Emmy Arthurson – Women in Innovation

2024 is the 10th anniversary for CBRIN and the innovative ecosystem. To celebrate, we sat down with Emmy Arthurson, Co-Founder of OX Rooms and talked about her journey, her advice on entrepreneurship, the challenges she’s overcome and all the wins along the way.

Tell us what you are working on.

I’m the co-founder of OX Rooms, a tech platform that simplifies how real estate is bought and sold by digitising aspects of the conveyancing process.
If you’ve bought or sold property, you probably remember the endless emails and phone calls trying to figure out when the property would exchange or settle. While there have been some digital updates, much of the process still relies on outdated paper and email-based systems. Until 2020, legal and banking teams still met in settlement rooms to physically exchange contracts and cheques.

A property sale is like assembling a project team. The seller picks an agent and either brings their lawyer or relies on the agent’s recommendation, forming the seller’s team. On the buyer’s side, you have the buyer and their lawyer. Suddenly, all these people—often working together for the first time—are thrown into an inefficient process, yet still expect a smooth, successful outcome. Making it worse, everyone uses different tools, so email becomes the default communication method, even though it’s neither secure nor designed for the complexities of property transactions.
Legal teams and agents work incredibly hard to keep things running smoothly, despite being stuck with a system that doesn’t fully serve them, their clients, or their peers—yet it’s often accepted as ‘just how things are done.’

My husband Matthew, a real estate partner at a national firm, often vented about the heavy workload: endless phone calls, lost documents, and constant chasing for updates. I started wondering—why wasn’t there a better way? And when we didn’t find one that worked, we decided to develop our own —one that’s secure, offers big wins, and genuinely supports everyone involved, from lawyers, conveyancers, and agents, to sellers and first-time buyers.

In nearly every area of life, people expect easy access to information whenever they’re curious or need reassurance. You can check your bank balance, track a pizza delivery, or view your Uber ride from anywhere, anytime. So why should real estate be any different, especially when big money is involved? OX Rooms brings all parties together, putting the transaction at the heart and turning everyone into a dream team—getting it done right and enjoying a smoother, better experience along the way.

 Why is innovation important to you?

Innovation, to me, is about embracing change and constantly pushing for improvement. I love finding better ways to solve problems and seeing how innovation can improve lives. Whether it’s advances in healthcare, sustainability, or daily conveniences, I’m fascinated by how different industries evolve and apply new solutions.

When I was younger, I loved architectural drawing, starting on a drawing board and later moving to AutoCAD when it was just a black screen with a blinking cursor. My passion for building led me to study civil engineering. During that time, I worked at Dickson McDonald’s, where I got firsthand experience in customer service, teamwork, and operational efficiency. I later moved into design and construction, where I worked on kitchens and bathrooms, always balancing function, form, and aesthetics. When the GFC hit, I shifted to public service, which gave me the chance to work with some truly impressive leaders.

Right now, I see incredible momentum for innovation here in Canberra, spanning both the private and public sectors. While the public sector often moves at a slower pace—and for good reason—there’s so much potential for meaningful change. This city is full of talented people driving forward-thinking ideas, and it’s exciting to be part of that energy.

What drives you to make a difference?

I love real estate, I follow the market closely, and I’ve bought and sold property myself. Like many others, I have my own war stories about conveyancing—it can be incredibly frustrating. I used to chalk up my poor experiences to my dislike of bad processes—ha! But during COVID, when I shared an office with my husband, I fully realized just how outdated and frustrating the property transaction process is for everyone involved.

In Australia, conveyancing is largely female-led, which strikes a chord with me. Conveyancers are incredibly smart, organised, hardworking, and resilient. They handle hundreds of transactions each year, managing high-risk work for modest fees. So much of the effort they put in goes unseen: managing, paperwork, putting out fires, taking calls after hours, and even on their days off. These roles are often underappreciated and undervalued (by the market), yet they keep the wheels turning despite outdated tech and old systems because they’re able to ‘make do.’ I’m passionate about changing that. When people have systems that truly support them, they’re happier, more productive, and able to deliver a better experience. I want to give everyone involved in property transactions more control, less stress, and better outcomes. Buying and selling property should be a positive experience, not a stressful one. By integrating smarter workflows and technology, I believe we can make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved—and drive our vision to fundamentally transform the conveyancing ecosystem.

What are your goals for 2024 and beyond?

2024 has been a big year! I’m focused on both personal and professional growth. I’ve been challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone—doing things I would have 100% avoided in the past, like pitching for the Griffin Accelerator or speaking in front of a crowd or camera. I’m learning to lean into that discomfort because that’s where growth happens.

For OX Rooms, I have big plans. We’re expanding platform capabilities to offer even more value, but we’re also focused on building on our strong foundation and continuing to streamline the conveyancing landscape.

Do you have any advice for getting more women into innovation and entrepreneurship?

Take risks and be bold. You can always go back to familiar, ‘boring’ doors; they’ll always be there, of course, if you nurture those relationships along the way. But if you’re frustrated, want to fix or build something, or feel driven to make a difference, you’re already on your way. Take that first step and see where it leads. Before you know it, you’re on your way.

I love the idea of ‘working the problem.’ As a bit of a space dork, The Martian (Andy Weir) always comes to mind. The main character says (spoiler alert!), “You just start. Do the math. Solve one problem, then the next. If you solve enough, you get to come home.” Real estate isn’t as dramatic, but that’s exactly how OX Rooms came to be—taking it one step at a time, solving a problem, then moving on to the next, over and over again.
And most importantly, surround yourself with amazing people. Find your ‘people’—those who cheer you on and have your back. You need sound and measured advice, but be careful where you take it from. Some people will never understand why you want to do what you’re doing—and that’s okay. But, having some good supporters and believers around you makes a world of difference.

Do you have any advice for getting more women into innovation and entrepreneurship?

I’m incredibly proud of how OX Rooms has been received in Canberra and beyond. We are new, and it’s a bold concept, but we’ve found some amazing supporters who just love it. The positive feedback from industry professionals and everyday users has been amazing. Watching early adopters embrace the platform with the same enthusiasm we have is truly rewarding.

On a personal level, I’m also proud of pushing myself to take on new challenges. Whether it’s pitching our vision or stepping outside my comfort zone, it’s all part of the (hard) journey—and I’m embracing it, one step at a time.

Thanks for chatting Emmy and congratulations on everything you’ve achieved so far! It’s amazing to be part of your journey and we’re excited to see what comes next! Connect with Emmy and Mattew at the 2024 Innovation Showcase – register here and reach out via their LinkedIn.