Renewal SA celebrates Residential Growth Development Director Vivianne Kollevris, a structural and engineering specialist and one of the leaders shaping South Australia's most significant residential communities.

Since joining Renewal SA in April 2025, Vivianne has hit the ground running, leading the planning, execution and delivery of a complex portfolio of projects aligned to Renewal SA's strategic priorities.

Her story leading up to this is anything but conventional, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

The common thread through every career decision I've made has been curiosity," Vivianne said.

"There's always been a spark that drew me to learn more about something and that's what I've followed. Along the way, I've stayed open to taking and sometimes creating opportunities.

“I couldn't have predicted exactly how it would all come together, but over time it has, in a way that now lets me draw on a mix of skills that are unique to me.”

At 21, Vivianne left Adelaide and spent 10 years working on major projects across the world. When she eventually returned, it was with purpose - first to Adelaide Airport and then to Renewal SA, drawn by a conviction that her home city was on the cusp of something significant.

"Since returning to Adelaide I have found that it is on the brink of a significant shift in innovation and ambition and that excites me, massively," she said.

“I joined Renewal SA because I want to be part of something that shapes the future of this state.”

Engineering and property development have long been male-dominated fields. Reflecting on International Women's Day, Vivianne is direct about her experience navigating that and is equally direct about how she's dealt with it.

"Being in a male-led industry was never going to stop that curiosity or prevent me from pursuing the spark, even if it felt a little uncomfortable at times," she said.

"In fact, that feeling often motivated me even more partly because I'm also somewhat stubborn. Going on site and using tools and machinery in a workshop weren't things I grew up with, so they felt unfamiliar for a long time. If I'm honest, they still sometimes do.

"But I recognise that the discomfort is in my head. My proven capability doesn't match those doubts. So, I get over myself and get on with it!"

Away from work, Vivianne is a proud mum of two, raising her children alongside her partner. When asked what advice she'd give young people wanting to build a career in property, her answer reflects how she's chosen to raise her own children.

“I've always encouraged her to follow what interests her and never suggested that any industry is 'male-led' or 'female-led',” she said of Paige.

“My hope is that by the time she's old enough to really notice, it's less of a barrier and she's already confident on her own path.”

For anyone - regardless of gender - considering a career in property, Vivianne's message is straightforward: the industry has more room than people think.

“There are so many different paths you can take. Whether you're more technical, creative, strategic, or people-focused, there's a place for you.

"You don't have to be one thing or fit into a single role the industry needs all sorts of skills and personalities.

"It can literally take you anywhere.”