JF: I’m a Canberra boy, born and raised. My parents were migrants; dad from Italy, mom from Ukraine. They started out in public housing before using property to get ahead. That really shaped my understanding of how real estate can change lives. My dad was a plumber; his dad was a plumber. I am one of two boys – and my brother is a plumber. I spent my school holidays working on the family business. Those cold Canberra mornings, breaking frozen ground, really instilled that work ethic in me.
