Spotlight on a young city shaper
“It’s possible to be female and not only succeed in our industry – but have fun doing it,” says winner of the 2018 du Chateau Chun Award for Future Leader of the Year, Rebecca Fitzgerald.
From cadet accountant to sustainability consultant to senior mechanical engineer, Fitzgerald has made some bold career moves – and they are already paying off.
After finishing a two-year accounting cadetship with KPMG, Fitzgerald was faced with her first big career decision: to continue on the path she’d chosen as an accountant or to choose a different trajectory.
“I learnt a lot at KPMG – and one of those things was that I wanted to contribute more to how cities are shaped,” she says.
So, Fitzgerald made the brave decision to return to study, this time in engineering. A degree, then a job as a sustainability consultant with WSP followed.
But after three years of working as a sustainability specialist on many signature projects, including Barangaroo Headland Park, 115 Bathurst Street and the Brewery at Central Park, Fitzgerald decided to make another switch – this time to mechanical engineering.
“I wanted to watch a project unfold from beginning to end,” she explains.
“That meant getting involved at the design stage, so I could influence the ideas that went into a building. The things I draw on paper help shape how people use spaces.”
Fitzgerald, who currently sits on the Property Council’s NSW Asset Management and Sustainable Development committee, has influenced several key projects, including the Sydney International Airport T1 upgrades, EY’s fitout at 200 George Street in Sydney, the review of The GPT Group’s portfolio of assets, and most recently the DUO base building at Central Park.
DUO has given Fitzgerald whole-of-life project experience from the design of building services systems through to construction within a short period of time – and it’s also been a rewarding project on which to work, she says.
“It is the last milestone on a really exciting and sustainable precinct – one that has been under design and construction for the whole of my engineering career.”
While gender balance is still an evolving concept in the property industry, Fitzgerald believes that change has occurred, driven in no small measure by the work of the Property Council and other industry organisations.
“Being a female engineer is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and bring a unique perspective and different kind of energy.”
Fitzgerald, who is passionate about mentoring, wants to see her team grow – and for more women to get excited about shaping our cities’ skylines.
“I’ve spent the last six months focusing on being involved in university career events to encourage more young women to consider engineering, and next week I am going back to my high school to present at a careers night. This is where it all starts,” she says.
What’s her advice to young people looking at a career in the property industry?
“There are so many careers to consider – careers where you can make a difference to our cities. Buildings last for a long time. It’s amazing to think our work today will shape the lives of our children, or even our grandchildren.”
Rebecca Fitzgerald was recognised at the national Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards in Sydney last Friday evening. Read more about the winners.