Hyne Timber’s call to get more women into modern manufacturing on the Fraser Coast

“The kind of feedback we have received recently, particularly from women in the community means we really have to work harder,” says Hyne CEO.

Hyne Timber is looking to employ more women in the company’s work force, calling for female students and women to consider careers in modern manufacturing.

The call comes after recent recruitment drives in Maryborough and Hervey Bay shopping centres, Hyne personnel were left astounded at the number of women who did not consider applying for roles, purely based on their gender.

Hyne Timber CEO, Jon Kleinschmidt said there is no doubt the manufacturing workforce has historically been male dominated but that means half the potential talent pool are not being considered.

“The kind of feedback we have received recently, particularly from women in the community means we really have to work harder. Women are eligible for all our operational roles and may be surprised to discover just how fulfilling it is to work in modern manufacturing,” he said.

“We have gender diversity in our Board, our executive team and our support functions and we’re starting to see an improvement in our operational areas including the appointment of the first female Site Manager, Andrea Frost, recently at our Glue Laminated Timber Plant in Maryborough.”

Ms Frost said recruitment to the site team will focus on diversity including gender, but we do not have quotas.

“We need to attract the best people for the work and people will be assessed on merit. The challenge this presents to us, is encouraging more women to apply in the first place.” she said.

Several other women have recently joined Hyne’s Glue Laminated Timber plant.

Process Operator, Ella Douglass is creative having always enjoyed working with her dad in the shed using timber.

Ms Douglass undertook a carpentry apprenticeship with the Fraser Coast Regional Council and went on to complete an engineering course.

Process Operator Aimee Burns joins the plant with past experience as an Area Manager for BP.

Ms Burns admitted she was a little apprehensive about working in manufacturing as a woman, with friends claiming she “wouldn’t last”

Process Operator, Jess Wixon also brings a fresh set of eyes to the process with a specific focus on safety.

She identified an opportunity to introduce more rotation into the process, decreasing any repetition and improving safety which the whole team appreciated and can benefit from.

CEO, Jon Kleinschmidt will be representing Hyne Timber as a panellist during the Wide Bay ‘Women in Manufacturing’ event to be held in Gympie on 3 June 2021.

Job vacancies at Hyne can be viewed on the companies website.