For the second successive year land lease community, rental village and tourism park operator Ingenia Communities has ranked second in the 2021 Chief Executive Women (CEW) Senior Executive Census.
The census, which tracks gender balance and female representation of Australia's largest publicly listed companies, also ranked Ingenia the highest ranked Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
“Women compromise more than one-third of our Company Board and two-thirds of our executive leadership team,” said Ingenia CEO Simon Owen. “Our experience is that it is in every company’s best interest to ensure diversity both in representation and in ideas and thinking – it can have a significant impact on your ability to innovate and grow, and ultimately your bottom line.”
The push to acquire and nurture female talent in Ingenia comes from a top-down approach led by Chairman Jim Hazel, who for many years has mentored prospective female directors through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Ingenia Chief Investment Officer and General Counsel, Natalie Kwok (pictured), is one executive who was developed through internal channels.
"The company has always taken a merit and capability-based approach. I am really grateful for the fact that I was not pigeonholed in one field – with Ingenia if you are good at your role, you get opportunities to grow and succeed,” she said.
