she has been heavily involved in the strategic direction of the local real estate profession since she became an REBGV board director in 2012. Smith works to ensure the profession adapts to evolving consumer needs as private technology companies enter the space and new regulatory demands challenge traditional practices.
“What gets me going in a nerdy way is looking towards the future and seeking ways to elevate professionalism … and help navigate an industry in a progressively changing environment,” Smith said.
Owner and co-founder of Vancouver Avenue Real Estate Collective, Smith is an authority on money laundering, advocating against provincial property speculation taxes, federal mortgage regulations such as the B-20 stress test, housing affordability, market conditions and realtor safety.
During her tenure at REBGV, Smith has helped the organization achieve significant governance restructuring, including having a smaller, more efficient board, adding three professional corporate directors, refocusing director education and exploring mergers and amalgamations with neighbouring organizations to streamline costs and improve services.
Elected director of REBGV’s westside division in 2011, she represented more than 4,500 members and co-ordinated education, networking events, relations with the City of Vancouver and fundraising for shelter-related charities. In 2013, she sat on the government relations committee, lobbying MLAs on various issues.
Birthplace: Vancouver
Where you live now: Steveston
Highest level of education: Associate of arts degree, Douglas College
Currently reading: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Currently listening to: “Old Man” by Neil Young
When you were a kid, what you wanted to be when you grew up: Rock star
Profession you would most like to try: Leadership role in effecting change with regional urban design and transit planning
Toughest business or professional decision: Disrupting status quo leadership practice and stepping on a few toes along the way. Admittedly, it put me ahead, but the decision was based on principle and an urgency to lead in a new direction
Advice you would give the younger you: Seek mentorship early on. Get out of the weeds
What’s left to do: Advocacy: for housing, innovative urban design, kids and the environment
“What gets me going in a nerdy way is looking towards the future and seeking ways to elevate professionalism ... and help navigate an industry in a progressively changing environment”
Join us to celebrate the 2019 Forty under 40 Awards on January 30, 2020, at the Westin Bayshore. For tickets and event information visit https://www.biv.com/forty-under-40
