Growing up, sports shaped more than Jackie Hanna’s childhood. They shaped her character and helped her develop discipline, resilience and confidence. From competitive school sports to the focus and independence she learned through tennis from the age of 5 years old, Jackie developed a strong sense of responsibility and determination. These early lessons became the foundation of a professional journey that eventually took her from Melbourne to Dubai, carrying with her the same drive she once brought to every game. Today, Jackie is known for her sharp market understanding, skilled negotiation tactics and inspiring personal and professional story.
A childhood shaped by dedication and teamwork
A childhood shaped by dedication and teamwork
For Jackie, sports were never simply recreational activities. They taught her how to work within a team, how to compete with integrity, and how to maintain strength even when faced with challenges. Playing both in teams and individually helped her understand the importance of relying on herself while also supporting others. These experiences helped her develop the ability to stay focused under pressure, overcome obstacles, and approach life with consistent effort.
Discovering her passion for property
Jackie’s interest in property began early in life. Even as a child, she found herself fascinated by buildings, layouts and the idea of connecting people with the right space. She enjoyed observing how both residential and commercial properties worked and imagined the value they could bring to individuals and communities. Over time, this early curiosity grew into a career path that blended communication, problem solving and strategic thinking.
Jackie has always enjoyed the challenge of finding solutions and guiding people confidently through life altering decisions. This mindset became one of her strongest assets as she entered the real estate world.
Building her foundation in Melbourne
Jackie Hanna began her professional commercial real estate career in 2015 with CBRE Melbourne. This period introduced her to the true pace of the industry. She learned how to list, negotiate and manage deals, work closely with property owners, navigate market pressure and maintain accuracy while under time constraints. CBRE allowed her to develop practical skills and gain experience in commercial property at a level that shaped her professional identity.
These early years helped her understand how to remain calm during high pressure environments and how to provide clear and confident guidance to high-net-worth individuals.
Jackie’s move into retail leasing & strategic asset thinking
Jackie Hanna’s journey into retail shopping centre leasing truly began in 2018, when she stepped into a new chapter at 151 Property, a Blackstone-owned portfolio. It was more than a career progression; it was a shift in perspective. After years in agency, Jackie found herself on the ownership side of the industry, where every leasing decision was tied to long-term value, risk, and the overall performance of the asset.
Here, she learned to see retail leasing not just as the act of filling spaces, but as the strategic repositioning of assets. She began to understand how tenant mix shapes customer behaviour, how one negotiation can influence an asset’s value trajectory for years, and how portfolio-wide decisions ripple across multiple centres. This role sharpened her commercial acumen, deepened her understanding of value creation, and grounded her in the discipline of thinking beyond the immediate deal.
It was in this environment that Jackie’s leasing mindset transformed; she wasn’t just placing tenants, she was shaping the long-term direction of retail assets.
Expanding into the world of Westfield & large-scale retail leasing
When Jackie joined Scentre Group, owner and operator of Westfield across Australia and New Zealand, her skill set was tested and expanded on an entirely new scale. Retail leasing here required navigating some of the most sophisticated shopping centre environments in the country, each with intricate stakeholder networks, highly competitive categories, and extensive operational considerations.
In this role, Jackie became fluent in the art of diverse portfolio retail leasing negotiations. She learned how to balance retailer demands with centre performance objectives, how to anticipate operational impacts, and how to work collaboratively across departments ranging from development to marketing to centre management. The complexity of the organisation strengthened her ability to communicate with precision, negotiate strategically, and manage multiple competing priorities without losing sight of the asset’s long-term goals.
Her time at Scentre Group refined her into a well-rounded retail property professional. She gained a complete perspective, agency, ownership, and operations, allowing her to approach leasing challenges with exceptional depth and clarity.
Jackie’s contribution in these positions wasn’t simply transactional; she was actively shaping the direction, stability, and performance of retail assets. Her journey reflects how critical strong leasing and asset-strategy expertise is in the success of shopping centres, and how her unique blend of experience continues to be an asset to the industry.
Taking a bold step and moving to Dubai
In 2024, Jackie Hanna made a courageous decision that changed her life. She left Australia and moved to the United Arab Emirates with no existing network and no familiar environment to rely on. For many people, this type of move would have been overwhelming. For Jackie, it represented independence, resilience and unshakable belief in her abilities – confidence forged through years of discipline and strength built in sports.
Dubai offered a new challenge. The city is known for its fast-growing property market, diverse clients and rapid development. Jackie embraced the opportunity to start fresh, build connections from scratch and use both her extensive network and experience to help buyers and investors navigate the region’s evolving market.
This move strengthened her personally and professionally. It reinforced the belief that growth often requires courage and that starting again can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.
Thriving in a traditionally male dominated industry
Real estate has long been known as a male dominated field. Jackie acknowledges that she faced moments where she had to work harder to prove her capability and earn her position. Rather than discouraging her, these experiences pushed her to develop greater confidence, sharpen her professional voice and heavily rely on her knowledge.
Over time, Jackie earned trust through her results, her consistency and her honest communication. Her story is an example of how determination, clarity and resilience can open doors, even in environments that are traditionally challenging.
A professional approach built on integrity
Today, Jackie is focused on strengthening her expertise in the UAE market, expanding her network and continuing to deliver reliable results. She believes that real estate is built on relationships rather than quick transactions. She values transparency, consistent communication and delivering on promises.
Her most important lesson is that consistency and integrity build a long-lasting career. Jackie aims to raise the standard of real estate service in Dubai by focusing on genuine client care, honest advice and long-term value.
A vision for the future
Jackie wants to be known as a trusted advisor and a true professional who guided her clients confidently toward better property decisions. She wants her brand to reflect integrity, understanding and a commitment to raising industry standards.
If she could advise her younger self, it would be to trust the process, stay patient, build real relationships and let reputation grow naturally. Her journey serves as an example that courage and consistency can create an extraordinary path.
Do follow her on Instagram
Do follow her on Instagram
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