Page 62 - Tropic Magazine Issue 26

TROPIC • NETWORKING

Hard-hatted

women

CONSTRUCTION
Tropic columnist and interior Women in Construction FNQ at Cairns Innovation Centre JCU
designer Hyaesil Gilligan
believes women have a lot to are my network - “when it is high tide, connections with like-minded people,
everything goes up”.
and gain an understanding of areas
offer the Cairns construction This article is for women who are outside their field.
industry. interested in the design and building One of these events was the 2020
I’ve been in the building industry for industries. Young, old or wherever you Cairns Youth & Careers Expo, held
over 10 years and in all that time I never come from, this is for you! The article at the Showgrounds earlier this year.
interacted with any other building or below is written by Sandra Througton, Members volunteered to talk to high
design industry women. I automatically on behalf of the Women in Construction school students about a whole range
considered anyone else in the industry committee of vocational opportunities and
as a competitor, which is why I never career pathways into construction,
attempted to make connections. SUPPORTIVE NETWORK sharing a breadth of experience and
At a friend’s 50th birthday that all Women In Construction FNQ was built encouragement with budding builders.
changed when I met Belinda Down. on the desires of a few hard-headed In a typically male-dominated industry,
We sat and chatted and hit it off, and females to achieve gender equality within Women In Construction FNQ is
she suggested I start going to Women the regional housing and construction committed to empowering its members
in Construction events. Belinda made industry. The group has grown to include by acknowledging their achievements
me feel a lot more positive about it, so I people from all facets of the industry, and celebrating their successes.
decided to give it a go. At first, like most with many members being consultants Ultimately, this will see the region achieve
things you do the first time, it was a bit and employees in engineering, true equality and diversity for all in the
awkward and uncomfortable. I kept architecture, town planning, construction industry.
making the effort, though, and after a development, government organisations, Anyone involved in a construction-related
few more events I started feeling right at universities and suppliers. industry, men and women alike, are
home and had made a handful of friends. Regular events provide opportunities for invited to attend the next Women In
Now I love attending, and I make new members to get up close and personal Construction FNQ function.
contacts all the time. Being surrounded with activities they don’t typically
by beautiful, strong-minded and talented undertake in their roles, even though they
women makes me feel supported and may be closely connected. FACEBOOK:
connected. I realise now that these Members also have the chance to Women in Construction – FNQ
women aren’t my competition, they meet new faces in the industry, form

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62 • Tropic • Issue 26