07-16 SEPTEMBER 2017 Resene Thorndon Showroom - 77 Thorndon Quay Including our 21 st birthday celebration at 5:30pm on Thursday 14 th http://www.nzia.co.nz/festival-of-architecture/wellington-events/exhibition-women-in-construction
THANKYOU TO OUR SPONSORS
WELCOME Today a career in the construction industry is an option chosen by many, however for women it is still an extraordinary choice. The Women in Construction exhibition provides a visual documentation of the choices women have made to work within the construction industry. Alongside this photographic exhibition, we would like to acknowledge those women whose earlier work in the construction industry gave us a pathway to follow and all those who have successfully found their place in the construction industry today. We are especially indebted to the women who agreed to let us tell their stories; thank you for giving us the opportunity to visit your places of work and for sharing some of yourself with us. It has been an inspirational and exciting adventure. We hope these stories will encourage and inspire other women to consider embarking upon an exciting and fulfilling career in the construction industry. Emma Weir & Cathy Tracey Exhibition Co-ordinators
INTRODUCTION The number of women in New Zealand s construction industry has grown exponentially in recent years and women are hard at work in just about every construction job. This growth has prompted the establishment and success of NAWIC in New Zealand. We are a non-profit association of women who work either in the construction industry or for business organisations who provide services to the construction industry. NAWIC New Zealand has been active in Wellington since 1996, and established chapters in Auckland and Canterbury three years ago. Our members include quantity surveyors, project managers, suppliers, planners, designers, architects, engineers, tradespeople and lawyers. NAWIC encourages women to pursue, establish and sustain successful careers in the construction industry. Our vision is to be the leading voice for women in the New Zealand industry. We hold regular events to inform and up-skill women in construction and to promote networking and information sharing for the betterment of the construction industry as a whole.
1. HAYLEY BARNES Contracting Quantity Surveyor, Premier Contracting (Christchurch) 2. JEANINE CLARK Roofer, TW Clark Roofing Ltd Graduating in 2002 with the New Zealand Diploma in Quantity Surveying, Hayley has moved into the specialised contracting area of roofing. I pride myself in being efficient with an eye for detail and I am always looking for a challenge and am willing to try anything new. A returning subject, Jeanine is still at the height of her trade as a roofer and is now registered as a Licenced Building Practioner in roofing. I left school and started an apprenticeship with my Dad s firm and alongside my brother. I enjoy every minute working outside.
3. JODY RUDMAN National Sales Manager, St Michel 4. MILVIA HANNAH Kitchen Designer, German Kitchens Ltd Who would have thought that selling toilets would turn into a 17 plus year career? But I can honestly say that it has been both a challenging and enjoyable experience so far! While acknowledging the plumbing industry can be a bit of a boys club, Jody overcame sets back with hard work and developing good knowledge and expertise in plumbing products and processes. In her role Jody leads a team of sales representatives all over New Zealand and also has her own portfolio of clients. Early on in her working life Milvia recognised she relished a challenge and taking up kitchen design provided a challenge, and it is the same sense of challenge that has held Milvia in the industry for thirty years. Milvia established her own company, German Kitchens in 1996 and employs her own son in the business. I am proud of the fact that the role of a Kitchen Designer has now become that of a recognized and respected professional.
5. LINDA WONG Architect, Tennent Brown Architects 6. NIKITA WARD Apprentice Plumber, Hutt Plumbing and Gas I was born in South Auckland, was good at maths and science at school but had a passion for art too. Mother of 2, Linda graduated in 2000 and has worked in USA and Hong Kong. Initially working on house alterations and additions Linda is now acclimatising herself to commercial projects. Nikita works as an apprentice plumber at Hutt Gas and Plumbing. At school I was good at metalwork and I thought well, maybe I could do a trade. It s not all about poo in plumbing! Every day is different; our work is really varied and interesting. I made the right decision changing careers. Looking for a fresh start after working in a job not suited to her, Nikita enrolled in a pre-trade plumbing course. Finishing first in her class she was offered an apprenticeship with Hutt Gas and Plumbing where she currently works as an apprentice.
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YEARS OF NAWIC
7. ALICE CARMODY Quantity Surveyor, Choice Commercial Interiors Ltd 8. FLAVIA WOLF Site Engineer, Fletcher Construction M2PP Expressway Seven years at Choice and I have just been appointed a Director. I am now responsible for the company financial reporting and Health and Safety and continue to manage budgeting, tendering and negotiating contracts. Working as a quantity surveyor for 16 years Alice is also the mother of two, is actively involved in the NAWIC Wellington chapter and is a mentor for NZIQS. I am from Brazil, many of my friends studied medicine but I wanted to do engineering. While I was studying I was offered a job on the tallest building being built in my city, Curitiba. It was a amazing to be part of such a big thing. Flavia is fascinated by the care for the environment the New Zealand construction industry takes and over the years has learnt to be honest, to own her mistakes and not be afraid to say ask for help. I ve learned to keep trying and don t give up and to be proud of being a woman in construction, very proud.
9. KATE ROSS Carpenter, C G Low Building Ltd 10. SUZANNE AYERS Stonemason, Goldfields, Christchurch Kate was the first female to win an Apprentice of the Year regional competition which she found thrilling and overwhelming but the achievement was a testament to her strong character and determination. When asked if she would encourage young women into the trade, Kate advised Don t put all your eggs in one basket. Don t focus on one avenue, but explore every opportunity that comes your way to learn as much as you can about the industry. I ve always been a tomboy and interested in building things. After the Christchurch earthquakes my father asked me to join the family business and my grandfather who recently passed away taught me. Suzie fell in love with the family trade because it keeps her physically fit and provides new challenges continuously. She especially enjoys demolition work and feels creative when doing pointing joining and shaping the surface of the stones after they have been laid. I take my children around the city to see the buildings the company has worked on and I get excited when my daughter wants to become a stone mason just like her mother.
11. CLAIRE MCDOUGALL Senior Architectural Graduate, Studio 8 Architecture Ltd 12. CAITLYN LEE Architectural Graduate, Tennent Brown Architects You do have to juggle things but it is worthwhile and my extended family support me a lot and Janine my employer really understands how it is to juggle things with children. A returning subject, Claire now holds the title of Mother oftwo alongside Architectural Graduate. She sees her skills in model making as a tool for helping her clients to visualise their projects. Excelling in maths and science at school, Caitlyn undertake a Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Science, graduated and began working in engineering but something was missing. Encouraged to peruse an architectural degree, Caitlyn returned to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, and now has her dream job at Tennent Brown Architects. I like architecture because it is both art and science. I encourage anyone to pursue their dreams because you are happy the minute you act on your decision and today I am so truly happy.
13. RULA ALATIA Principal Architect, Jasmax 14. JODIE MICKLESON National Sales Manager, Ontera I have always been fascinated by art and science, and when a family friend told me about her career in architecture, I knew that was what I wanted to do. Born in Iraq, Rula studied at the University of Bagdad and came to New Zealand in 1999. Rula sees her career has having naturally developed however recommends anyone thinking of coming into architecture to research, visit architectural firms and talk to people in the role. I would also like to tell woman that it is important for them to find their own career. It opens the world to you and gives you an independence that is so good for us as woman. I m living the dream as National Sales Manager for Ontera. All the hard work and passion I have for this industry has bought me here and I m really positive about the future. A solo mother at 18 Jodie ventured into her first sales job in consumable goods and in time became a successful account manager. Jodie moved onto product sales and distribution in the construction industry specialising in carpet and related products sales and is enthusiastic about the opportunities the industry offers to women.
15. GAZELLE MOINFAR Project Supervisor, Fletcher Construction 16. VANESSA PARSONS Painter, JMA Decorators Ltd I really enjoy working in construction because it is a fast-paced and exciting industry with many challenges. It s a great environment to learn from, and work with, a diverse group of people with many different skills and backgrounds, all with the common goal of getting something built! A returning subject, Gazelle has worked in project management for 9 years. Vanessa turned 16 and was determined to leave school but her parents said she had to find a course to do if she wanted to leave. I wanted my own money and to provide for myself. I started training with JMA Decorators and now I m a qualified painter. Getting the qualification has meant a lot, I feel I can go anywhere now and I can work as a painter. Diligence and determination are words used to describe Vanessa, her success is expressed by the sentiment and I never looked back.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Bringing the exhibition together has been an inspiring and fun project; supported by the generosity and contributions of many individuals. Thanks to our photographer Essi Airisniemi whose professionalism and flexible approach made working with her a pleasure. We d also like to thank Rachel Buer who photographed Jody Rudman, Kate Ross and Rula Alatia in Auckland. We d like to acknowledge Alana Inglis and Ashleigh Jenner for exhibition design work coupled with an enthusiasm for the project which helped keep things moving along. Thanks to Gillian Topping for time spent on preparing the 20 years of NAWIC material. Keryn Wear and Liana Nobilo of DGSE for the graphic design and booklet layout and liaising with Chelsea of Ink Digital. Thanks also to NAWIC members including Janine Mitchell, Jodie Mickleson, Keryn Wear, Nicola Cornforth, Alison Thirkettle-Tawharu, Stacey Mendonca, Nicola Custance, Nelsha de Plessis and Jenny Parker for their support and advice. Thank you to all our families and friends for your encouragement and patience while this project took over our lives just a little and for all the hugs and dinners.
RESPECT INSPIRE INCLUDE NAWIC.ORG.NZ