A senior manager who Canadian property giant Brookfield featured in the media to boost its women-in-leadership credentials claims she was made redundant while on maternity leave and replaced by the man hired to act in her job.

Former senior development manager Kelly Dyball is suing Brookfield Properties, a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, and three of its senior managers for allegedly dismissing her because she exercised her right to return to work on a part-time basis after having a child.