Reflecting on achievements & change, with Fund Manager, Kim Dawson.

Thank you, Malcolm. Welcome, Cesar. 

As all of us across the International Towers community get used to life without our Head of Partnerships since 2015, Malcolm Nixon, who rode off into retirement last week, our Fund Manager, Kim Dawson, reflects on Malcolm’s lasting impact, the culture he helped build, and why Cesar Ramirez is the right choice to carry that legacy forward.

“Malcolm was the magic you didn’t always see.”

When Kim talks about Malcolm, one observation comes up again and again: his ability to connect.

“Whenever we did leasing inspections, I always took Malcolm with me,” she says. “It’s not part of his role, but I just loved him there. The way he communicates, the way he treats people. He makes everyone feel like they’re the most important person in the room.”

It’s a quality Kim believes has quietly shaped the entire precinct.

“Malcolm doesn’t even realise his magic,” she adds. “He brings that extra layer, that feeling, that turns something good into something special. At his farewell, the photographer said to me, ‘I go to a lot of corporate events. People talk about culture, but at International Towers, you can actually feel it.’ That’s Malcolm. He’s played a huge role in creating that environment where people don’t just work here, they belong here.”

Celebrating a decade of dedication.
Over the past ten years, Kim has seen firsthand the level of commitment Malcolm has brought to the towers. “The Barangaroo Artisan Market is a perfect example,” Kim says. “He poured everything into that, developing it year after year, coordinating stakeholders, making sure every detail was right. It’s grown into something incredible, but that didn’t happen by accident.”

At the same time, it’s often the quieter gestures that stand out most.

“Malcolm’s the kind of person who will step in and fix a problem without being asked, whether that’s helping someone in the building or making sure something runs smoothly behind the scenes. There are countless stories like that.”

For Kim personally, the professional relationship has also evolved into something more.

“He’s been a confidant as well as a colleague,” she explains. “Someone I trust, someone who gives honest advice, someone who operates with real integrity.”

An irreplaceable presence. A role that will evolve.
Despite Malcolm’s influence, Kim is clear-eyed about what comes next.

“We’re not trying to replace Malcolm,” she says. “That’s not possible.”

Instead, the focus has been on finding the right person to take on a role that has grown significantly over the past decade.

“The role today is much bigger than it was ten years ago,” Kim explains. “It’s evolved alongside the precinct, and it will continue to evolve.”

That perspective shaped the search for Malcolm’s successor, a process Kim admits she initially approached with some apprehension.

“I’d never come across anyone who could do what Malcolm does,” she says. “So at first, I thought, ‘What are we going to do here?’. 

The answer, ultimately, came through Malcolm himself.

“He suggested we meet Cesar Ramirez,” Kim recalls. “So we did, over a coffee.”

Finding the perfect fit.
From that first meeting, Cesar stood out not just for his capability, but for his alignment with the values that underpin International Towers.

“He’s already demonstrated the kind of mindset we value,” Kim says, recalling an early moment where Cesar quietly stepped in to resolve an issue on site without being asked. “It’s the small things, but they tell you everything.”

One of Cesar’s first major projects was leading the organisation of our bi-annual tenant partner  event, a beautiful celebration that brought together tenant partners, community organisations, and stakeholders from across the precinct – an occasion that was the perfect opportunity to celebrate and farewell Malcolm, too.

“The feedback from the event was fantastic, including from Malcolm himself,” Kim smiles. “It was a great example of the community coming together, and Cesar stepped seamlessly into the role.”

Not goodbye, but a continuation.
During the transition, Kim is clear that the precinct’s momentum will continue uninterrupted, and that this great story doesn’t end with Malcolm’s departure.

“I don’t really see it as a farewell,” she says. “Malcolm’s presence has become part of the fabric of the community. There’s a sense that he’ll always be connected to this place, and that’s a testament to the impact he’s had.”

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had Malcolm working his magic for all this time,” Kim says with another smile. “And now we’re really looking forward to leveraging his incredible work in an exciting future ahead.”