500 Women in Property is an “unparalleled network builder” and a “crash course in property’s big issues” says one of last year’s participants as the Property Council calls for final nominations.
As the Green Building Council of Australia’s head of industry development and partnerships, Lucy Harris (pictured right) is responsible for building the property industry’s depth of knowledge of sustainability 
Harris boasts two decades’ experience launching and managing global events, but property was a new industry to her when she took on her role at the GBCA in 2018.
Paired up with the Property Council’s chief executive Ken Morrison, Harris says 500 Women in Property “gave me an opportunity to understand the industry and how it works, and to start meeting people and building my networks.”
“I got to meet so many people across property and to understand the different components and complexities within the industry,” Harris explains.
500 Women in Property, sponsored by The GPT Group, harnesses people power to grow the industry’s talent pipeline.
Now in its fourth year, 500 Women in Property encourages established leaders – women and men – to identify and sponsor emerging female talent in their organisations or business spheres. The program expanded from 100 Women in Property just four years ago and is now capped at 500 women and 500 sponsors.
Program participants can expect to take part in a range of networking events, work with their sponsor on profiling and career building opportunities, and to observe a Property Council committee meeting to gain new insights and connections.
While Harris says the networking element of the program was “absolute gold”, being sponsored by Morrison, a board member of the GBCA, provided an “amazing opportunity to bounce ideas off someone with deep industry knowledge”.
Morrison says he got as much from the experience as Harris. “It was a pleasure to help a talented person to deepen her contact base,” he says.
“The big benefit of 500 Women in Property is that it’s very easy to be a sponsor,” Morrison adds.
“We aren’t asking for an indefinite commitment, ongoing mentoring or problem solving. It is a clearly-defined program that asks sponsors to promote a person at scheduled forums, committee meetings and networking events, and to have a couple of coffees.
“I’d encourage others, male and female, to step up as a sponsor and support this great program.”
After working across many industries during her 20-year career, Harris says she was “overwhelmed and impressed” by the career support on offer for women in the property industry and urges other women to sign up for the program in 2019.
“500 Women in Property was an unparalleled network builder and a crash course in property’s big issues,” Harris concludes.
Nominate as a participant or a sponsor through the Property Council’s 500 Women in Property website until this Friday 15 February 2019. The 2019 participants will be revealed on International Women’s Day, 8 March.