Kathy Mac Dermott

Kathy Mac Dermott is the Chief Operating Officer of the Property Council of Australia, the leading advocate for Australia's property industry. Over 2,200 organisations are members of the Property Council across the country, comprising the nation's major investors, property owners and developers, as well as the industry's professional service and trade providers. Kathy joined the organisation in 2010 as Executive Director, Queensland Division, and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2014. Kathy has over 11 years' experience as a property journalist for the Australian Financial Review, including seven as Queensland Bureau Chief. She has also worked extensively in corporate advisory roles, specialising in property, in Australia and London for more than two decades. Kathy holds a Bachelor's degree in Business from Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In addition, Kathy leads the Property Council's diversity initiatives; this includes being program director of the Property Male Champions of Change (PMCC) established at the end of 2014, leading the 500 Women in Property sponsorship initiative that is run across the country, and the 40:40:20 campaign to successfully increase the number of women in the Council's committee roles, speaking engagements and audiences.