An atypical education
Georgia joined us in June 2019 as our interior design coordinator after I came across her profile on LinkedIn. I was drawn to Georgia because of her study experience; her unique mix of degrees – a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from UNSW and a Master of Property and Development majoring in Development and Investment Specialisation – made her an ideal fit. Given our work across both design and development, Georgia boasted the right combination of education and skills to help propel our construction and renovation projects. And as with the rest of our team, we were equally impressed with her enthusiasm and dedication to her field.
“I have always been a creative person,” she says. “My strong passion for design has mainly stemmed from having a fascination with the human experience and human behaviour. I found it incredible how design can manipulate and enhance certain human experiences, and I wanted to play a role in creating those experiences.”
During her first degree (“I wanted to learn how to design buildings from the inside out, as I felt like there was a stronger focus on the small structural and technical details of a building and its functionality at a more human level,” she says), Georgia discovered a second passion for property development and investment, which fuelled her decision to pursue a master’s. While something of a departure from conventional design, there’s a lot of overlap between the two fields that have proven hugely beneficial.
“There are a lot of parallels between design, development and investment, which I have been able to put into practice in my everyday job,” she says. “My two degrees gave me a high-level overview of the entire design and development process, which has been super helpful!”
The leap from coordinator to managing projects
When she first came on board with Milk Chocolate, Georgia’s role was to coordinate our design and renovation projects. Fast-forward 18 or so months, and she’s just moved into a position as a project manager. Now, Georgia works with each of our verticals, particularly purchasing and construction, to help steer our projects from start to finish.
The process is nothing if not involved; after we purchase a property, Georgia and the team are quick to get going on realising its potential. She, led by our National Head of Construction, Kieran Moore, work together to identify where they can add value to a property (such as through cosmetic or structural renovation, sub-division or a granny flat, for example), tapping into the expertise of our economists to ensure that their suggestions are feasible and worthwhile, particularly when it comes to investment briefs. Georgia then oversees everything from budgets, timelines and design through to suppliers, trades and construction: “We do all the nitty-gritty work, ensuring that the process is stress-free for our clients!”
The Milk Chocolate difference
Georgia believes this end-to-end management process is what sets our projects apart. Because each brief involves multiple members of our team, we have a greater breadth and depth of knowledge when it comes to managing a project.
“A lot of our renovation briefs have come directly from our purchases, meaning we have a strong knowledge of the property, its opportunities and its constraints before even laying pen to paper on the design,” says Georgia. “We have the ability to suggest a design that is site-specific and adds the most value. It's so great to have experience and knowledge in design and architecture, as it makes everything a lot more efficient and gives me confidence that we are putting forward the best possible design solution to our clients.”
Looking forward, Georgia is excited to see how the constructional vertical will shift with the introduction of some of our tech tools: “I think it will streamline a lot of our processes and create a more engaging experience for our clients,” she says. “I think the technology we’re developing will definitely set us apart from the rest – even further than we currently are.”
We’re in the process of hiring an experienced new business development manager, head of marketing, snr property research analyst and a property and settlements manager. If you’d like to learn more about the roles we have available, please contact Michael at mc@milkchoc.com.au.
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