Olivia Boulting has joined the NAVA advisory board, bringing her considerable livestream expertise to shape industry best practice.
In June 2025, the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) welcomed Olivia Boulting, Auction House South West’s Regional Manager and Auctioneer, onto their advisory board.
NAVA, a leading professional body within Propertymark, champions best practice in property valuation and auctioneering, ensuring its members follow the latest guidance and adhere to a code of conduct.
As the first woman to join NAVA’s select advisory board, Olivia will bring valuable insights from her experience running livestream auctions as well as her in-depth knowledge of the south-west region, where she has worked extensively to build a property auction market.
An auction ambassador
During her minimum three-year term on the board, Olivia will contribute to round-table discussions, advisory panels and policy forums, helping to shape the future of the auction sector within NAVA and the wider Propertymark organisation.
“I wanted to be involved and play a part in the policy and communication side of the industry, so that we can create a better and more ethical environment for everyone,” she commented. “It's a privilege to be at the forefront of those conversations, to assist in shaping the best practices when there’s regulatory changes to our industry.”
Her regional experience also strengthens the board’s national perspective. “A reliance on our local knowledge really mirrors what we do in Auction House: NAVA depends on the collaboration and sharing of local market updates. It’s really interesting to hear what is going on in different regions because everything has a knock-on effect in the market.”
Shaping the future of livestream auctions
Olivia’s presence on the board comes at a pivotal time. With livestream auctions now a key part of the sector, her experience will help to refine and standardise best practice in this growing area.
“Livestream has so many positives to it, but it is such a different way of working,” she explained. “It can create different opportunities for things to go wrong. But as a solely livestream auctioneer, I can be really influential in helping to define best practice in this area to ensure sellers and buyers can trust the process.”
Opening the door for others
Another draw to the position was the opportunity to boost representation on the board and lead the way for other women.
“I think it's good to put yourself in more of an exposed position so that it can help give other women the confidence to try their hand at auctioneering, which is a very male-dominated role,” Olivia reflects. “It's great to be a female auctioneer who is able to provide support. It’s important to me to be able to help open the door for others who may find it very daunting.
“What I would say to other women thinking about joining NAVA is: just do it. I think sometimes you have to bite the bullet and not be afraid to try things. If it's not for you, it's not for you, but if you do the NAVA qualification, it will give you more confidence. You'll also have the support of other people within the industry, which makes such a huge difference.”
Looking forward
Olivia may be a new addition to the board, but she’s already jumped into her first roundtable meeting to discuss the latest trends in the south-west region. Looking forward, she’s anticipating the benefits of future discussions within NAVA and with other key partners.
“I think it's vital for us to be as knowledgeable as possible so that we do the best possible job,” she concludes. “Setting best practice and building confidence in what we do will develop trust and mean that more buyers and sellers get to experience the benefits of a property auction.”
