Senior Environmental Advisor

How did you get started in your field?

It was a career sea change for me, as I worked for many years in a management position in a different field. I had a degree in Agricultural Science, so it felt like a natural progression to find work in a field I had previously studied in. I had always wanted to pursue a role in environmental science and have been fortunate to work with Renewal SA for 9 years in this role.

What is it like working in a male dominated field?

I found coming into this role quite a while after first completing my degree, that the industry was less male dominated than it previously had been. When I graduated from my Ag Science degree, there were only five female graduates, including myself. And while the university itself encouraged females to apply for the course and offered the same opportunities for their students, it was once you got out into the workforce, the opportunities weren’t the same for females. So, it’s a great thing to see more and more women now getting into this field and getting the same opportunities as their male colleagues.

Have you ever experienced bias as a woman?

I was once told I wouldn’t be employed because I was a woman. Comments like this though only made me more determined to succeed in my ambitions.

What’s helped you to be successful in your industry?

Trying to be an expert in the field, making sure I stay up-to-date with the latest industry knowledge and being able to talk to everyone on an equal basis.

What have you learnt about yourself over the years?

That having a goal or aim is the most important thing, and not to let any missed opportunities or people not believing you deter you. Just keep going! I knew getting into this field would be tough because it was a male dominated field and would be difficult to get into, but I’m a determined person.

What advice would you give other women who work or want to pursue a career in environmental science?

Make sure you know your stuff and stay focused on where you want to get to.