Meet the 40 Under 40 winners pioneering the property game
This crew of 40 Under 40 alumni are responsible for shaping our cities in the fields of construction, architecture and real estate.
Monica Earl
Contreras Earl Architecture Pty Ltd: Director and Co-Founder
Of all the parties responsible for crafting our cityscape, architects have the greatest role in dictating how our city looks. Contreras Earl Architecture, co-founded by Monica Earl and Rafael Contreras, works towards bettering our communities and cities by designing original, inventive, ground-breaking structures. Biologically informed and digitally engineered, Monica’s avant-garde work on everything from mid-sized commercial buildings and high-end apartments to bespoke objects (realised using advanced software, robotics, materials and construction processes) has been recognised nationally and internationally. By challenging old conventions and contributing new ideas to the design discourse, Monica doubles as a problem solver, pioneering climate-resilient architecture and creating a better future for our urban and natural environments.
Nicole Detsimas
Belnic Constructions: Director
Nicole Detsimas wears many hats. As a co-founder of specialist interior fit-out company Belnic Constructions, Nicole works to deliver unique and high-quality interior projects for clients, including imaging facilities, veterinary hospitals, clinical trial facilities and laboratories. Known for its dynamic approach to construction, Belnic Constructions has earned acclaim for employing innovative building practices and technology, all while achieving sustainable solutions for its plethora of projects. As one of the less than one-percent of Queensland builders that are female-identifying, Nicole looks to be a leader in her industry – pushing boundaries and demonstrating leadership on her own terms in order to increase women’s equity and agency within the construction industry.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
If you’re going to complain about a problem, you’d better have a solution for it.
Jesse Zielke
JRZ Constructions: Director
As the director of JRZ Constructions and Liveable Homes Australia (LHA), Jesse Zielke has overseen the construction of more than 420 houses in his hometown of Bundaberg. And we’re not talking domiciles for first-home buyers – Liveable Homes Australia designs, develops, builds and manages Specialist Disability Accommodation across regional Queensland, partnering with Australian Unity to develop more purpose-built SDA for vulnerable Australians from Rockhampton to Beaudesert. What’s more, a JRZ Constructions initiative, which gives clients the chance to donate $250 to a local charity of their choice, has raised a whopping $100,000 in direct-support funding to local Bundaberg charities. Jesse is not only helping build homes, but build a community on a rock-solid foundation of care and support.
One rule you live your life by?
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.
Riye Arai-Coupe
Bluebird: Managing Director
Bluebird was established on the belief that a different approach to property development was needed. Riye Arai-Coupe looks to respond to the ever-demanding and fast-paced industry by employing a model that enables developers to move quickly and confidently during critical planning and project phases. Bluebird offers unique and tailored development tools across project strategy, acquisitions and disposals, feasibility studies, due diligence assessments and development application strategy. In order to unlock the supply of homes across the entire housing continuum and address the ever-growing need for social and affordable housing, Bluebird is looking to employ innovative construction methods that speed up delivery and reduce the impact on construction labour and material resources.
A meal or food item that changed your life?
The simplicity of eating curry and rice with your fingers in India.
Dan Argent
UrbanX: CEO and Co-Founder
UrbanX is disrupting the traditional real estate industry. How? The company empowers high-performing agents to build and scale their own businesses, rather than working for a traditional agency. Dan Argent, a former agent himself, knows the rigamarole associated with working for someone else – losing commission, being unable to build your own brand and feeling trapped in an unbalanced work-life cycle. UrbanX helps agents by assisting with everything from listing and contract administration, branding and marketing, accounts, payroll and trust accounting, training and development, and software and IT. All that remains is for the agents to do what they do best – sell houses!
