Monika Tu from Black Diamondz, Luxe Listings, awarded a gong for her charity work
Monika Tu is no stranger to an award, but after spearheading $30m in charitable giving, the most fashionable realtor in Sydney’s eastern suburbs can add an OAM to her mantlepiece.
Celebrity real estate agent Monika Tu has been recognised for her extensive philanthropy over the past 20 years with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
She’s undoubtedly one of Australia’s most successful high-end real estate agents dealing only with properties valued at more than $10m.
Although she has described her life as a “Chinese fairytale”, the awarding of the OAM reveals there’s much more to Tu than a fabulous wardrobe and the ability to get a multimillion-dollar real estate deal over the line.
Tu, who founded Black Diamondz Property Concierge in Sydney in 2009, is one of few female real estate agents or even property developers to crack the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List.
She was awarded for her service to the community through the Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, and the Lunar New Year Committee which also fundraises for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“It’s the Asian community meets with the Australian community,” says Tu, who estimates she and her followers have raised at least $30m for these organisations.
“One of my clients donated $5m to build a park in the hospital,” she said.
But it hasn’t all been glamorous cocktail nights and gala dinners in Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs.
Tu has participated in the Vinnies’ CEO Sleepout for the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, and she has been an honorary ambassador to the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney, since 2020.
“I did the CEO sleep out for 6 years, it’s about creating awareness, I have a huge following in the Asian community, over 1 million,” says Tu, adding that when she does these ‘events’ “I get people to donate even from overseas”.
“I want to use my influence to engage people. Even in Australia, we still have a problem with the homeless.
“For sick children, building accommodation for sick children’s families, I also want to make a difference.”
She’s passionate about serving the Children’s Foundation. Why? Why not, she says. “I have a healthy child … but everyone is passionate about children’s health … I am also passionate about the homeless.
“If used properly social media is even better than business. It’s not just about me to give, it’s so I can encourage others to give.”
Since 2012 she has been a member of the Global Society of Women Leaders, Australian Red Cross. She has self-published a book and was a cast member in Luxe Listings Sydney with Amazon Prime Video in its second streaming season.
Prior to founding Black Diamondz, she was a translator for the Department of Foreign Trade in China.
Tu also won a Most Influential Woman in Property Award from the Real Estate Association in 2018.
For now Tu says she “of course” plans to continue with her philanthropy.
“It is in my core, that is one thing I am really passionate about. I want to help the needy.”
As for high end real estate Tu says business is really good, with lots of luxury auctions ahead.
“Our average property is priced over $10m. We are doing very well,” she says, adding that 60 per cent of her buyers hail from the Asian community.
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