GPT : Industry gets behind Girls in Property Week

The property industry launched a new initiative this week as part of its efforts to encourage greater female participation in the sector by hosting a series of talks, workshops and tours of leading property developments with Year 10 students from four Sydney high schools.

The inaugural Girls in Property Week , a three day program hosted by the Property Council of Australia's NSW Diversity Committee in cooperation with the NSW Department of Education and supported by GPT, involved 120 female students currently considering their possible career paths.

'The initiative aims to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes around career opportunities and ultimately contribute to greater participation of women in the property industry,' said GPT Risk Director and Property Council NSW Diversity Committee member Natalie Wray.

Girls in Property Week saw the students hear the experiences of a range of female property industry leaders including the Investa Office Fund's Penny Ransom, AMP Capital Chief Operating Officer for Property Louise Mason and Lendlease's Chief Financial Officer for Property Australia Courtenay Smith.

Other speakers included the Greater Sydney Commission's Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull, the NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello, Property Council CEO Ken Morrison, entrepreneur Dr Catherine Ball, Buildcorp Principal Josephine Sukkar and Investa Property CEO Jonathan Callaghan.

The students spent the first afternoon of the Girls in Property Week in workshops with future female leaders from a range of leading property companies, including GPT.

'Girls in Property is an incredibly important program to ensure the property industry has a diverse workforce and more young women are choosing property as a career,' said the Property Council's NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald.

Property Council CEO Ken Morrison outlined the importance of the property industry to the overall economy in his talk on the first day of the event.

'It's an industry which has an impact on everything you're going to do throughout your day. It is particularly important for the every day finances of Australians,' he told the students.

Students participating in the program spent the second day touring some of recently completed developments in Sydney including Barangaroo and Wynyard Walk. On the final day, the students attended the annual Property Council Women in Property Lunch at Sydney's Westin Hotel.