Any person or company claiming to be a strata manager must hold a licence. If they don’t then they can’t charge for their services.
it seems, reading between the lines, that your strata has some issues. It’s unusual for a strata manager to not at least seek renewal of their contract. I suspect that your strata is more trouble than it’s worth to them.
Thats also why they gave you the lame excuse about not being qualified to be compulsorily appointed.
I have spoken to a few strata managers and they view their appointment as the kiss of death. Many owners are unhappy with their appointment and the appointment rarely turns into a long term contract.
Ascsuggested by Jimmy find an agent who is willing to take on the job and go to NCAT with your reasons why they need to be appointed. You don’t have to do this before the other contract expires as when it does expire you just become self managing. Let the committee then deal with that.