In profile: Raine & Horne Commercial WA's associate director of commercial property management, Robert Lawson

NAME: Robert Lawson

POSITION: Raine & Horne Commercial WA associate director, Commercial Property Management

COMPANY: Raine & Horne

OFFICE LOCATION: Subiaco

How long have you been in the industry?

In total, about eight years.

What’s happening in the area you specialise in?

Tenant consolidation and retention. So we're trying to retain tenants during a tight market - negotiating to retain them rather than having vacancies.

Describe the most interesting commercial property you have worked on.

They're all intrinsically different, all set with their own challenges and rewards. From the simplest little office to the largest industrial, you can take pieces from all of them. I get a buzz out of all and sundry.

What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?

Tough skin, not taking things personally; being organised and trying to get ahead of the curve sometimes.

What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?

The best part of it would be being able to deal with people from all walks - you're dealing with contractors, you're dealing with tenants, you're dealing with owners, you're dealing with lawyers - and the things you learn along the way, because you're dealing with all sorts of people.

Where would you invest a spare $750,000?

It would have to be commercial property.

Which football team do you support?

Fremantle.

What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?

I'm not all up on the techno stuff. It'd have to be the mobile email.

How do you use social media?

Limited, don't use it much at all.