Michael Teys is the Founder and Chairman of The Strata Professionals Australia. He brings together more than 30 years of specialist strata law practice, a decade of strata business ownership, and an active programme of academic research into multi-owned property governance.
Michael practised as a specialist strata lawyer from 1994 to 2018, advising committees, developers, and owners on the full spectrum of strata disputes, compliance, and governance. He served as a Fellow of the Australian College of Strata Law from 2006 to 2018. From 2004 to 2014 he was the CEO and major shareholder of strata management companies operating across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, with a combined portfolio of 28,000 apartments. Running those businesses gave him direct exposure to the operational pressures strata managers face and revealed the structural weaknesses that became the catalyst for founding The Strata Professionals Australia.
Michael holds a Master of Philosophy (Built Environment) from UNSW, where his thesis examined how mixed-use strata developments create anti-commons risks that impede urban renewal. He has held research positions at the City Futures Research Centre (UNSW) and Deakin University, contributing to published work on building defects, passive fire protection, and pathways to professionalism for strata managers. He presents regularly at international research forums and policy discussions, including the International Research Forum on Multi-Owned Properties, the House of Commons, and the International Institute for the Sociology of Law. His current research undertakes a comparative socio-legal analysis of catastrophic governance failures in high-rise, multi-owned residential buildings.
This combination of legal practice, business ownership, and academic research gives Michael a perspective few in the Australian strata industry can match. Every element of the firm’s operating model, from the no-commission pricing structure to the Balanced Strata Method™ governance framework, is grounded in something tested rather than assumed. Committees that engage The Strata Professionals Australia are engaging a firm led by someone who understands their legal obligations, has run the operations they rely on, and is actively shaping the future of strata governance through published research and policy engagement.
The United States of Strata Australia - Part 2
The Strata Futures Roundtable brought together 50 industry professionals for an open, future-focused discussion on key challenges like ageing buildings, disaster resilience, and climate change—without a set agenda or preconceived outcomes. Hosted by Macquarie Bank and other major sponsors, the event sparked questions about the sector’s future, the role of research in reform, and whether this marks the beginning of a new national movement for strata in Australia.
The United States of Strata Australia - Part 1
The Three Questions That Will Determine Your Firm's AI Survival
Why does everyone in strata management seem to hate their software? From dinosaur desktop platforms to the fear of change that keeps us clinging to outdated systems, this industry has a technology problem. Discover why modern alternatives exist but remain hidden, and what better software could mean for your bottom line and sanity.
Are you struggling to keep up with the increasing demands of strata management? Learn how to simplify your workflow and boost your efficiency.
Discover how to thrive amidst chaos and seize opportunities arising from the Four Corners investigation. Learn expert strategies for adapting your business, securing top talent, and leading the charge in the new era of strata management.
This article discusses the common challenges faced by new strata management businesses. It highlights the "entrepreneurial seizure" that leads to new business formation and the initial thrill of client acquisition. However, it warns of the "Founder's Trap" - the cycle of busyness without financial reward. The article emphasizes the importance of raising prices before increasing headcount and investing in robust operating systems to avoid this trap.
Strata has gone from political afterthought to political goldmine — but not for the reasons you'd hope. Disasters, deaths and displacement forced politicians to notice. Now they're embracing strata as the answer to the housing crisis while passing laws that make it harder to afford. Something doesn't add up.
Struggling to manage overwhelming workloads in your strata management business? You're not alone. By applying proven business principles, you can transform your company and improve your quality of life.
