Q: As a Scottish woman living in Melbourne and a successful business owner, what do you think are some of the unique challenges that women entrepreneurs face, and how have you overcome them in your own journey?

A:I think we still face the challenge of traditional stereotypes about our roles, which I have found very frustrating at times – especially in construction. Whether it’s throw away sexist comments or perceptions based on the traditional way of thinking about men and women. I was incredibly lucky that I was brought up not being aware of those biases. Our home was very much gender neutral with strong female figures around me and feminist men, so it shocked me when I got out into the real world. But it also gave me the confidence to tackle and challenge those assumptions head on. Particularly in leadership at times we can feel we have to act a certain way, or keep our voice heard but not be too loud, and there’s an element of trying to keep everyone happy which I think is a trait women can be conditioned to have through the way society tells us to act as young girls. I’ve always had an element in my nature of rebellion and determination when someone says I can’t do something. I think that’s helped me overcome those challenges and allowed me to tackle them head on.

Q: International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women worldwide. Could you share a particular accomplishment in your business or personal life that you’re especially proud of? 

A: In my business life I am incredibly proud that we’ve built a company that has supported women to flourish from the very beginning. At double the industry average female employees Alchemy feels like such a progressive modern place to be. Jamie my partner really didn’t like the boys club of construction and we have both worked tirelessly to change that in the last 9 years since we founded Alchemy. Our whole team are very interconnected and the men in our company love the changes they are seeing and have expressed just how much female participation is improving our industry. Not just on our projects but now on our Sites with female trades, site supervisors and more! That feels glorious! In my personal life I just feel so lucky to be surrounded by exceptional women who are resilient, selfless and offer such emotional comfort and care. A proper sisterhood that gets me through life.

Q: As a gender equality advocate, what actions do you take within your business to support and empower other women?

A: We are always actively looking for great women, we realise that the traditional recruitment paths won’t always take us there – and as we are a dynamic nimble company it has allowed us to bring women into the company through non-traditional routes. The traditional routes just don’t stack up if we want to really change the construction space. You have to see where transferable skills lie as many women who excel in the industry and have excelled at Alchemy, originally felt it maybe wasn’t an industry where they could have a chance. For example one of our Site Coordinator’s on our Hospital projects was a former ICU nurse with a passion to build, these are the stories and these are the candidates that are out there and willing and ready when the chance is offered to them. Supporting those women to do that is such a great feeling. It’s the best. Within our business everyone has a voice, we are a progressive company. Empowering women is supporting them to speak up, speak out, tackle bias head on and know that they will always have the support of the business in any situation that doesn’t feel right to them. Construction requires a lot of resilience, so we try to create an environment that equips and helps women to succeed.

Q: What are your future aspirations, particularly in advancing gender equality and women’s rights?

A: We want to keep changing the industry making it much more gender balanced, and we want to continue to build our phenomenal team of women. A goal of 50/50 split is what we are seeking! There are many important initiatives right now to do that, but I believe strongly that the undercurrent of bias is something at grass roots we must fix. It doesn’t matter how much we try to do if societal attitudes don’t change. They are changing and I feel heartened when I hear my sister who is 24 talking about her generation and her thoughts and feelings about how much things have improved even in the last 20 years from when I was in my 20s. What is amazing to see is the push for female apprentices and trades, I think we will see a huge industry overhaul in the next 20-30 years. We have been working at a grass roots level starting with my daughter’s school, to teach the kids that construction is for everyone. And really that any career or passion they have is something they must seek. Trying to stamp out those early biases that can form in junior school. 

Q: Which women, whether historical, contemporary, or personal mentors, have inspired your journey as a business owner, and how have they influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and leadership?

A: My mother is an exceptionally strong resilient women with excellent EQ. She brought us up with a ‘the world doesn’t owe you’ mantra. She loved us endlessly and gave us huge confidence to get out there and strive for whatever it was we wanted, but she never allowed us to feel sorry for ourselves. It was very much you want something; you work hard to get it and you act in good faith and character throughout. She herself was an incredible lady raising 4 kids while a social worker. I remember a great story where my Dad who was a singer was being interviewed and they said ‘Donnie behind every great man is a strong woman’. Any my mother replied to the interviewer ‘or beside and in front at times.’ This is who she was and he and all of us admired and loved her for it.

Another great mentor was my dear friend Catherine McLeod. Political Editor for the Herald in London, she would be in the Commons filing stories for the next day until sometimes 2am, home on the train and then up to give her children breakfast. Such resilience. I remember when I was 14 at a Press Conference in the House of Commons her telling the Shadow Defence Secretary she completely disagreed with everything he said.  I was stunned and also in awe at her bravery. 

And lastly, My dear grandmother Josie. Working 3 jobs to support and raise her children in the East End of Glasgow in the 60s. Not an easy life but one she had incredible gratitude for and a faith that sustained her. And my dear sister whose kindness, inclusiveness and fairness is something I learn from every day.

Q: Is there a woman or group of women whose work or advocacy you admire for International Women’s Day, and if so, how do you integrate their principles or values into your business practices or community engagement?

A: I really believe so many women are doing incredible things to make our lives fairer and more equitable. In the construction industry NAWIC and WIDAC and other groups do great work to support and encourage women. Highlighting great stories and offering support and advice. Sally Caruana from SheForce has also been doing exceptional things to help women from a variety of backgrounds get into construction. We know that poverty and mid-life poverty can really impact women, Sally’s work has set about to change that and help women set themselves up economically to ensure their long-term security. Without economic independence so many women are trapped, and Sally’s work is groundbreaking. I think the principles of these organisations are the fundamental pillars of our company and so it always feels very natural to us to embed those values into everything we do at Alchemy. It’s a very natural process. I could not imagine our business being anything different. It was always founded on fairness and equality and not just for the few – but also for everyone.