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NICOLE CHOW

Nicole Chow stands at the helm of a thriving and far-reaching enterprise — one that now extends beyond Melbourne to the east coast of the United States and Southeast Asia. As Managing Director of UAG, Nicole remains deeply involved in every project, shaping not only the design but the story and soul of each development. “There’s always a narrative behind the architecture,” she says. “But every idea must also meet the test of commercial viability.”

What sets Nicole apart is her rare ability to balance creativity with strategy. Her leadership style is both visionary and grounded — surrounding herself with a close-knit team of loyal consultants, many of whom have been with UAG since its inception. Depending on the scale of active projects, the UAG team flexes dynamically — from a lean group during quiet planning periods, to a force of 20+ when large-scale developments are being procured.

Nicole’s success hasn’t come from following the crowd — it’s come from reading the market, trusting her instincts, and building with intent. “Anyone can call themselves a developer in a booming market,” she says. “But it’s during the quiet cycles that real vision is required — that’s when we prepare for the upturns.” Her approach has made her a leader — not a follower — in Melbourne’s property landscape. This strategy was evident during the early months of Covid, when Nicole signed-up Maxcon to build a new 26 storey apartment tower opposite Flagstaff Gardens. When the majority of the market panicked, stopped work or sold-up, UAG committed to a new 170 apartment project.