Developer Coronation Property’s Build to Rent platform Nation is being led by an all-female executive team as the sector in Australia moves further into an operational phase defined by performance and long-term asset management.
While discussions around representation continue across property and construction, the Build to Rent sector places greater emphasis on operational capability as schemes transition from development into stabilised, income-producing communities. At Nation, that responsibility sits with a leadership team comprising Charlotte Dillon as General Manager, Beatrix Kiss as Head of Operations, Sally Picot as Head of Leasing and Nicole Kallin as Head of Marketing.
It has been recognised that this structure is relatively uncommon within the Australian property sector, where leadership teams are typically more mixed. In this case, the composition reflects the core disciplines that underpin Build to Rent performance, including operations, leasing, resident experience and brand management across long-term rental portfolios.
Collectively, the team brings experience across portfolio mobilisation, leasing strategy, revenue management and governance, with oversight of thousands of residential units across Australia, the UK and the US. That experience is reflected in the performance of the platform’s developments.
“In Build to Rent you’re not just operating buildings, you’re operating people’s homes. Women often bring a strong instinct for how people live in spaces, thinking about safety, community and everyday functionality.
“When that perspective is combined with deep operational experience, it creates a platform that is both disciplined and human centred.”
Beatrix Kiss, Head of Operations, Nation
Nation Parramatta City and Nation Merrylands both reached 50% lease-up prior to opening and have maintained full occupancy following stabilisation. Renewal rates across the portfolio remain strong, while maintenance response times are measured in hours rather than days. Engagement with the platform’s resident app exceeds 90% on a weekly basis, indicating consistent interaction between residents and the operating system.
At Nation, leasing strategy informs operational planning, while brand positioning supports retention. Technology underpins the platform, with data from resident interactions feeding into a live system used to track performance, manage service delivery and anticipate operational requirements. Governance frameworks are applied across all assets, allowing the portfolio to operate as a coordinated platform rather than individual schemes.
“Build to Rent is a multi-decade responsibility. You’re accountable for how people live and how assets perform over time. That requires experience, operational clarity and leadership that understands the human side of housing.”
Joe Nahas, Founder and Managing Director, Coronation
Data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows that women account for more than half of the workforce in Australia’s real estate and property services sectors, particularly in customer-facing roles such as leasing and property management. These areas align closely with the operational focus of Build to Rent.
At the recent Build to Rent Success Summit, Trina Jones highlighted the importance of build quality and on-site management in supporting stable rental outcomes and resident experience. These factors are reflected in Nation’s approach to operating its assets.
The structure of the leadership team also reflects broader changes in the housing market, as renting becomes a longer-term option for more households. This shift is increasing expectations around service, community management and consistency of delivery across Build to Rent assets. Within Coronation more broadly, women hold 44% of senior leadership roles, indicating a wider focus on capability and long-term talent development across the business.
Charlotte stated that the significance of the leadership structure lies in the responsibility associated with operating large-scale residential communities.
“We are operating communities at scale. The decisions we make influence how people live every day. That responsibility shapes the kind of leadership we wanted around the platform, experience, operational discipline and a strong understanding of community dynamics.”
Charlotte Dillon, General Manager, Nation
As the Build to Rent sector in Australia continues to mature, the focus is shifting away from pipeline scale towards operational consistency. Nation’s approach suggests that integrated leadership and delivery capability will play a central role in defining long-term performance across the sector.