On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women whose dedication, talent, and leadership make a significant impact on our business, our industry, and the wider community. Our CEO, Scott Olsen, took the opportunity to recognise and thank the women across our organisation for their valued contributions.
“International Women’s Day reminds us that progress is built through awareness, action, and accountability. While we celebrate the achievements of women within the business, we also recognise the responsibility we have as leaders and as an industry to continue advancing equality.”
We also spoke with our team members to hear firsthand what International Women’s Day means to them, and to gain insight into their experiences, achievements, and perspectives as women working in the construction industry.
Ashley Costa
Ashley is a Plumber Apprentice with our HVAC division. She believes every role in our industry plays an important part, but for women especially, it’s about setting an example and guiding those who are just starting. Representation matters, and being someone others can look to makes a real difference.
Over the course of her career, she has seen encouraging change. More women are entering the industry and, importantly, being recognised for their skills and capabilities. She feels the industry is moving in the right direction and has personally never felt left out or left behind, a positive sign that progress is being made.
Confidence, for her, comes from action. She takes pride in being willing to give everything a go, stepping outside her comfort zone, and then standing back to see what she’s achieved. Those everyday moments of growth are what make her feel proud.
She believes women are being given a fair opportunity and encourages others to embrace every challenge. Her advice to young women entering the industry is simple: back yourself. Everyone starts somewhere, and you’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you try.
To Ashley, a supportive workplace is built on strong mentorship, leaders, and colleagues who are always there to guide, encourage, and stand beside you as you grow.
Lise Perrin
Lise plays a key role supporting Maintenance and Reactive works for Western Australia and New Zealand clients, while also being a trusted source of support for her team. Building strong relationships with clients, peers, and management is central to her role.
Since starting her career, Lise has seen positive change for women in the industry, particularly in being taken more seriously. Roles in customer service were once viewed as “helpers” rather than leaders, and she feels humbled by the recognition she has received over her 10 years at Sturdie.
For Lise, “balancing the scales” also means balancing care for others with care for herself. While she naturally supports those around her, she recognises the importance of protecting her own wellbeing and managing emotional fatigue.
Celebrating her 10 years of service was a proud milestone, reflecting the trust, friendships, and support she has built along the way. She challenges the assumption that women’s roles come naturally, believing success is developed through experience, resilience, and judgement.
Her advice to young women entering the industry: don’t confuse kindness with passivity, you can be warm and still be firm.
Tracey Day
Tracey plays a crucial role as the communication hub between clients, project managers, and site teams, ensuring everyone has the right information at the right time. From coordinating materials to keeping installations on track, her work behind the scenes is key to delivering successful projects.
Since starting her career, Tracey has seen a positive shift for women in the technology and AV sector, with greater acceptance and more women stepping into management roles. But she believes there is still work to do to balance the scales, particularly in supporting women into senior leadership positions.
A proud career moment for Tracey was winning repeat projects, even when not the lowest bid, showing that quality, reliability, and strong teamwork speak for themselves. She also challenges the assumption that women are only suited to support roles, having worked on multiple projects led by female project managers.
Her advice to young women entering the industry is simple: just go for it there is a place for women at every level.
