Laing+Simmons Managing Director Leanne Pilkington is helping women in the real estate industry to connect, inspire and empower one another through a networking event she started which is now being held on a quarterly basis. Dubbed "Catch up with the property girls," the latest event was held earlier this month at the Tank Stream Bar in Sydney’s CBD.  

"In a traditionally male dominated industry, women do need to support one another, share ideas and remember that there are some incredibly inspirational and successful women in real estate who are more than happy to share how they got there and offer advice," said Pilkington. "Perhaps a decade or so ago, there might not have been enough women across the industry’s many tiers to make these kinds of networking events as beneficial as they are now. But with women making strong inroads in virtually every facet of real estate, including as auctioneers, it’s a very opportune time to gather and share our experiences with one another."

The initiative provides a sounding board for any issues or challenges that women may be facing in their careers and encourages a collaborative environment in which to workshop solutions or simply express ideas and gain valuable insights, said Pilkington. 

"It’s an idea that has been brewing for a number of years, and as things progress, we may look to hold similar events for women in real estate out of the CBD, so that more women have a chance to participate," she said. "Over the years I have had many conversations with women at different stages of their careers and a common perception is that there is a lack of leadership and strong women role models in real estate. This need not be the case and it’s time we set about changing this perspective."