There is no doubt that 2020 has delivered the most difficult year for shopping centre professionals across the country. The highly skilled workforce of our industry has been put under immense pressure and as an industry collectively each and every person has been working with their partners, retailers and stakeholders to keep going despite major restrictions and an ever changing environment.
However, as a result of these challenges, we have seen innovation, response to change and an industry built on even stronger skills as we emerge from this year. Today, we are pleased to announce that nominations for the Frank Lowy Fellowship are now open and we at Shopping Centre News are excited to see who will be nominated this year…
Now in its fourth year, the Fellowship – an industry initiative of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA), which is proudly supported by Scentre Group – was established in recognition of the contribution made by Sir Frank Lowy AC to the Australian shopping centre industry.
Sir Frank Lowy AC said he was very humbled when the Frank Lowy Fellowship was announced and is delighted it has become an important industry initiative run annually by the SCCA.
“While the Fellowship bears my name, it is all about the industry’s talented people, and rewarding and recognising them and fostering the next generation of leaders, collaborators and innovative thinkers.
“Over more than five decades, the shopping centre industry provided me with many challenges, innovations and opportunities.” said Lowy.
In 2019, the SCCA received 16 high-calibre nominations
The Frank Lowy Fellowship is awarded each year to a talented person working in the Australian shopping centre industry who has demonstrated both distinction in their professional field and a commitment to shopping centre industry excellence.
This initiative is intended to foster and celebrate the next generation leaders, collaborators and innovative thinkers that will ensure Australia’s shopping centre industry continues to be a world leader.
In preparing their applications, nominees will be asked to ensure that they have the support of an appropriate senior executive from within their business. This works to ensure that applications continue to be of a high quality and that the use of the Fellowship, which may include travel, is supported. Nominations must be lodged by 5pm Wednesday 30 September.
The Fellowship recipient will receive a cash contribution up to $20,000 toward a professional development pursuit or industry event of choice.
The Fellowship will be judged by a panel including SCCA Chairman, Peter Allen, CEO, Scentre Group and other senior representatives from SCCA members. Last year’s judging panel included Susan MacDonald, Mirvac; Andrew Byars, Perron Group; Michael O’Brien, QICGRE and Anthony Mellowes, SCA Property.
Frank Lowy Fellowship – past winners:
Last year, the SCCA received 16 high-calibre nominations across a broad range of skills and roles relevant to the success of our industry, including research, leasing, marketing, operations, and development.
2019 Fellowship recipient, Dennis Michael, Investment Manager, QICGRE, is planning on using the Fellowship to attend ‘Competing in the Age of Digital Platforms’ at Harvard Business School in early 2021.
2019 Winner Dennis Michael with Erin Donnellon, ISPT and Nicholas Irvine, Vicinity Centres
Dennis Michael was awarded with the Fellowship at a private ceremony along with the 2019 highly-commended recipients; Erin Donnellon, Manager, Digital Delivery, ISPT and Nicholas Irvine, General Manager – Operations, Vicinity Centres.
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- 2017 Fellowship recipient Sidone Thomas, The GPT Group
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- 2018 Fellowship recipient Genevieve Elliott, Vicinity Centres
Nominees must respond in writing to the following five questions regarding their activities in the previous 12 months:
- How have you demonstrated excellence in your field? Briefly describe your achievements.
- How have you adapted to the changing retail landscape? Briefly describe your successes and learnings.
- How have you applied technology/other innovation to deliver better outcomes for your business and customers?
- What do you think will be the next phase of change in the Australian shopping centre industry? Briefly describe how the industry should prepare.
- If you are the successful nominee, what professional development pursuit or industry event would you pursue, and why?
Nominations must be uploaded as one PDF document via the nomination portal at www.scca.org.au/FrankLowyFellowship
