What’s your career journey so far and how did you enter the construction industry/SMD?
I joined SMD with over 25 years of experience working in a variety of roles within a large international contractor. I worked on sites as well as office-based work and covered marketing, pre-construction, estimating, operations and aftercare so I really have seen every aspect of the construction process.
Can you tell us about your current role and what a typical day/week looks like?
I’ve been with SMD for 15 months now and as operations coordinator/stakeholder liaison officer where I cover the delivery of projects, liaising with stakeholders – with clients, and communities and help out in all aspects of the business. My days are varied, and no two days are the same.
Do you feel that it’s a male dominated industry?
In the beginning of my career, it was heavily male led but overtime this has changed. In my previous employment there was a focus group for women in construction which showed how times had developed.
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
I haven’t personally encountered any challenges, but I have seen colleagues in a previous job overlooked because of their gender. Fortunately, it’s not like that at all at SMD.
What does inclusion look like to you?
Equal opportunities for everyone. If you can do the job, it doesn’t matter what your background is.
Do you think there are any misconceptions about women working in the construction industry?
There is a stereotype of being in a male dominated environment, but this was mainly in the past, and that is now changing. I certainly didn’t experience any negativity when I worked in site-based roles.
What skills/characteristics do you think women bring to the construction sector?
I think women can see things differently and bring a certain logic and the ability to multi-task.
What advice would you give young women/girls considering entering the industry?
I think it’s a great place to work. I value the opportunity it brings to work with a range of people and build strong working relationships through teamwork and shared goals. There are so many paths to take from project management and estimating to quantity surveying and architecture, and there are opportunities to use your skills and even work abroad. Salaries are competitive and there’s lots of chance for career progression, so I would recommend the industry to anyone. I think that even with the advent of AI we will always need skilled people to deliver projects.
