Meet The Team
Lachlan O'Connell - Director
Starting his investment journey as a 19-year-old, Lachie has always had a keen interest in property. Lachie has spent over 12 years in the construction industry as a carpenter and has moved into the buyer’s agent space.
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After successfully investing in several of his own properties over the years, Lachie felt a real passion and drive to be able to help everyday Australians achieve their goals in the property market.
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He has a wealth of knowledge on how to value add to properties through the means of extending, renovating and other cosmetic improvements.
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He prides himself on being extremely honest with all of his clients. If a client loves a property and he has found issues with it, Lachie will advise them not to proceed.
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Operating Australia wide, Lachie specializes in the inner ring of Melbourne, the Geelong region and primarily the Ballarat region where he grew up and has an extensive network in the real estate and wider community.
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LIC: 18402655
Cert 3 Carpentry.
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Phone: 0428 208 180
Email: lachlan@oconnellba.com.au
Mitch Phelps - Buyers Advocate
Beginning his personal investing journey during high school through equity investments, Mitch has always had an interest in long term investment strategies that he believes are essential for everyone in creating a better future for themselves and their loved ones. He is passionate about imparting his personal experience and assisting people in achieving their financial and lifestyle goals through real estate investment
Having owned property where he grew up in central Ballarat, to owning in his home town of Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula, he has seen first hand the benefits of long term real estate investment
Mitch is an avid golfer, footballer and lover of travel and outdoors. You can tell just by talking to him how enthusiastic he is about the area in which he resides, and the opportunities that not only his local area, but Australia wide possesses for wealth creation through real estate
He joins us having successfully and continuing to run a small sole trading electrical business out of the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, where he has created a wide network of connections and gained some vital experience in the building and construction industry, which ably assists him in his understanding of what a good real estate investment looks like
He looks forward to assisting you achieve your financial and life style goals
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Phone: 0498 139 573
Email: mitch@oconnellba.com.au
Faz Syed - Buyers Advocate
Faz joins OBA bringing with him over 15 years of extensive sales experience. With a humble and grounded approach, he dedicates himself fully to understanding his clients' needs and consistently delivers on his commitments. Faz is renowned for his exceptional negotiating skills, having saved his clients thousands of dollars through his adept handling of sales transactions.
He excels at forging strong relationships and always puts his clients’ interests first, ensuring that their requirements are met with the utmost dedication and professionalism. His ability to connect with clients and understand their vision makes him a trusted advisor in the sales process.
Faz operates across Australia specialising in Melbourne West, bringing his seasoned expertise to each negotiation and client interaction. Whether dealing with complex deals or straightforward transactions, he ensures optimal results that exceed client expectations.
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Phone: 0494 070 684
Email: faz@oconnellba.com.au
Ben Threlfall - Buyers Advocate
Ben is driven by a strong passion for educating and guiding people as they enter the property market and work toward building long-term property portfolios. He places a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making when assessing opportunities, alongside building trusted relationships across the property industry to deliver informed, confident outcomes for his clients.
With over 10 years’ experience across marketing and the residential property development sector prior to becoming a buyer’s agent, Ben brings a strategic and commercially grounded perspective to every purchase. His years working within development have given him a deep understanding of what makes a strong property investment, from site selection and location fundamentals through to long-term growth drivers. He has personally invested in Armstrong Creek and Herne Hill in Geelong, reinforcing his strong knowledge of the local market.
Ben’s core area of specialisation is the Geelong market, where his local knowledge and on-the-ground expertise are strongest. In addition, he has a broad understanding of Victoria’s key regional hubs and Metro Melbourne, allowing him to tailor strategies for clients based on their individual circumstances, goals, and budget.
Ben takes a personable, client-first approach, focusing on building strong relationships to ensure a seamless purchasing journey.
He is available to assist both owner-occupiers and investors seeking clear, data-backed guidance and end-to-end support throughout the property purchasing journey.
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Phone: 0425 403 711
Email: ben@oconnellba.com.au
Andrew Donnellon - Buyers Advocate
Andrew is dedicated to assisting clients in purchasing their properties and turning their dreams into reality.
Whether you are buying your first home or an investment property, he approaches each client's journey with a fresh perspective, guiding them toward achieving their goals.
Currently, Andrew is in his final year at Deakin University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting.
Phone: 0455 331 106