Regional brokerage Robinson Sewell Partners is expanding its national footprint, opening its first office in South Australia and hiring its first locally based broking expert.
Deb Purvis will commence at Robinson Sewell in mid-July after more than ten years in finance and agribusiness – working at the Rural Financial Counselling Service SA since 2006. She will be based in Clare in the Mid North region of the state.
This is the first step for Robinson Sewell in branching out across the country, director Ian Robinson told
Australian Broker.
“We’ve got an ambition to create a national footprint across all geographic codes in regional and rural Australia. Deb Purvis is a great start to opening up the South Australian footprint.”
While a lot of South Australia was semi-arid, Purvis is strategically positioned in Clare where she had her access to all productive agricultural zones in the state. Her empathy towards agricultural clients and borrowers was a huge drawcard in hiring her, Robinson said.
“She’s been in rural financial services counselling for many years now and that’s built up a very strong empathy base towards the industry. That definitely shows through in her personality and her commitment to working with borrowers who in the past may have been dealing with duress.
Purvis will be helping borrowers at both ends of the spectrum, he added, such as leaders seeking to expand their agricultural holdings, as well as borrowers finding challenges within the banking system.
“She is very excited about starting with Robinson Sewell Partners and making a big impact and difference for the borrowers down there in South Australia.”
Robinson Sewell also has plans to open up an office in Tasmania. Robinson said this will take place in a couple of months once the South Australian office is fully up and running. Currently the firm is based in New South Wales with Robinson himself in Wagga Wagga and director Brad Sewell in Dubbo.
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