News
AVID Sets New Standard With Key Female Appointments
March 9, 2026 | IN Media Release and News | BY AVID | 4 min read
In an industry where women currently make up just under 30 per cent of the workforce1, AVID Property Group (AVID) is setting the standard, strengthening its team with five women appointed to development management roles in 2026 so far – a milestone that reflects the award-winning developer’s commitment to building robust and diverse leadership teams.
The appointments bring together a combined 80 years of industry experience from roles across Australia, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom:
• Nicole Fyfe, Senior Development Manager Queensland
• Lucy Sawyer, Senior Development Manager Victoria
• Anna Tu, Development Manager Victoria
• Layna Stephens, Development Manager Queensland
• Sabrina Gatto, Development Manager Queensland
The news follows AVID’s recognition as an Inclusive Employer by Diversity Council Australia with women representing 51 per cent of AVID’s workforce and 30 per cent of senior leadership roles.
AVID CEO Cameron Holt said the recent appointments reflected the organisation’s commitment to seeking out top talent on merit and creating an environment where its people feel supported to reach their full potential.
“AVID is proud to have more women joining our team nationally, bringing with them diverse backgrounds and global expertise that can only bolster the delivery of outstanding outcomes for our customers and our business,” Mr Holt said.
“Investing in exceptional talent – regardless of gender – is central to AVID’s continued growth and success.”
Female talent in the spotlight
Nicole Fyfe, Senior Development Manager Queensland, brings 21 years of property industry experience, including nearly a decade in development management with Stockland and Lendlease, where she notably launched two masterplanned communities.
“AVID’s growth mindset and the calibre of its portfolio were the clear drawcard for me, and I’m particularly excited about leading our team in unlocking the next phases of development at our Queensland flagship community, Harmony,” Ms Fyfe said.
Lucy Sawyer, Senior Development Manager Victoria, has 18 years industry experience across Australia and the UK, where she honed her expertise in delivering quality design and commercially sound outcomes across a range of developments.
“AVID’s pipeline and appetite for growth are exciting, but what I love most is setting projects up for success right from inception – advocating for community amenities early in development that I eventually get to see residents enjoy,” Ms Sawyer said.
Anna Tu, Development Manager Victoria, joins AVID with over a decade of experience across construction and property development, including work on complex sites where she has developed strong capability in navigating geotechnical and environmental challenges to help deliver vibrant, green neighbourhoods.
“I lean into challenges rather than shy away from them, and I believe the strongest outcomes come from openness and working through problems together – being part of projects that have a lasting, positive impact on communities is what motivates me most,” Ms Tu said.
Sabrina Gatto, Development Manager Queensland, is an architect and development manager with over 20 years’ experience across design, development and construction projects in Australia and the United States, where she excelled in translating design vision into commercially grounded outcomes.
“AVID’s focus on liveable, thoughtfully planned communities, combined with the opportunity to continue working in the land lease sector, present an exciting opportunity to deliver development projects that will genuinely improve quality of life for so many,” Ms Gatto said.
Layna Stephens, Development Manager Queensland, brings nearly 20 years of end-to-end development experience across masterplanned communities, defence housing and large-scale residential projects, and has previously acted as a member of the Property Council of Australia’s Diversity Committee.
“I’m commercially focused and enjoy working through complexity to deliver well-executed projects that exceed resident expectations – AVID’s track record of balancing discipline with genuine customer experience is something I look forward to being a part of,” Ms Stephens said.
1 WGEA Industry Data Explorer | Private Sector Report 2024-25
