TheThread CEO Newsletter
The Thread
editionofournewmonthly CEOnewsletter
Thisinitiativewasbornoutofa simpleidea:connection
Aswecontinuetogrowand evolve,it’smoreimportantthan evertostayintunewithwhat’s happeningacrossthebusiness
Afterspeakingwithsomeofour teamsandleaders,itbecame clearthatthere’sastrong appetiteformorevisibilityinto ourwins,initiatives,andthe peoplethatmakeuptherich tapestryofourculture
storiesandrecognition,this newsletterisaboutkeepingyou informed,inspired,and connected.
Wemaynotsenditevery month,butwe’llaimtokeepit consistentandmeaningful.
Thankyoufortheenergyand passionyoubringeveryday,it doesn’tgounnoticed.Here’sto asuccessfulFY26
ChiefExecutiveOfficer TomasJohnsson
CelebratingOurEverydayStandouts
Acrossthebusinessweknowthatit’softenthe small,everydayactionsthatmakethebiggest difference That’swhyourOntheSpotAwards aresoimportanttous.Theseawardsrecognise teammemberswhogoaboveandbeyond,often withoutfanfare Lastyearwegaveout500!
Whetherit’ssteppingintosupportateammate, resolvinganissuewithheart,orsimplybringing agreatattitudetoworkeveryday,these momentsmatter
WebsiteLaunch
Asmanyofyouknow,thismonth markstheofficiallaunchofUniLodge LivingGroup,ournewparentbrand thatbringstogetherUniLodge,Student LivingbyUniLodge,Essence Communities,EssenceHotels& Apartments,andHive.
Thisnewidentityhelpsustellaclearer storyaboutwhoweareandhowwe operateacrossthelivingsector
Viewthewebsitehere: unilodgelivinggroup.com.au
Theseawardsareaboutcelebratingtheeffort, energy,andpassionthatourpeoplebringto work, notjustforwhattheydo,buthowtheydo it.Weknowthatrecognitionfuelsengagement, andengagementdrivesgreatoutcomes
Thankyoutoeveryonewhotakesthetimeto nominatesomeoneorshareastoryworth celebrating Checkoutsomerecentwinnerson VivaEngageanddon’tforgettopostyourrecent winssoeveryonecanbepartofyourjourney
organisationhasevolvedsignificantly overnearly30years,fromourbrand anddigitalpresencetothebreadthof serviceswedelivertoday.
WiththelaunchofUniLodgeLiving Group,wenowhaveaboldnew identitythatreflectsourgrowth,our values,andwherewe’reheadednext Fromourhumblebeginningstowhere westandtoday,eachchapterhas addedstrengthtothefabricofour organisation
Flashback
LinkedIn:NewCompanyPage&Resources
We’velaunchedanewLinkedInpageto representourUniLodgeLivingGroupparent brandandhighlightthestrengthofourbroader network.Ifyou’rebasedinheadofficeorwork acrossmultiplebrands,youshouldnowlist UniLodgeLivingGroupasyouremployeron LinkedIn
ClickheretofollowthenewLInkedInpage
VivaEngage
WeuseVivaEngagetostrengthen connectionacrossourteamsby sharingupdates,celebratingwins, andbuildingasenseofcommunity, nomatterwherewe'relocated It'saspaceforopencommunication, collaboration,andforrecognising thegreatworkhappeningacrossthe UniLodgeLivingGroupnetwork We encourageyoutooccasionallypop intothedifferentcommunitypagesto checkoutupdatesonRAP,property spotlightsandcharityinitiatives.
ViewMoreAboutVivaEngage
We’vecreatedaLinkedInToolkitwithstep-bystepinstructionsonhowtoupdateyourprofile andheader,tipsonposting,andgeneralbest practicesforbuildingyourprofessional presence Byupdatingyourprofile,you’ll strengthenbothyourpersonalbrandandhow werepresentourselvesasaunitedteamonline
ClickheretoreviewtheLinkedInToolkit
TeamsBackgrounds
Freshenupyourvirtualmeetingswith ournewoptionalMicrosoftTeams backgrounds Theseprofessionally designedimageshelppresenta consistentandpolishedlookwhen meetingwithcolleagues,clients,and partners.There'sabackgroundtosuit everybrand Usingabackground imageinanopenplanofficehelps maintainprivacybyblockingout visualdistractionsandpotentially sensitiveinformationvisibleon screensbehindyou.
DownloadaTeamsBackgroundImage
Property&StaffProfileHighlights
LeahBasse
EssenceSuitesTaringaoffers stylish,modernhotellocated aboveTaringaTrainStationin Brisbane,itprovideseasy accesstotheUniversityof Queensland,hospitals,andthe BrisbaneCBD.Guestsenjoy contemporaryamenities,city views,andarelaxed,boutique hotelexperience Staff discountsareavailable
PerthCentral
AstheExecutiveGM
EssenceHotels&Ap LeahoverseesourTa ChermsideandCarl properties,bringing operationsexpertise seniorleadershiprol AccorHotels,Mantra andFraserSuites. V onourUniLodgeLivin websitehere
Kensington
OurChiefSales&Marketing OfficerGrantWaldeckandthe teamrecentlyvisitedUniLodge PerthCentral,aflagship studentaccommodation developmentsettoopenin 2026.Withover700beds, vibrantcommunalspaces,and afulllifestyleprogram,this future-forwardpropertywill redefinestudentlivinginthe heartofPerth.
UniLodgeKensingtonoffersfully furnishedstudiosandshared apartmentsjustminutesfrom UNSWandclosetopublic transport Withpremium amenitieslikeagym,cinema, alovelyopenairrooftop terrace,andmultiplesocial spaces,it’sdesignedtooffer studentsavibrant,connected lifestyleintheheartofSydney’s easternsuburbs.
ThankstoMarkPotgieter GMPortfolioUSYDfor sharinghowheandMatt Row,ChiefOperations Officeracceptedthe ExcellenceinSustainable DevelopmentGoalsAward 2025onbehalfofCedar PacificfortheUniLodge Kensingtonbuilding Theawardrecognises boththesophisticated designandenvironmental performanceofthe building
It’sapowerfulexampleof howwe’returning sustainabilityprinciples intoreal-worldimpact ViewhispostonLInkedIn formoredetailsand images
2025 Architecture Awards
Wewereproudtoseetwo ofourproperties recognisedatthe2025 ArchitectureAwards A testamenttoourEssence Communitiespartnerships WentworthQuarterwas recognisedforits exceptionalurbandesign andcommunity-focused approach,settinganew benchmarkinBuild-toRentliving IndiSydneyalsoreceived aResidentialArchitecture -MultipleHousingaward, plusacommendationfor SustainableArchitecture Viewmoreinfoonthe IntranetHomepage
UniLodgeWellesley Apartmentsoffermodern,fully furnishedstudentlivinginthe heartofAuckland Thisunique buildingincludesvibrant communalspacesdesigned forcomfortandconnection, 24/7support,andadynamic ResidentialLifeProgramthat fosterswellbeing
Property&StaffPr s
LorenHallett
LorenistheExecutiveGMof UniLodge,withover25yearsof experience,includingmore thanadecadeasowneroperatorofaBackpackers Resort HeleadsUniLodge’s operationalstrategy,focusing onassetperformanceand enhancingthestudentliving experience Lorenisbasedin Brisbane,UniLodgeSouthBank.
RealmKP
RealmKangarooPointoffers thebestofbothworldsclsoe totheStoryBridgeashort distancefromtheBrisbane CBD,yetsurroundedby riverfrontparklands&a relaxed,vibrantcommunity As oneofourfirstbuild-to-rent (BTR)properties,thewhite labelbrand,Realm,hasnow expandedtoMelbournetoo.
UniLodgeDarwin
Withmodern,fullyfurnished studentaccommodationnear CharlesDarwinUniversity’s Casuarinacampus,this propertyprovidescomfort& convenienceintheheartofthe tropics SpeaktoChristie Temesiformoreinfoaboutthis uniquepropertyandrelaxed lifestyle
Stronger Communities Red Frogs
Ourcommunityengagementinitiativesare morethanjustevents,they’rethethreadsthat buildconnection,fosterbelonging,andtieour propertiesandresidentstogether Whether throughculturalcelebrations,wellbeingsupport, oreverydayconversations,we’reweaving strongercommunities,onethreadatatime
Ashoutouttoourdedicatedandpassionate teamsforsupportingourvision,missionand valuesineverydayinteractionsandforhelping createstrongerconnectionswithourresidents, colleagues,partners,developers,andinvestors.
Yourworkissoimportantinbringingour purposetolife,thankyouforweavingitinto everymoment.
LastmonthweattendedtheRedFrogsGala Event,whichreallyhighlightedtheincredible workbeingdoneinsupportingyoungpeople acrossAustraliaandglobally
Asaproudsponsor,UniLodgewashonouredto bepartofsuchameaningfulevent,which raised$270,000!ThesefundsarevitalforRed Frogs'ongoingharmpreventionprogramsand communityinitiativesaimedatreducingsexual assaultandharassmentcases
We’repleasedtocontinuesupportingRedFrogs intheirmissiontomakeadifferenceinthelives ofyoungpeopleandwouldlovetohearmore abouthowRedFrogsplayaroleinyour buildings.ShareyourstoriesonVivaEngage.
ByAmbroseScottKillian
RAP in Action
WithinourAustralianoperations,wecontinueto beproudofourReconciliationActionPlan(RAP) andouractionsinstrengtheningour commitmenttorespectfulrelationships, meaningfulopportunities,andstitching togetherculturallysafe,inclusiveenvironments forAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoples
Anacknowledgementandnoteofthanksto YvonneIngram,ourIndigenousAdvisorbasedin UniLodgeTownsvilleforherongoing contributionsinleadingthisculturalconnection
IhaveenjoyedreadingaboutherFriendship BoomerangChallengeandheardgreat feedbackaboutAuntVonnie’sStorytelling WorkshopaspartofReconciliationWeek.
Push-Up Winners
CongratulationstoTrevorPenn(Property Manager,WellesleyApartments)andthe PushaholicUWAteamwhocompleted11,000+ repsinThePush-UpChallenge
ThankyoutotheTalentDevelopmentteamfor continuingtocoordinatemeaningfulandfun fundraisingandcommunitysupportinitiatives likethesethatfocusonmentalhealthand fitness.
IwasimpressedtoseethatacrosstheUniLodge LivingGroupourteamscompleted68,476 push-ups(orsimilarformsofexercise)and raisedfundsforLifeline,Headspace,thePushFor BetterFoundationandcontributedtoreducing thestigmaaroundmentalill-health.
AFocusonInnovationAcrosstheBusiness
TheStrategicProgramsteamhadafaststartin FY25andarealreadydeliveringrealimpact acrosstheorganisation.
With10projectscompleted,25moreinmotion, andaroadmapofkeyinitiativesinplace,Iam proudoftheinnovativeprogressMarlitaFoster, (GM,StrategicPrograms)andtheteamare deliveringacrosstheorganisation
Throughsmarterautomation,standardised processes,andscalableenhancements,they’re helpingussavetime,liftcompliance,improve ourexperience,andmeetourresidents’needs.
CongratsagaintotheStrategicProgramsteam fortheirfantasticworktodate Welookforward tohearingfromtheteamonmoreexciting updates.
FY25StrategicProjectsSuccess
BankingEnhancements
PlannerImplementation
PowerBI:Arrears,DailyBanking,Planner AutoAllocationTool
RMSEssenceApartments&Hotels:Phase1–Chermside&Taringa Facilio:Phase1–WSU
DocuSignCLM: Phase1–PropertyContracts Programs&Events:StarRez&Eventbrite NZScholarships
StarRezEnhancements&CleanUp GoldStandardProcesses:Ongoingrollout ArrearsAutomation&Enhancements: Ongoingrollout.
Thank you for reading!