Capturing the talents of the industry s women of influence

Capturing the talents of the industry’s women of influenceWith only a quarter of all management positions in Australia’s property industry taken up by women, diversity and inclusion must be a priority, says Mirvac CEO and managing director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz.Named one of the Australian Financial Review and Westpac ‘100 Women of Influence’ in 2014, Lloyd-Hurwitz has been at the helm of Mirvac since 2012, and previously served as managing director at LaSalle Investment Management.”With research proving that diversity and inclusion lead to better business outcomes, including better financial returns, brand perception and staff engagement, a diverse work force is no longer just something to talk about – we must all do what we can to make it a reality,” Lloyd-Hurwitz says.The next big deal is on, an EY report commissioned by the Property Council in 2014, has found that gender diversity is not properly understood by the industry as a driver of productivity and profitability, despite a well-established business case.More than 15 years of global research found that companies with gender diverse boards and leadership teams outperform their competitors. Despite this, Lloyd-Hurwitz points out that only 25 percent of all management positions in the Australian property industry are taken up by women.”It is important that we make diversity and inclusion a priority,” she says.The Property Council has established the Property Male Champions of Change (PMCC) to expand the number of women in leadership roles. The group comprises 21 CEOs from across the property sector, and is convened by business leader and former national president, Carol Schwartz AM. The Property Council is encouraging women across the industry to nominate for the 2015 100 Women of Influence awards, which aims to increase the visibility of women’s leadership in Australia.Nominations are open at 100womenofinfluence.com.au for entries across 10 categories until Sunday 9 August.