An industry ‘queerleader’, Boto has partnered with QIP to deliver a bespoke signage collection to offer more inclusive space navigation for QIP events.

Many people still use the terms ‘gender’ and sex’ interchangeably, but we know that these are two separate things. Gender is an identity, a sense of who you are, and can also refer to the socially constructed categories that relate to what it means to be a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’.

Eva Krane, founder of Boto says, “With nearly 70 terms to describe gender expressions, our inclusive signage ensures no one feels left out. As wayfinding and signage specialists, we believe there has never been a better time to make a visual statement – this is why we created Boto,” says Krane.

Current signage regulations through the Building Codes discriminate against some of our community, with ‘all gender’ signage currently listed as non-compliant.

For many LGBTQIA+ people, especially those who are transgender or non-binary, using gendered facilities can cause anxiety or distress. Inclusive signage can alleviate this stress by providing clear, welcoming options.

Dayle Bennett, QIP NSW Co-Chair says, “we’re constantly seeking ways to make our events more inclusive. Though it may seem like a small change, traditional signage often reinforces a gender binary. Inclusive wayfinding and signage challenges this norm, creating spaces that acknowledge gender diversity.”

The presence of inclusive signage sends a clear message that the space is LGBTQIA+ friendly. This visible show of support can help queer individuals feel more at ease and welcome in the environment.

Adrien Moffatt, QIP NSW Co-Chair says, “inclusive signage can serve as a subtle educational tool, helping to normalise diverse gender identities and expressions. One day, we hope to see that the interim solutions that have created a sense of belonging and safety will be a part of standard practice for all public places.”

By implementing inclusive signage into your workplace or events, you can help reduce barriers to participation in events and public spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals who might otherwise feel excluded or uncomfortable.

Custom signs are available to order through Boto’s website.  The QIP signage collection will be launched soon, we’ll keep you posted.  

Article by Adrien Moffat (QIP NSW Co-Chair) and Eva Krane (Founder of Boto)

Get ready for the final hurrah of the year!

QConnect Eora/Sydney, let’s wind down spring and welcome summer together!

Join us for a fun-filled QConnect Summer Social at The Burdekin Hotel.

This is a laid-back get-together for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies in property, placemaking, design, and construction to connect, enjoy refreshing cocktails , awesome tunes and have a good time.

Bring your true self and your favourite ally. 

The Burdekin Hotel (Level 3 – Lava Lounge)
2 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Wednesday, 27 November 2024
6.00 – 9.00pm
Register here: RSVP  

Free entry & bubbles on arrival.

Say byeeeeee to your end of year responsibilities and come party with us for one last QConnect! We’re taking over Grouse again for a night of yapping and no agenda hangs with LGBTQIA+ folks and friends in property, placemaking, design and construction – ft. some social mingling activities. 

This is an open celebration so come along and bring a pal! 

 Date: Wednesday, 11th December

Time: 6pm-10pm

Location: Grouse, 171 Smith Street Fitzroy (inside and out)

What is QConnect? 
QConnect is our informal social gathering aimed at bringing LGBTQIA+ people together to make new professional connections or friends. It’s a space where we can all be our authentic ourselves and have some fun.

First Time?
If you’re joining our queer family for the first time, feel free to slide into our DMs on Instagram  or email us. We’ll make sure you feel right at home 

Entry is free with drinks available for purchase, but registration is essential.

See you there for one last slay of 2024! 

Queerleaders xox
Billy, Ben, Rossco, Paul, Leo, Kate, Steph, Marti, Jacob, Freya, Clare, Adriano, Damien, & Michael

Winterface Pride is a celebration and showcase of interior suppliers who champion and support the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ individuals and their allies are integral to the interior design sector, which has always been a space of support and empowerment, free from judgment or fanfare. 

We are hosting a party to celebrate pride month and to provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals within the interior design and property sector to meet, mingle and create a support network. So dust off your dancing shoes and come party with us as we close out pride month with a bang.

🪩 Interface has generously donated the venue, cuisine, and entertainment, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration!

DJ Amanda Louise Boyle, your resident Technogym expert, will be spinning tracks to electrify the festive atmosphere.

Earp Bros will showcase their locally made Earp Distilling Co Gin, adding a unique local flavour to the event.

Innerspace be providing luxurious feature lounge seating, ensuring everyone can relax in style.

This night is about celebrating YOU! So, bring a friend, a colleague or an ally and join us for a night of fun — all are welcome.

The Nitty Gritty:
Interface Showroom, Sydney/Gadigal Central 
101 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Thursday, 20 June 2024
6.00pm – Late

– xoxo Queers in Property | Sydney/Gadigal 
Emily Matthews, Adrien Moffatt, Dayle Bennett, Kris Balakrishnan, Andrew Mackay, Louie Cain and Mark Ojascastro

Photos by Jones King Photography.

We recently hosted “The Evolution of the Gaybourhood” – the first in our three-part series on Queering Urbanism. This panel, empowered by Tract Consultants, delved into the evolution of queer spaces and activations, from lost iconic venues to the fluid, permeating nature of today’s communities.

Key discussion points included:

• The changing face of ‘gaybourhoods’ and the nuances of creating truly safe spaces
• The presence of LGBTQIA+ culture in mainstream spaces i.e.: drag nights, doesn’t automatically ensure safety
• LGBTQIA+ as a ‘community of communities’ – addressing diverse needs and intersectionality
• The future of queer events and spaces, particularly in aged care settings

A standout topic was the groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ aged care facility in Prahran by CHT Architects, reimagining community connection for older queer individuals.

The gaybourhood evolves not just with time, but with our personal journeys – from our 20s to our golden years.

A heartfelt thank you to our panellists:

• Karen Bryant (she/her) – Chief Executive & Creative Director, Midsumma Festival
• Sam Cremean (they/them) – Urban Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist
• Wes Snelling (he/him) – Entertainment Programmer and Co-Owner of queer venue, Grouse Bar
• Josh McAlister (he/him) – Director, CHT Architects

Moderated by:

•  Justin Kliger (he/him) – Principal Urban Designer, Tract

Your diverse perspectives, from temporary activations to aged care facilities, painted a comprehensive picture of our evolving community needs at the neighbourhood scale.

Special thanks to our moderator Justin Kliger from Tract Consultants for skilfully guiding the discussion.

We look forward to continuing the conversation for our next event on Queer Housing for this vital conversation on LGBTQIA+ built form needs across all life stages, and at all scales.

Photography by Jen Godwin & Zoe Robinson.

Queer Empowered Workplaces: Spilling the Inclusivity Tea!

We’re still on a high from our Queer Empowered Workplaces event on 5 June 2024 held in Naarm/Melbourne! The evening was a heartwarming celebration of community, filled with inspiring discussions and powerful stories that uplifted and empowered us all. Thank you to our panellists and attendees for spilling the tea and sharing your experiences . 

This event focused on engaging allies and leaders to help us cultivate change. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who attended to learn how they can foster a queer-empowered workplace. By supporting us, you’re helping to build a more inclusive property and construction industry – and for that we THANK YOU! 

The tea and hot tips:

Fiona Liddell (she/her), Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Stockland

“Change takes time, it’s a marathon not a sprint. Celebrate the small wins along the way. Small symbolic pieces like lanyards or stickers might not feel big but could have a significant impact on someone.”

Hot Tips: Listen, learn, and seek feedback. Find your people and support each other. Build partnerships with the right people

Nicki Hay (she/her), Co-CEO at Core:

“Big or small, it’s about doing whatever you can to create a queer empowered workplace.”

Hot Tips: Be genuine, make it visible, embed it in your culture

Clare Acheson (she/they), Queers in Property:

“Effective queer empowerment needs to take into account the organisation’s size, culture, and values to become part of how everyone shows up at work (not just LGBTQIA+ people)”

Hot Tips: Start with the basics, partner with educators, create space for queer joy at work so your change makers don’t burn out

From our fabulous moderator, Gemma Saunders (she/her), Managing Director at Workplace Edit:

“Policies are important, but put effort into your culture. Keep listening, learning, and meeting people where they are.”

Hot Tips: Ensure executive sponsors for pride communicate regularly. Tailor strategies to different groups

Thanks to Adam Henson (he/him), Director of Development Facilitation at the Department of Transport and Planning

We also want to thank our amazing sponsors: Core, Workplace Edit, Studio White Noise, and Zesty Events for their unwavering support and belief in empowering queer voices.

Resources:

We hope you left feeling inspired and equipped with new strategies for your workplaces. To help you carry it forward, explore the resources below for further support:

• Trans Hub Resources, Policies & Templates
• Switchboard Victoria, Support
• ⁠⁠The Harvard DIB guide for calling in and calling out behaviour 
• Queering Safe Spaces – Being Brave Beyond the Binaries
• ⁠⁠Some Employee Assistance Program providers have specialist support lines for the LGBT community – try your employers EAP line to start 

For more resources, visit our Resources Page.

On the night we also handed out bingo cards with some ideas on encouraging inclusion at work. 

We are proud to announce that a donation has been made to Transgender Victoria from the proceeds of this event. Stay tuned for our next event in Naarm/Melbourne by joining our mailing list.

If you’d like to collaborate on an event or provide feedback, email us at hi@queersinproperty.com.au.

XOXO

QIP

On Wednesday, April 17th, Queers In Property (QIP) gathered at 116 Rokeby Street in Collingwood for our latest QHouse event, hosted in collaboration with Carr. This vibrant evening celebrated our community’s achievements and highlighted the innovative design outcomes of our members in the property and construction industry.

Nestled in the heart of Collingwood, 116 Rokeby isn’t just a building; it’s a ‘breathing space’ that embodies the future of commercial buildings. Developed and built by Figurehead; also housing their new headquarters; 116 Rokeby reflects a deep commitment to sustainability, cultural heritage and community inclusiveness.

The event kicked off with an introduction by Fender Katsalidis Associate and QIP committee member, Freya Robinson, alongside Carr Managing Director, Chris McCue, setting the stage for an inspiring evening. As the sun set, attendees enjoyed breathtaking views from the rooftop communal space, complete with a close-up look at the Gaetano Pesce “Foot” showcased by SPACE. Throughout the evening, lively conversations flowed, fueled by nibbles and wine.

We initially set a firm closing time, but the energy and excitement of the night had other plans.  A massive shoutout to the hero who rescued one of our guests from a bathroom lock-in – they also inadvertently extended the party!

A big shoutout to our generous sponsors:

Primary Sponsor: Carr

Supporting Partners: Figurehead, SPACE, Studio White Noise and Zesty Events

This QHouse event not only provided an exclusive first-look at 116 Rokeby but was also a platform for us to introduce our new Naarm / Melbourne committee: 

• Adriano Zarosinski  – he/him – Tract, Associate
• Freya Robinson – she/her – Fender Katsalidis, Associate
• Leo Liemesak – he/him – Planned Resources, Associate Director
• Luke Mahon – he/him – New Bridge, Project Manager
• Marti Fooks – she/her – Fooks Landscape Architecture, Director
• Stephanie Gleeson – she/her – Bloomfield Tremayne & Partners, Senior Associate Director
• Michael Boer  – he/him – Neolith, Architect & Promotor
• Kate Pannifex  – she/her – Department of Transport and Planning, Senior Planner
• Clare Acheson – she/they – Brand, Marketing & Engagement Strategist, Self-Employed
• Damien Boecasse – he/him – Zesty Events, Founder

Welcome!

Stay tuned for our next events in Gadigal/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne!

If you’d like to collaborate on an event with us, please slide into our inbox hi@queersinproperty.com.au 

xoxox

Event photography by James Braund.

When Qtopia Sydney opens, it will be the largest queer museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first centre for queer history and culture.  We are very excited to invite you to an exclusive preview with the Qtopia team, as they prepare for their grand opening.

Greg Fisher, CEO Qtopia and Ian Roberts (Qtopia board member), will be providing an information session on the museum’s exciting journey and vision, followed by a Q&A and networking drinks. 

What better date to celebrate our queer history and queer love than Valentine’s Day? Bring your nearest, dearest and queerest to this session on 14 February at 5.30pm. All are welcome.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our event sponsors, Volmac Group and Factory One, and extend our thanks to Urbis who will be hosting this session.  

We are asking for a $10 donation on each ticket, with all proceeds going directly to Qtopia Sydney, to further their commitment to protecting, educating and enriching the history of LGBTQIA+ individuals. 

For more information about Qtopia click the link to learn about Sydney’s First Queer Centre of History and Culture, click here.

When: Wednesday 14 February 2024, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Where: Urbis Sydney Office, Level 8, 123 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

Get your tickets here

On Wednesday, 22 November QIP Sydney hosted a morning of thought-provoking discussion on inclusive design in the built environment.

We heard from two of our industry’s leading experts on inclusive design, as they shared insights from their respective bodies of research:

• Rebecca Cadorin, Arup – Queering Cities in Australia
• Tracy Lord, Billard Leece Partnership – Design for Non-Binary Youth

Following the keynote speeches, Rebecca and Tracy were be joined by ArchitectsWithPride member Diana Espiritu, Woods Bagot for a brief and intimate panel discussion.

This event was brought to you in collaboration with LGBTQIA+ industry advocates BuildingPride, Queers in Property and ArchitectsWithPride, and all proceeds went to Qtopia Sydney, an organisation committed to protecting and enriching the history of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

In our first dedicated design event in partnership with MillerKnoll, we showcased inspiring queer interior design practitioners, and had them inspire you, followed by a Q&A.

This speaker series event included a 10 minute rapid fire presentation from three queer speakers, showcasing a project, product, or idea that they’ve created or been involved in,  or that has had an impact on the way they approach design.

Location: Living Edge Showroom, 650 Church Street, Richmond, VIC, 3121

Time: Thursday 7 September from 6.30pm to 9pm.

Sydney showed up for last week’s QIP x Empowerment event! This sold-out event brought together a diverse and enthusiastic audience for a discussion on the steps we are taking to build a safer, more accessible future for LGBTIQ+ individuals in the property industry.

– Adrien Moffatt (She/They) | Slattery
– Dayle Bennett (He/Him/His) | Western Sydney Airport
– Kris Balakrishnan (He/Him/His) | NSW Dept of Planning & Environment
– Nelma Arancibia (She/Her/Hers) | CSR Limited

The discussion centred around platforming queer voices, serving as a crucial starting point for fostering an inclusive culture both within and beyond the workplace. The panellists passionately addressed the significance of providing safe spaces for diverse voices to be heard, empowering individuals to bring their authentic selves to the table.

Many thanks to our event sponsor Slattery, and our event host Urbis, without which our event would not have been possible.

Stay tuned for more exciting events and initiatives from Queers in Property. Together, we can create lasting change!

Our event partners:

WHAT A TOOLBOX “TEA” THIS WAS!!

For IDAHOBIT 2023, Icon hosted and empowered a Queers in Property Speaker Series panel discussion and networking event on diversity & inclusion in construction at their beautiful and warm HQ in Richmond.

Our Friends, Allies and Queers had the opportunity to get together to help everyone build their toolkits on how to deal with difficult moments, as a queer person, an ally, or as a person responsible for creating culture onsite or in the office. Our panelists shared their very personal stories lived in the construction industry.

The panelists were:

• Amal Iharkachen (she/her)
• Senior Project Manager at Acuity & Chair Melbourne at Queers in Property
• Heath Kean (he/him) – Design Manager at Lendlease
•  Jennifer Long (she/her) – Operations Manager at REVERT GROUP
•  Steven Cavar (he/him) – Contract Administrator at Minicon Construction (Aust) Pty Ltd
•  Victoria Dixon (she/her) – Policy & Programs Advisor at The Commission for Gender Equality

The conversation was facilitated by our very own Queerleader Rossco Karabelasfrom Studio White Noise.

Photography by Ned Meldrum.

About QIPs:
Queers in Property (QIP) is an independent network connecting LGBTIQ+ people in property and construction for visibility, empowerment and professional support.

Bring an ally and share some laughs over a few drinks during a night of networking in Sydney’s iconic No. 1 Martin Place Mezzanine.

This event is proudly sponsored by:

Primary Sponsor – Urbis

Partner Sponsors – CoreLogic & Brix Distillers

RSVP by 21st October

Location : Mezzanine Level, No. 1 Martin Place, 1 Martin Place , Sydney, NSW 2000
Date : 26 October 2022
Time : 7:00pm -11pm on

Acknowledgement of Country:
We would like to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the First Australians and the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation as Traditional Custodians of the lands where we are holding this event this evening. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and extend our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land. ​

Accessibility:
Wheelchair accessible venue

Transport Options:
Train to Martin Place or Wynyard, Light Rail options to George Street, otherwise Uber or taxi.

About QIP:
Queers in Property (QIP) is an independent network connecting LGBTIQ+ people in property and construction for visibility, empowerment and professional support.

*Queerleader:
A person who is a champion of change within the property industry.

CALLING ALL OUR LGBTQIA+ FRIENDS IN CONSTRUCTION

We are excited to invite you to a special discussion panel and networking drinks, focusing on the construction space, proudly brought to you by Cobild & JV Recruitment.

Studies show that 70% feel they cannot be open about their sexuality on the work site, and we want to talk about it!

Our awesome panel will be moderated by QIPs Board Member and Manager of Construction & Property at JV Recruitment, Mitchell Barker and will feature guest speakers who will be sharing their experiences and stories with you

Our guest speakers:

• Sam Neave, Project Coordinator, COBILD
• Brian McAdam, Operations Manager, Hansen Yuncken
• Amal Iharkachen, Project Manager, SHAPE
• Tony Miller, Group Commercial Systems & Cost Control Manager, ICON

This is a Free Event

Where: Cobild Offices and Rooftop: 9-11 Cremorne St Cremorne, VIC 3121 (2 mins from Richmond station)

When: Tuesday 11-October 2022 (WORLD COMING OUT DAY!)

Further drinks and networking will be held at Fred’s bar downstairs.

Acknowledgement of Country: We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and their Elders past and present on where this event is being held today.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible venue

Transport Options: Train to Richmond Station, Tram 70 to stop Lennox St/Swan St

Amal Iharkachen joins the QIP Board

Queers in Property are thrilled to announce the appointment of Amal Iharkachen to our board. We are honoured and humbled to have such an amazing individual dedicate their time and effort to assist in the support of all LGBTQ+ individuals in the property and construction industry.

We sat down and got to know Amal better.

Q: Why did you choose to work within the property industry?

From a young age I had a creative mind, and my parents helped me materialise that dream by pointing me towards plastics art and interior design during high school which led to me undertake a Masters of Architecture. From that point I travelled the world to kick start my career.

Q: What is the change that you’d like to see in the property and construction industry?

I’d love to see more support provided to queer persons in the construction industry. I find that LGBT people are worried to speak up about their sexuality on construction sites due to fear of judgment, being bullied or rejection.

Q: How do you feel being a LGBTIQ+ person in the property industry?

Usually, I feel good about it. I do get uncomfortable at times around men who make inappropriate comments in respect to two women being in a relationship. I’ve reached a stage of my life where I no longer feel that my identity needs to be accepted in my workplace. We are all equal. Full stop. I don’t go above and beyond to be accepted anymore. 

Q: Why do you think there is lower LGBTIQ+ representation within property and construction, than other industries?

To work in the construction industry you aren’t required to complete tertiary education. You can start off your career as a carpenter and be a General Manager in a firm with 200 employees just 10 years later. The construction industry is full of small privately owned businesses, without management structures including a HR team. All of these factors don’t support active LGBTIQ+ inclusion in my view. 

Q: What advice would you provide to queers looking to enter the property industry?

Don’t worry, you have more allies than you think. Keep your chin up. Be yourself and remember that the lion does not lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.

Q: How would you improve engagement and increase representation of the LGBTIQ+ community in the industry?

Through education and loud and visible awareness campaigns. I feel that by queer people sharing their stories helps to connect with the human side of everyone.

I am also hoping to encourage Developers to put strict requirements for builders who want to participate in their tenders around providing evidence of diversity and inclusion programs and policies.

Q: If you feel comfortable, please share a story of your experience about coming out at work

I hid my sexuality at work for over 10 years as it was illegal where I’ve lived. Since I’ve moved to Australia six years ago, I just thought that it was enough. I was tired of lying and not being myself. I think what sums up my coming out experience is how I have to continually correct the gender of my partner. I regularly am asked what my husband does, or “woah! you’re back at work so soon after having a baby”.

Email us at hi@queersinproperty.com.au if you’d like to get in touch with Amal. 

Welcome to our next QHouse event, this time at Industry Lanes, Salta Properties’  newest commercial development in Richmond.

Industry Lanes is developed by Salta Properties and designed by Architectus. Consisting of three buildings totalling 18,000sqm of commercial office space, a coworking space by Hub Australia, a 1,500sqm ground floor retail tenacny and 950sqm of childcare space.

The tour will be followed by networking drinks, so come along and catch up with your queer colleagues and industry allies.

QHouse is the Queers in Property series that provides private guided tours of the latest property developments in Naarm/Melbourne where the developers, architects, where the team who conceived them will show you through.

Where: 
Hub Australia
Level 4, 459 Church Street
Richmond, VIC, 3121

When:
Tuesday 9 August
6pm – 8pm

Acknowledgement of Country:
We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and their Elders past and present on where this event is being held today.

Accessibility:
Wheelchair accessible venue

Transport Options:
Train to East Richmond Station, Tram 78 to stop East Richmond Railway Station/Church St #56, otherwise Uber or limited parking on Church and Brighton Streets available

To mark pride month, Queers in Property recently partnered with Colliers and Building Pride for a panel discussion to the Colliers workforce on the importance of visibility and support for queer people in the workplace.

Discussing topics such as the impact to business of an inclusive culture, sharing your sexuality or gender identity at work and its implications, and how organisations can support pride month and LGBTQI+ employees all year round.

The panel was hosted by Lachlan Thomson with contributors Amal Iharkachen and Rossco Karabelas from QIP and Christopher Schiavello and Seton-Walsh Rose from Building Pride.

Thanks to Colliers and the panel members for sharing your personal journeys and insights. Your visibility is so important!

Earlier this month we launched Queers in Property in Sydney! After a false start last year and a few hundred lockdowns we finally got to Sydney. Lead by our NSW Board member Marcus Skeggs (He/Him) this coming out soft launch was a chance for us to introduce Queers in Property and all that we have to offer as a small group of Queer people working in the property industry!

We had such a fantastic night with lots of deep conversations about challenges in the industry and the change we would like to see. It was amazing to have two of our founders Benjamin Rowe (he/him) and Meg Patten from Melbourne attend.

What’s next? Our big one! THE coming out!! So please stay tuned and make sure you have registered on the website because it will be big and fabulous! You’ve been warned… don’t want to miss this!

Thank you to the new Queerleaders who attended our soft coming and thank you for being brave to share your story!

Honey, we got you!

Thanks to The Commons, Studio White Noise and DisplaySweet for their sponsorship of this event! Your ongoing support means everything.

Naarm/Melbourne folk we have pleasure in presenting our next event in the QHouse series, where we give you a private tour that looks behind the scenes at the latest property projects. This is your chance to visit developments, and be taken through it by the architects, interiors designers, and developers who conceived them.

For our second QHouse we welcome you to join us at Como Terraces, South Yarra. Como Terraces is a collection of 39 exceptional residences rising elegantly above the Yarra River, capturing stunning views across to Melbourne’s skyline.

Join us for an exclusive tour and evening of networking in South Yarra, with views to the CBD to showcase the work of our Queerleaders;

• Simon Hicks, Development Manager, Sterling Global
• Chris McCue, Managing Director, CARR

When: Tuesday 7 December, 2021, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: Como Terraces Display Suite

61 Kensington Road, South Yarra

Google Maps Link

(no access from Alexandra Ave or parking onsite)

Public transport preferred – catch tram 58 from the City, get off at the Hawksburn Road stop, and walk up Kensington Road, otherwise Uber or limited parking on Kensington Road

Register here

Our end of lockdown queer mixer was rescheduled to Thursday the 25th of November. We came to bring queer cheer back into your life! It was a casual, informal networking event for any LGBTIQ+ folks in Property & Construction hosted at The Commons, South Yarra.

Our Queerleaders were ready to welcome everyone to The Commons’ newest space in South Yarra – complete with a conversation pit, maker space, podcast studio and more.

We were so excited to see everyone’s faces again.

What: End of Lockdown: Queer Mixer Take 2

What: LGBTQIA+ folk in Property & Construction and their allies

Where:
The Commons South Yarra
11 Wilson St,
South Yarra VIC 3141

When:Thursday 25th November
5:30pm – 8:30pm

Two of our amazing Queerleaders were recently featured in an article on Urban discussing the importance of queer visibility.

It’s not every day you see the following words grouped together; migrant, lesbian, construction – empowered. Meet Nelma; Senior Project Manager, CSR Limited. An assertive and confident woman, taking perceived gender  ‘norms’ and insisting on being visible within a male dominated industry. We caught up with Nelma as part of our QIPs spotlight series to discuss her obsession with construction as a child, her secrets to confidence, and what barriers she overcame as a queer person within construction.

Q: Why did you choose to work within the property industry?

Like many I ended up here by chance, taking the right opportunity at the right time led me to property, but primarily my obsession with construction as a child, I guess blindly led me to where I am now 

Q: What is the change that you’d like to see in the property and construction industry?

Diversity in different executive levels, diversity can lead to change 

Q: How do you feel being a LGBTIQ+ person in the property industry?

I have always been proud but in the last 4-5 years I have seen the shift towards acceptance and have felt more comfortable ‘normalising’ my personal life at work, and I have worked with some major players that have LGBTIQ+ support networks and have been supportive such as Charter Hall and CBRE, so seeing that shift has been amazing.

Q: Have you had to overcome barriers or challenges in property? Generally or as a queer person

My barrier has primarily come from being a woman in the industry and trying to break through the ‘glass ceiling’ primarily working in the Industrial property sector. As a migrant woman it has been challenging, where the majority of people I have dealt with are men, and having to deal with some misogynist behaviour has been challenging, not difficult but challenging.

Q: Why do you think there is lower LGBTIQ+ representation within property and construction, than other industries?

The key is ‘representation’, as I believe there is plenty of LGBTIQ+ people working in the Industry but from my experience we didn’t want to be singled out because of who we are but rather let our skills speak for themselves, therefore we have tried to remain silent in an industry that voices strong traditions of ‘white macho man’ and some of us have being part of ‘the jokes’ and ‘light banter’ so it’s easier not to stand out which leads to the us not having major representation, but from what I see now things are changing.   

Q: What advice would you provide to queers looking to enter the property industry?

Be confident and be assertive in your values, and never be afraid to stamp out bad behaviour and know that support is all around you. 

Q: How would you improve engagement and increase representation of the LGBTIQ+ community in the industry?

You have to lead by example, I come from organisations that support the LGBTIQ+ community loudly and that has provided me with encouragement to continue that loud support, so I hope by creating and being part of a supportive network within my own organisation can lead to further change.

Q: If you feel comfortable, please share a story of your experience about coming out at work 

As many of us coming out at work means coming out to everyone ALL the time,  every time you start a new job, you have a new colleague and you have to come out again and again. I had horrible stories about telling someone that I was gay and they instantly making that connection to a sexual story and thinking that our identity is very much connected to sex, which for me is insulting as its much more than that, so when I started my latest job I decided to tell ‘normal’ stories about my life that gave them insight into my orientation, i.e. I would say ‘oh yeah my partner and I went to that restaurant because SHE likes that place, SHE and I went on this holiday’, I don’t feel the need to come out anymore.

A big thank you to everyone who attended our first live and in person event last week: QHOUSE x Seafarers. The night wouldn’t have been so special without you, we are always so inspired by everyone’s stories and the authentic environment we create together.

Stay tuned for the next QHOUSE, our new networking series where we showcase the latest projects, ideas and people within the property and construction industry hosted by our members. If you’re interested in hosting an event please get in touch hi@queersinproperty.com.au

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Kicking off the series is an exclusive viewing of the Seafarers Residences display, located along the Yarra River in Melbourne prior to public opening.

A project by Riverlee in collaboration with CARR (Interiors), Fender Katsalidis (Architect), One Design Office (Hotel Interiors) & Oculus (Landscape Architect), Seafarers is a visionary new waterfront precinct which will be home to the city’s first international hotel-branded residences, above Australia’s first 1 Hotel, the world’s leading sustainable luxury hotel.

Join us for a presentation to showcase the work of our Queerleaders followed by networking and drinks.

OUR QUEERLEADERS;

• Chris McCue, Managing Director, CARR
• Alexander Bibbo, Architect, FK
• Meg Patten, Marketing Manager, Riverlee

What: QHouse – Seafarers

Where: 731 Flinders Street Docklands
Access via Siddeley Street
or Seafarers Bridge

When: Tuesday 16 March 2021, 6pm – 8pm