Darwin property management team Our Team

Ann Russell’s career in Darwin real estate spans 25 years—16 with her business partner Phil Pethick.

The team of professional staff at Darwin Rental Specialists is a proud achievement for Ann, who mentors and trains young industry professionals to become property managers with premium customer service skills and second-to-none industry knowledge.

Ann came to Australia from the UK in 1974 with a background in retail and the meat industry. She is well known for her strong leadership, commitment to her clients and no-nonsense approach to getting the job done. She has her own property portfolio in the NT and interstate.

In her free time, Ann loves trekking in Australia, India, Africa and other parts of the world.

Phil Pethick has lived in the Territory since 1988, where he worked in finance for five years.

Phil switched to real estate in 1996 when he purchased a share of the property management arm of the then Darwin Real Estate. In 2001, Ann Russell joined the agency and the two partners launched Darwin Rental Specialists.

As well as guiding a busy team of property management professionals, Phil has served as treasurer and council member of the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory for seven years.

Outside of work, Phil and his wife Colette love travelling and spending time with their family in Darwin, including seven beautiful grandchildren.

Originally from country South Australia, Samantha Weichbold-Kalmar has called Darwin home for 25 years.

Sam’s real estate career began in 2003 when she became a property manager’s assistant with Darwin Rental Specialists. Within six months, she knew she’d found her niche and started study in property management.

Almost 15 years on, Sam’s passion for property management has only strengthened as she progressed to the agency’s director of property management.

Sam takes great pride in client satisfaction and problem solving—two things she gets to do every day as manager of our busy property management team. She also loves guiding and mentoring the property management staff to keep up with changes in the market.

When she’s not working, Sam loves to travel—here and abroad.