Leader Spotlight #19 - Chong Tan

Chong Tan is a Chinese Malaysian who leads Pomeroy Pacific as its Director of Delivery and Origination.

1. Background and Inspiration: Could you share your journey into the property and construction industry and the key experiences that shaped your passion for this field?

I come from a family with a long lineage of civil engineers in Malaysia, so it was only natural that I was drawn to the property and construction industry from a young age. My late grandfather was one of the pioneers of the construction industry in Kuala Lumpur, and together with his children — my father and his siblings — they helped shape much of what the Malaysian construction landscape is today. Their legacy deeply influenced my early passion for this field.

In the early 2000s, I came to Australia to study Civil Engineering at the University of Melbourne. I fell in love with the subject, the work, and the city, and decided to build my career here to see how I could contribute to the property and construction industry.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to be part of the leadership teams of some of the world’s largest consultancy firms, delivering multidisciplinary projects across sectors including industrial, transport, education, civic, data centres, commercial, retail, health, and living spaces. Grounded in strong technical expertise and project management excellence, I believe the most rewarding part of the journey is building meaningful relationships with clients, mentors, and peers.

What continues to drive my passion is seeing ideas transformed into spaces that people use and value, and working collaboratively with clients, consultants, architects, and builders to bring those visions to life.

2. Leadership Strategies: In your leadership role, what strategies do you use to incorporate diverse cultural perspectives, and how do these align with-or differ from-approaches you see in the wider industry?

In my leadership role, I actively foster an environment that values and integrates diverse cultural perspectives by encouraging open dialogue, mutual respect, and collaboration across all project teams. I believe diversity drives innovation and better decision-making, particularly in the property and construction industry where projects often intersect with varied community, stakeholder, and client backgrounds.

My approach begins with active listening and creating inclusive spaces where every voice is heard whether that’s through stakeholder workshops, project reviews, or informal discussions. I also promote cross-cultural awareness within teams by recognising different communication and working styles and tailoring engagement methods to suit diverse audiences.

Compared to broader industry practices, which often focus on compliance-based diversity measures, I place greater emphasis on embedding inclusivity into daily operations and leadership behaviours. Rather than treating diversity as a policy, I view it as a mindset that enhances creativity, problem-solving, and project outcomes. This approach has worked for me and is grounded in authentic team culture and lived experience in the workplace.

3. Future Vision: Looking ahead, what changes or initiatives do you believe would have the most impact in helping the property and construction industry better embrace multiculturalism?

I think the industry is already moving in the right direction, with multicultural perspectives increasingly valued by clients, on projects and within teams. By continuing to foster inclusive practices and diverse engagement, this evolution will naturally progress, creating an environment where varied cultures contribute seamlessly which is a true reflection of today’s interconnected and dynamic workforce.