Apollo Auctions triumphs at 2025 Real Estate Business Awards

Apollo Auctions’ Caitlyn Irwin and Rob Doorey were announced winners in two categories at the recent 2025 Real Estate Business Awards in Sydney.

Caitlyn was awarded Operations Manager of the Year, while Rob took home the Auctioneer of the Year title, each triumphing over nine other finalists in each category from across the nation.

Caitlyn – Apollo’s Administration Manager since early 2021 – said the win was a professional highlight for her.

“I’m over the moon. It means so much to me, but it’s also an amazing accomplishment for the company. It means that we’re having a positive impact on the industry, all of which wouldn’t be possible without such a supportive and adaptive work environment,” she said.

Her nomination highlighted her efforts in building relationships with over 850 real estate agents and their administrators, growing Apollo’s active client base to nearly 1,100 nationwide, over the past financial year.

Over the period, the top eight Apollo auctioneers saw an average auction booking growth of 65 per cent, with an overall team increase of 57 per cent.

“This equated to me coordinating and booking thousands of auctions for over 850 agents from almost 400 agencies over that period,” she said.

“To put that into perspective, behind each auction booking is a buyer and seller making one of the biggest decisions of their lives, along with an agent dealing with the stress of the situation. 

“I understand that these are real humans, so I seize this incredible opportunity to shape positive experiences and support our clients with empathy, proactive communication and meticulous attention to detail.”

Rob said he had been surprised by his win given the high calibre of the finalists.

“It’s always fantastic to be recognised by your peers. It’s an honour just to be among the best auctioneers around Australia and to be a finalist. That’s cool in itself,” he said.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve never won anything in my life besides when I played AFL as a youngster – awards like the most improved.

“You’re up against some quality talent. I knew that I put the work in and, of course. you’re hoping, but certainly you never know which way these things are going to go. I was definitely surprised and definitely elated by it.”

Humility aside, there is no question that Rob’s auction career has been going from strength to strength over the past decade with some significant achievements along the way.

“Not only did I grow the number of agents, agencies, and auctions over the last financial year, but I had some big wins like breaking the record at the time in Queensland for the highest sale under the hammer of $24 million,” he said.

“My number of properties sold at auction under the hammer also soared by nearly 49 per cent to 174 and the total value of my properties sold at auction under the hammer also increased by 31 per cent to nearly $295 million.”

Rob – who calls auctions for Apollo across Southeast Queensland with a focus on the Gold Coast – said the award win also reinforced a career decision he made many years ago. 

“The award is fantastic, but I’m just really lucky because I love what I do. I’m fortunate that this is, I guess, my second career with my first being radio,” he said.

“I’d always been involved in real estate in the sense of buying, selling, and renovating. I loved everything to do with real estate and I had segments on my radio show as well.

“I wondered back then if I could fall in love with something as much as radio and I certainly have.

“To be able to do it every day, to be able to be a full-time independent auctioneer calling hundreds of auctions every year, I still feel very lucky and fortunate to be doing it.”