Student spotlight: Lily Sullivan

How was your experience in the 2022 Investment Competition?

I was doing a real estate elective at the time, and the competition was about the ESG value add to QIC real estate portfolio which is something I am very interested in. I had never valued real estate before which was super exciting! I also got to research the ESG adds to both assets and how these would then be factored into the model.  I got to work on my ppt presentation skills (slide making) and my presentation skills working at different stages.  It was challenging to work alongside Uni when I was pouring a lot of time into the competition, but I was able to get on top of it the week before I started and when we continued to make the subsequent rounds I learned strong time management skills. My team were finalists in the competition and I went on to apply and be accepted for the QIC internship offer to finalists.

Tell us about your internship with QIC

I am currently working within the Core Plus Funds Strategies in the QIC Brisbane office 2 days a week. I generally work across both the funds management side which is all about the returns of both portfolios, as well as the asset management side which I have been helping with budgets, valuation reports and quarterly reports. The best part of the internship has been the people I’ve met. I have been welcomed with open arms and am doing meaningful and varied work. The team on a whole has an attitude that no question is silly, which has resulted in me learning more than I ever have before in an internship.

As a young woman, do you feel confident and supported to pursue a career in investment management?

I have completed several internships within the finance field and I have always seen a gender inequality. Whilst it originally made me uncomfortable, the support is in place for change to be made. So my feelings are that whilst I believe there should be a gender balance, Rome was not built in a day and change doesn’t happen overnight, and I think the industry has changed in ways that it is now not only accepting but encouraging and supporting women into these fields.

Overall, I feel 100% supported as a woman to pursue a career in investment management. With university scholarships encouraging investment management and programs like Future IM/Pact, there has never been a better time for women to be entering the industry.