Celebrating IWD 2025 with COX Women Connect

The women of COX’s Melbourne studio gathered on Thursday 20 March for a special International Women’s Day Q&A to learn more from Amanda Barker (Associate Director), Jayshree Magan (Associate) and Karen Clutson (Director).  

Sharing their experiences leading teams in a male-dominated industry, each had different tales to tell, yet were connected by common themes and shared challenges – with fantastic insights that others can now put into everyday practice.  

Karen, based in our Canberra studio, shared her experiences leading national project teams as well as her recent position as Chair of the COX Board of Management. Amanda and Jayshree, both members of Melbourne’s studio management team, spoke about their respective projects and provided examples of career-defining moments.  

Key takeaways included: 

• The need to speak up and advocate for yourself – never become complacent. 

• As you grow in your career, bring other women along with you (some of their proudest achievements were celebrating the wins of others). 

• There are different models of mentorship to explore, from female peers and colleagues to men in leadership positions, and networks that stretch across the wider property industry.  

A big thank you to Amanda, Jayshree and Karen. We look forward to our next COX Women Connect event later this year.  

COX Women Connect is a Melbourne studio initiative designed to encourage open conversations, foster relationships and celebrate the team. Bringing together 1:1 and group mentoring, external speakers, social events and leadership learnings, the initiative is led by Amelia Cooper and Marta Parra Vázquez along with events organisation by Candice Schell.  

For more info on gender equity in the profession, see the Parlour Guides to Equitable Practice.