Leader Spotlight #11 - Mitesh Achari

Mitesh Achari is a Fiji Indian and is the Head of Industrial at Time & Place.

1. Background and Inspiration: Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in the property and construction industry?

I am of Indian heritage and was born in the beautiful islands of Fiji. My childhood was spent on my grandparents’ farms during school holidays – running through sugar cane fields, swimming in rivers, watching old Bollywood movies at night, and eating delicious curries that my grandmother made on an open fire outside. My dad was a fitter and turner, and mum helped out at a kindergarten while looking after the household, my younger sister, and me.

My parents valued education greatly, and this was instilled in me very early in life. Exams were held every term, and your results were read out in front of everyone. If you came 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in the end-of-year exam, you received a prize in front of the school. My dad expected me to be up there – and I made sure I was. Education opens countless doors, and it’s what allowed my dad to migrate to Victoria, Australia with our whole family in 1998.

I then spent over 15 years growing up in Dandenong, which has a diverse population of migrants. During high school, I yo-yoed between wanting to be a chef, aerospace engineer, environmental engineer, and an actuary. I went on to study a Bachelor of Environments at Melbourne Uni – a 3-year degree with 11 majors to choose from. Everyone did a common first year, then picked a major in second year. I initially chose subjects that would lead to environmental engineering. However, during a major's information session, Seamus Egan – who then worked at Contexx and is now at Roberts Co – presented the Construction major. The first slide he threw up was the salaries, and I was sold! I changed my subjects to qualify for the Construction major. The money was great, the projects were tangible, and it involved numbers – which I love.

I later completed my master's in construction management. My cost management lecturer, Dr. Ajibade Aibinu, inspired me to get into quantity surveying. I joined Slattery as a student, then moved into project and development management, working at great companies like PDS Group and The APP Group. Our industry is always so fun, and there’s so much to learn from people from all walks of life.

People say focus on “Beds and Sheds” – and at Time & Place, I’ve been able to do both. I love the industrial sector and how it impacts everyone’s lives on a daily basis.

2. Leadership and Diversity: How do you integrate your cultural background into your leadership style, or how do you advocate for diversity and inclusion within the industry?

Respect is a cornerstone of Indian culture – it gets drilled into you from the time you are born. I truly value and appreciate this. You don’t have to agree with people or even like them, but I find that mutual respect allows you to overcome any challenges you may face.

I believe our industry is already far more diverse and inclusive than it was decades ago. I mentored at Melbourne Uni for many years, and often brought my mentees to industry events to expose them to the broad range of people from all walks of life contributing to our field – with the aim of dispelling any stereotypes they may have had.

3. Advice for Aspiring Professionals: What advice would you give to young professionals from multicultural backgrounds who aspire to leadership roles in the property and construction industry?

You can use your multicultural background to shape who you are, but it doesn’t define you. I’ve always lived by the saying: “become worthy and success will follow.” There are no shortcuts – you need to spend time honing your craft. This often comes at the cost of other areas of life, a reality many don’t want to acknowledge.

If you invest more time early in your career, it will pay dividends later. Take on any opportunity you can at the start – it will give you exposure to different aspects of your job and help you discover the area that truly appeals to you.

Most importantly, get a mentor. No matter the stage of your career, there’s always something to learn from others.

4. Future Vision: In your opinion, how can the property and construction industry better support multiculturalism?

I think the industry needs to start at the grassroots level by promoting what our field is really about in schools. The greatest impact can be made with young people, who benefit from seeing leaders from diverse backgrounds and walks of life making a difference. This helps challenge any preconceived or biased ideas about what the industry is perceived to be.

5. Cultural Celebrations: Can you share a significant cultural celebration or festival from your heritage that holds special meaning for you?

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most significant celebration for us – it symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. We light our homes with diyas (oil lamps), buy and gift new clothes, and make and share sweets with family and friends. In Fiji, we used to let off fireworks all through the night, lighting up the sky in celebration.