Awesome Women

As the AWIC North Queensland Roadshow (16th – 24th October 2023) was coming to an end, we took the opportunity to have a chat with Kim Allen from CRA Construction and Angela Hucker from Empowering People in Construction (EPIC). We asked them what their highlights of the Roadshow were. Kim owns CRA Construction alongside her husband Chris, a residential high end plastering company. Together they've built up a team of full time employed, qualified, going above and beyond the national standard to complete superior finishes. Angela has over 20 years’ experience working in numerous areas of the construction industry, across the public, private and corporate sectors. She is passionate about supporting women in construction and FIFO workers, as a result, she founded Empowering People In Construction (EPIC) Services, a dynamic venture that's reshaping the Australian construction sector by harnessing the immense potential of women.For more information about CRA Construction, visit CRA Construction or connect with Kim Allen via LinkedIn. You can reach out to Angela Hucker to find out more about Empowering People in Construction (EPIC).

Kim owns CRA Construction alongside her husband Chris, a residential high end plastering company. Together they've built up a team of full time employed, qualified, going above and beyond the national standard to complete superior finishes. Kim flew up and joined the AWIC North Queensland Roadshow (16th – 24th October 2023) in Cairns. It was great having Kim join us as we visited a wide range of industry businesses. We took Kim aside for a few minutes to find our why she joined us in Cairns. Kim is incredibly proud in having created a company with her husband where they have chosen to simply do things right. They only hire their staff on a full-time basis instead of running with sole-traders, they only hire qualified plasterers or up-skill them to get them qualified and are constantly working with their team to better themselves personally but also keeping their passion alight as tradespeople.For more information about CRA Construction, visit CRA Construction or connect with Kim Allen via LinkedIn.

In 2022, Jennah was named the Queensland Apprentice of the Year and Australian Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Training Awards.  Jennah join AWIC in Cairns, the third leg of the North Queensland Roadshow, 16th – 24th October 2023. Jennah joined us and industry colleagues for a day of immersion into the construction industry and then attended the networking event as the guest speaker.  As a mother of four who returned to the workforce after eight years, Jennah proves that it’s never too late for a career change. Jennah's journey started when her brother, also a refrigeration technician, asked her to help out a few hours a week. From there, Jennah grew a keen interest in the industry and, completed her Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in 2021. Jennah is believed to be the only Qualified female Refrigeration technician in Cairns – a statistic she's hoping to help change!You can contact Jenna via Instagram Jennah Halley (@lifeof_jdee) and LinkedIn Jennah Halley

Jo is passionate about encouraging women of all ages to unleash the full force of their potential, achieve greater levels of self-sufficiency and fulfilment and create a more sustainable way of working, in particular within Non-Traditional Roles.  She is all about finding an appreciation for the world of possibilities that await when you’re prepared to throw aside self-imposed limitations. Everyone is capable of doing the job – what are you waiting for “Get Your Glo On” she shouts out! Jo showed us around her hometown Mackay and joined us for the first two days of the North Queensland Roadshow, 16th – 24th October 2023. We took a little time out of the roadshow and spoke to Jo about how she supports the next generation. For more information about Kickass Women, visit Kickass Women or connect with Jody Sainsbury via LinkedIn.

Fiona believes STEM Education should be accessible for everyone and believes helping children develop skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics will prepare them for a future where they can make a difference.  AWIC was fortunate to have Fiona join us in Mackay for the first day of the North Queensland Roadshow, 16th – 24th October 2023. We enjoyed the time we had Fiona join us and took the opportunity to have a chat with her about engaging our next generation of female leaders into STEM. STEM Punks mission is to “Inspire Tomorrows Innovators” and teach children about 21st Century Skills by enabling a mindset of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.For more information about STEM Punks, visit STEM Punks or connect with Fiona Holmstrom via LinkedIn.

As a Transformational Health & Business Consultant with over 15+ years in Health & Leadership in corporate leadership, and 20 years of clinical experience as a Nurse in Intensive Care and Mental Health, it has always been Joan’s mission to make a difference and create change in people’s lives. She found herself called to integrate other modalities into her scope of practice such as a Diploma of Naturopathy, Reiki Master attainment and a Diploma in Business Management. Coupled with her intuitive abilities, she realised that she had the unique ability to work with people’s energies in the quantum field and to help them heal and see life with clarity and purpose. She takes female leaders and entrepreneurs on a journey to create personal transformation to “Unlock Your Unique Code.” (TM). Stepping into their personal power and being their best self with a rock-solid foundation. What sets Joan apart in her industry is decades of experience with a strong background in Leadership, Health and Wellness, coupled with her substantial qualifications. Her senior leadership positions with world leading organisations, as well as a mix of Eastern and Western philosophies, allows her to work on a subliminal level with a persons’ energies to refocus, re energise, revitalise and realign. She is the author of “Show UP” a leadership book about how to lead through times of change, a new paradigm of female leadership. She inspires her audience with courage, pure grit, determination, passion and belief in themselves to go the extra distance. Her mentoring programs are individually tailored to meet the needs of the individual both personally and professionally. Joan’s background serves her audience well by integrating the mind, body and spirit connection with a strong focus on health, leadership, energy management with quantum healing. Supporting her clients to get clear on their WHY. Joan holds a Bachelor of Health Science, Post Graduate Diplomas in Mental Health Nursing, Naturopathy, Business Management and is a Reiki Master & Certified Akashic Records Practitioner. Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook (personal)

Mel’s background is in manufacturing. Having started her career in a traditional apprenticeship. Her experience in this industry lead her to become involved in all aspects of business. Mel has had 28 years’ experience in the Manufacturing Sector in Queensland in a range of roles from Communications & Marketing to Sales and Operations Management and Environmental Standards in a Global Company. Over the course of her career, Mel has studied Business, Leadership & Management with a strong focus on communications and operations. In her current role, Mel engages daily with Qld Manufacturers, both local small business and larger Global firms. Mel liaises between Government and Industry to communicate the hurdles and wins that Queensland Industry experiences. Mel facilitates the Women in Manufacturing series of regional events since 2017. Mel is passionate about the manufacturing industry, the promotion of women in this sector, and encouraging students into apprenticeships as a career path. Her other interest is helping businesses understand the opportunities that are available to them with the uptake of new technologies into their business models - having developed and facilitated the Industry 4.0 and Technology in Manufacturing series with the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing & Water Facebook | LinkedIn

Dani heads the management team at Rock Up Group, a company that operates within, and serves the needs of the concrete polishing industry. Rock Up Group has been at the forefront of the concrete polishing industry over the past 12 years operating under strict, measurable quality standards. Their work has spanned from large high-end retail and commercial fit outs through to boutique architectural homes. Over the past 5 years have seen Rock Up Group successfully introduce a novel service to the concrete polishing industry on the worldwide stage; Independent process-based Training and Support, both on-site and off and also online. Through the uptake of this type of training, Dani and her team contribute to ensuring a pool of high-performance subcontractors are available to choose from. Dani is a fierce advocate for the use of polished concrete a sustainable, longterm floor finish. She is passionate about ensuring the wider building and construction industry has access to relevant and up to date education regarding this product and a pool of high-performance subcontractors to choose from. Dani is a creative problem solver whose background in academic research, science communication, medical device innovation, R&D and commercialisation has provided strong transferrable skills across to the Building and Construction Industry forming a solid base for business and program development in her current role. Dani is an energetic contributor within the boards and committees she is part of. She is currently an elected member of the Board of Directors at Master Builders Victoria, MBV Electoral Council & Specialist Contractor Sector Committee and sits on the Board of the Building and Construction Industry Foundation. Dani seeks to encourage and empower others and learn from those that have paved the way while taking the challenges of the moment head on. She is happiest when learning how things work, asking questions and connecting with others. Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Through her coaching, training, speaking, and writing Cassandra empowers leaders to be true to themselves at work as the catalyst for the co-creation of workplaces where people can thrive, perform, play and belong. Cassandra has a background as business executive. She was the Global Director of Employee Experience at Bupa. In this role she was accountable for the activation of the organisations’ purpose ‘Longer, Healthier, Happier Lives’ for their 86,000 employees around the world. Today, Cassandra enjoys a portfolio career. She is the founder of The Centre for Self-Fidelity, the Chief Talent Activator at Think Talent, and a facilitator and executive coach for Thrive Global. Following the success of her first self-published book Self-Fidelity in 2020, her second book Being True was published by Hardie Grant in 2023. Instagram | LinkedIn

Established in 2016, Megan Nastrom is the Co-Founder of Ultra Living Homes. With a degree in accounting, Megan’s initial role was predominantly in running the accounts department and HR. Over time, this evolved to overseeing the entire business to assist in propelling it forward, navigating through Covid and the challenges that came afterwards and improve the businesses client inclusions offerings to create a real point of difference within the industry. Much of this is what saw Megan take out the 2022 HIA QLD Building Women Executive Leadership Award. Also, behind the scenes, Megan is now the leading force behind all of Ultra’s Display Homes from initial conception of plan design, colour selections, on site progress, marketing and display home staging. In 2022, Ultra was awarded HIA’s Gold Coast Region Best Display Home in the $300k to $500k category and was also runner up in the 2022 HIA Qld Interior Design Awards for the Display Home Interior Design category. As a businesswoman, a wife, and a mother of 2 girls, Megan admits that finding the perfect work/life balance is not always that easy. However, with a combination of support from both family and industry professionals, and the ability to know when one needs to take care of oneself to be one’s best version of themself, Megan wouldn’t have it any other way. Megan believes that during these tough last few years, having great perspective when it comes to others and the industry has been paramount. Website | Facebook | Instagram

Kristina brings vision and structure to Alder Constructions with her intuitive approach. Her industry experience, creative skills and collaborative style have enabled the organisation to build new business pathways, through high quality bid management, inspired community engagement programs and true leadership in support of our core goals and objectives. As a leader within Alder Constructions, Kristina’s passion to create a more diverse, inclusive and balanced workplace has cultivated an environment where gender barriers are removed and women in construction are truly supported, promoted and valued.

Angela is CEO and Founder of EPIC and is a highly experienced professional with a diverse background in the construction industry spanning over 20 years. Her journey began at a young age, working on her father's turf farm and later joining his landscaping business during her high school years. After finishing high school, she then moved into a role that saw her managing a chain of locksmiths stores across Brisbane, where she was only one of 2 females in Qld trained in complex locksmithing systems. One of Angela's notable achievements was her first project, overseeing the construction of a Peppers Resort, a comprehensive project comprising 132 units, a hotel and restaurant, retail outlets, day spa, and function and conference centre. She played a pivotal role in the project, working diligently from pre-construction to operational phases. Throughout her career, Angela has amassed a wealth of expertise across various sectors within the construction industry. She has successfully contributed to projects in fields such as oil and gas, undersea electricity interconnectors, civil engineering, renewables, power generation, water management, commercial construction, government initiatives, forestry, tourism and marketing, and major international construction projects in Dubai, the Middle East, Singapore, Pakistan, New Zealand, and India. Angela's exceptional work on Australia's multi-billion-dollar mega-projects even garnered attention from the US TV show "Mega Structures," for the APLNG Project at Curtis Island. Her experience as a FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) worker in remote locations across Australia has given her firsthand exposure to the challenges faced by women in the industry, including sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, discrimination, and threatening behaviour and her own personal experiences were the driving force why she founded EPIC, as she recognised there were no specialised services available to support women in the construction industry. In addition to her construction expertise, Angela also serves as a Probity Advisor for the Tasmanian Government, ensuring ethical conduct in procurement processes, and holds the position of Tribunal Member (Disciplinary Tribunal) for the Department of Justice in Tasmania. She is also a White Ribbon Australia Community Partner and Mentor for Be Hers, a community organisation who supports vulnerable CALD women. Driven by a passion for empowering individuals, Angela is dedicated to helping people thrive, succeed, and shine in their respective endeavours. Her extensive knowledge, combined with her commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment, makes her an asset in the construction industry and beyond. LinkedIn

Kim is the Co-Owner & Office Manager of CRA Construction. A Brisbane based plastering company focusing on high-end architectural homes within Brisbane's inner-city. Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Anthony Ikin is widely renowned for his never-ending optimism, generous spirit and unique dance moves. In fact those signature dance moves, coupled with his driven and determined mindset, led him to become the World Aerobic Champion, a top 10 finalist on the popular television show, “So You Think You Can Dance” and a soloist in the world-famous Parisian cabaret, “Moulin Rouge.” Pirouetting from on stage to behind the scenes, Anthony has worked as a Creative Director and Choreographer on a glittering portfolio of global projects. These include a career highlight of choreographing the closing ceremony of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and most recently adding his magic to the dance routines of the iconic musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. After decades of captivating audiences all over the world, Anthony has successfully re-channelled his performance acumen into a successful coaching and speaking vocation in Ikin Achieve. Anthony is a certified Life Coach through Jay Shetty, a graduate of the Kairos Project with Rich Litvin, and holds a diploma in the science of wellbeing from Yale University. The enthusiasm, charisma, and colourful energy Anthony brings to every session make him highly sought after as both a one-on-one personal coach or a group coach in corporate settings. His passion and expertise lie in showing how negative and destructive thought patterns can be replaced with a new script, a script that leads and manifests into unstoppable confidence. Anthony’s signature keynote speeches are out of this world and have been compared to the contagious energy of watching a first Broadway show or live football game; the only difference being that the audience’s exhilaration stems from the realisation of their own potential, value, and prospects. Anthony is on a mission to help people like themselves more, strive actively in the pursuit of their happiness and goals and most importantly, feel unwavering confidence in their everyday lives. He brings all this inspiration and energy wrapped up in a jump out of your seat delivery, and if Anthony has his way, you’ll be shimmying towards the best version of yourself straight away!

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Georgi Le Lay is the Director and Operations Manager at Rocket Building Approvals. Georgi was awarded Employer of Choice at the inaugural AWIC Awards in 2022. Website | Instagram

Jess is the Development Manager for Coast2Bay Housing Group - a regional Community Housing Provider based on the Sunshine Coast. Jess has worked in development and construction in Qld and WA for over 15 years across public, private and not-for-profit sectors. As Development Manager, Jess is responsible for delivering new residential homes and communities that transform lives - providing safe and secure housing choices for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Website

Tanya Meessmann is the founder and CEO of social enterprise Girl Shaped Flames, not-for-profit UNIQ You and now the Trellis Collective consultancy. Thoroughly dedicated to addressing gender inequality within male-dominated industries (and armed with international insights and experience) Tanya has not only worked with over 4000 teenage girls, their parents and educators facilitating powerful confidence development, mentoring, inspiring events, and transformative training courses for 5 years... ...in 2021 she developed and launched UNIQ You: a not for profit career advisory service in response to the critical need to significantly increase the number of high school girls considering and pursuing inspiring unique career pathways in industries and roles under-represented by women. Trellis Collective, and its First Five Program, presents a continuation of Tanya’s dedication to providing the support needed for young women entering and navigating male-dominated industries, and the opportunity to apply her confidence development, communication and community expertise to result in the next generation of empowered women. Girl Shaped Flames: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram UNIQ You: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Trellis Collective: LinkedIn

If you have women in your workplace, then periods are something you have to start talking about and start considering in order to show true care for your employees. For too long, women have experienced shame and embarrassment around a completely natural thing that happens to their bodies every month. It can cause them discomfort, pain and even lead to needing time out from work. All of this is meant to be hidden away from the day to day of work. But Janine Coppeller, a woman living with endometriosis is changing that. After working in HR and recruitment for 23 years, Janine founded Jnine & Co to support women in their careers by normalising menstruation and offering comfort at work. Janine is particularly passionate about supporting women wanting to go into Trade industries. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin

Keeley Tilbrook is 17 years old and currently in her second year as an Electrical Apprentice with Dawson Electric. At just 17, Keeley took home the inaugural AWIC Award for Professional of the Year in 2022. Keeley spoke of her tenacity and drive in her AWIC nomination: “I think what makes me an AWESOME woman in construction is my positive perspective on all aspects of my work and my genuine love for what I do. I am strong willed, honest, optimistic and am always learning through failure. I get the job done with a smile and push myself to do what scares me, but mostly I love to show not only young girls, but everyone around me that it is fun to do things that aren’t the norm.” Instagram | Linkedin