Belinda Sinclair joins Rise Board, succeeding John Foong

The Rise Initiative, the real estate industry’s dedicated mental health and wellness charity, has announced a transition on its Board of Directors.

John Foong has stepped down from his position on the board, with Belinda Sinclair, Domain’s Vice President of Residential Sales and Revenue Operations, stepping into the position.

The change reflects both the continued commitment of Domain to the Rise mission and the growing importance of mental wellbeing across the real estate industry.

Nick West, Chair of the Rise Initiative, formally welcomed the appointment and expressed his deep appreciation for John’s dedication to the charity's mission.

"We are incredibly grateful to John for his significant contribution and dedication to the Rise Initiative over the last 4 years as a volunteer, and 2 years as a board member" Nick said.

"Importantly, John has helped shift mental health from a side conversation to a core pillar of high performance and sustainability across the sector. John brought the kind of senior executive credibility and genuine personal conviction that helped open doors — with industry leaders, with Domain's network, and with the broader proptech ecosystem. He helped make mental health a boardroom conversation, not just a wellness program.

“We thank him for his outstanding service, excited that he will be staying on as a volunteer and advocate.”

Nick said that the board was delighted that Domain would continue to have a presence on the board, welcoming Belinda Sinclair. 

“Belinda has always been a champion of Rise since the beginning and we are delighted she’s joining us on the board,” Nick said. “As one of the most senior executives at Domain and well-loved by the industry, we look forward to the new energy and experience she will bring to our team to help heighten the awareness of the work Rise does."

Belinda expressed her enthusiasm for joining Rise and continuing the strong partnership between the charity and Domain, who were a founding partner in 2019.

“Domain has been deeply committed to the Rise Initiative and Real Care app since the charity was founded and I’m honoured to join the board and build upon their achievements to date,” Belinda said.

"The pressure within the real estate industry is real, and the support that Rise and Domain have been able to make available across the industry through the Real Care app with its free counselling sessions are absolutely vital. So I am excited to contribute to a culture where mental wellness is recognised as a core pillar of high performance."

Reflecting on his time with Rise, John said it had been a privilege to serve an organisation that is making such a tangible difference in the lives of real estate professionals.

"Serving on the board of the Rise Initiative and being involved in the Real Care app has been an incredibly rewarding experience," John said. "I am deeply proud of the work we have done to normalise conversations around mental wellness and provide practical, life-saving tools to agents and property managers.”

"Seeing the Real Care app be downloaded 15,000 times has been particularly rewarding. The idea that an agent in regional Queensland or a property manager in suburban Melbourne can access free, confidential counselling sessions in their pocket – that's a real, practical intervention that saves lives. I'm deeply proud of what the team has built and excited for Domain’s continued enthusiastic support."

The Rise Initiative continues to make a huge impact on the professional lives of thousands of agents and property managers across the country through its educational events, resources, and the multi-award-winning Real Care app.

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These media releases always come out when posted on the official Rise Initiative website.