Fiona Jefferies launched Diva Works to deliver custom showrooms with first-class service for property developers and brands across Australia. She’s unlocked a smarter way to travel the world, finding inspiration and new ways to help her business soar.
As an industrial designer, Fiona Jefferies spent her early career working for agencies delivering fit-outs for trade shows and sales offices – but she always saw the potential for more. “The designs were good but I didn’t think they were backed by first-class client service.” In 2001 she set out on her own, launching Diva Works with just $5000 in the bank and operating from her dining table. Today, the building design firm has a staff of 15 around Australia working for property giants including Mirvac, Stockland and the Dennis Family Corporation.
Jefferies’ guiding mantra is “to take the stress out” of a crucial part of the marketing process. Diva Works designs, builds and delivers sales offices, customised for each client. “There are so many marketing channels now but there’s still nothing like the personal one-to-one that happens in a sales office.” As an early member of Qantas Business Rewards, Jefferies sees the airline as a true partner. “Qantas has helped me build my business, taking me across the country many times to meet clients and deliver beautiful fit-outs. We can’t do this without them.”
"Loyalty means being there”
“When I first went out on my own, I was project managing four stands at the Australian International Motor Show, then the biggest trade show in the country, doing a circuit around Australia. We were building more than 1000 square metres of stand space with a crew of 38 – and I was the only female on the floor. I bristle at female stars being called ‘divas’ because they have an entourage. To me, ‘diva’ says you deliver at a higher level and you need an entourage to support that first-class performance. Hence Diva Works; we’re each other’s entourage, supporting one another to do better for our clients. Loyalty means a lot to me – Mirvac was my first client and they’re still with me today. I use a lot of the same suppliers as I did back then, too. Melbourne is our biggest market so I fly there regularly. I joined Qantas Business Rewards in 2014 so I could earn Qantas Points for my business, on top of what I earn as a Frequent Flyer. I really work to maximise points earned when I’m flying and buying, as it offsets the cost of future travel.”
Tip: Always add your ABN and the traveller's Frequent Flyer number when booking flights for work. That way, both the business* and the traveller earn Qantas Points±.
"Travel is essential for thinking bigger”
“I’ve been to New York several times with Qantas. On one memorable trip I went on a study tour with the Property Council of Australia. We got behind-the-scenes access to major property projects in Manhattan and it was fascinating to see construction plans coming together. It showed me a different scale of what’s possible and taught me to think bigger. Travel is essential for expanding your view. I get so much inspiration from the galleries and museums, including how tech can create a better customer experience. Things like building an immersive experience so a prospective customer can stand there in a sales office and see the view from the apartment. I’m excited that there are more flight options now for the New York trip I might try the new route via Auckland soon. Booking all our flights through our Qantas Business Rewards Account is easy. We can access discounts of up to 10 per cent and save on Qantas Club memberships for the team. I love having the Qantas lounges to continue working in comfortable surroundings when I travel – and as a Platinum Frequent Flyer I can access the gorgeous First Lounge in Sydney when I’m heading overseas.”
Tip: With over 1,300 destinations across Australia and the world, the Qantas network is built to get you and your travellers wherever you need to be. And as a Qantas Business Rewards member, you'll save up to 10% off the base fare of selected flights with Qantas, oneworld and partner airlines.~
"In-person meetings secured our top clients”
“The Qantas eastern seaboard route is my second home – I fly at least twice a month and the ability to choose from multiple flights between these cities means I can jump on a plane for a face-to-face meeting with a client at short notice. It was in-person meetings that secured our top long-standing clients and building relationships onsite is the reason we’re delivering our biggest sales office projects this year for Mirvac and the Dennis Family Corporation. Qantas Business Rewards helps us unlock the points that facilitate many of these trips. Beyond flights, we earn points through Qantas Hotels and rental vehicles with Budget Car and Truck Rental. I use Snap printing and we do our accounts through Xero. I also maximise the points I earn by using my American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card to pay for everything, earning the business triple points on Qantas flights booked with the Card. We’ve got to be smart – making our money work harder in every way is just good business sense.”
Is your business travel unlocking bigger rewards?
As a Qantas Business Rewards member, the more points your business earns from flying, the faster you’ll progress through the three levels, unlocking more rewards and savings.*
The amount of points your business earns from flying is determined by your membership level. At Level 3, your business earns 40 points for every 100 points earned by your traveller.±
Unlock bigger savings on flights~ and Qantas Club membership^ with each level and access special benefits, like the Gold Accelerator§, exclusive to Level 3 members.
When you book an eligible flight using your American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card, the points your business earns from flying are tripled, helping you progress quickly through each level of the program.†
Important Information
* A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn Qantas Points for the business. A one-off joining fee of $89.50 applies, is inclusive of any applicable GST and may be varied by Qantas from time to time, without notice, in its absolute discretion. Membership and Qantas Points for business are offered under the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions and earning thresholds apply.
± Qantas Points earned on air travel are determined in accordance with the Airline Earn Table. A Member's ABN and traveller's Qantas Frequent Flyer membership number must be quoted at the time of booking to earn Qantas Points for both the business and the traveller. An eligible flight means a domestic or international flight which has a Qantas 'QF' flight number on the ticket that is purchased in Australia; has a ticket number commencing with '081'; and is booked and travelled for business on or after the date the business registers for Qantas Business Rewards. Exclusions apply. The number of points awarded varies according to the business’ flying Level. Subject to the Qantas Business Rewards Airline Reward Scheme Terms and Conditions, Qantas Points are earned for each segment travelled on Eligible Flights by a Qantas Business Rewards Flyer. A segment is a portion of the journey between two consecutive points listed on an itinerary. The number of Qantas Points earned in Qantas Business Rewards is calculated by applying the percentage Earn Rate to the number of Qantas Points earned by a Bronze Qantas Frequent Flyer member in each respective booking class (including cabin bonus and Minimum Points Guarantee if applicable and excluding any bonus Qantas Points which may be offered from time to time) as specified in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Categories in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program, for the applicable travel date. A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member and registered for GST or be an Australian Public or Private entity or other incorporated company, and not be a travel agent or on a Corporate Deal with Qantas to earn Qantas Points for the business from flying.
~ Savings are available exclusively to Qantas Business Rewards Members on the base fare of selected fares only and do not apply to taxes, fees and carrier charges. Availability is limited. Member Deals are subject to the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions.
^ Discounted Qantas Club membership is available to Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are Qantas Business Rewards Flyers of the Qantas Business Rewards Member. The discount applies to Qantas Club Individual membership rates and is managed under the Qantas Club Qantas Business Rewards scheme. Qantas Club membership is subject to the Qantas Club Terms and Conditions. Please be advised that lounges are subject to capacity limits at the time of your visit. If you're flying domestically on Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar within Australia, and on Jetstar within New Zealand you may bring one guest to join you in a Qantas Club lounge. When visiting an international Qantas Club lounge, you are able to invite one guest each time you visit. Both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on the same flight. Lounge access eligibility conditions apply.
§ Only one nomination for the Qantas Business Rewards Gold Accelerator offer can be made per year by an eligible Qantas Business Rewards Level 3 Member. The Qantas Business Rewards account holder or full access user must complete a nomination form through the Qantas Business Rewards Account. The nominee must hold Bronze or Silver Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, be a stored traveller within the Qantas Business Rewards Account and have not been nominated for Gold Accelerator previously within the last 6 months. Once approved, the nominee’s Qantas Frequent Flyer status will be upgraded to Gold, when they earn at least 100 Status Credits on new bookings for departures between the date the offer is accepted and within 90 days. Status Credit earn must be on eligible flights booked and ticketed on a Qantas flight number (QF) where Status Credits are usually earned. Bonus Status Credit earn and Status Credits earned not via way of an eligible flight will not contribute towards required accelerator total to redeem this offer. Status Credits will be awarded within 6 weeks from departure. Members who have already been activated on previous Qantas Status Fast Track offers in the last 6 months, are not eligible for the Qantas Business Rewards Gold Accelerator offer. Gold Accelerator is only available to members with an Australian or New Zealand residential address on their Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Qantas may revoke or vary this offer in its own discretion.
† Triple Qantas Points on flights for your business: A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn triple Qantas Points for business. The triple Qantas Points for business are only available for American Express Qantas Card Members when the Card is used to make an eligible Qantas flight booking. Qantas will allocate to the business an amount equal to the Qantas Points earned by the traveller when travelling for business against a rate of either: 20% (Level 1); or 30% (Level 2); or 40% (Level 3) multiplied by three. For details, see qantas.com/businesspassport.
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live and fly.
We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.