Meet the extraordinary women making a difference in our city
From wellness and education to mechanical and design, in this five-part series meet Townsville’s extraordinary women achieving their career goals.
Townsville
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Townsville’s 50 most influential people in 2020, 10-1
KRISTA O’CONNOR
Catholic Education Indigenous Education Adviser
How did you get a start in your current career? I’m a teacher by trade, but my career started with a scholarship as part of the National Indigenous Cadetship Program. This was an invaluable experience, as the program provided paid work experience while I was completing a Bachelor of Secondary Education (English and mathematics) at James Cook University.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? While I certainly miss classroom teaching, my current role has opened my eyes to the innovative ways schools respond to their diverse communities around the Diocese.
What are some of the biggest challenges? Balancing the demands of family, work, study, and home life is always a challenge, but that really comes down to setting healthy and consistent boundaries for yourself.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in your industry? Education bucks the trend here, in that women are over-represented in the profession. However, when it comes to leadership roles and the representation of Indigenous women in all levels of education, there is much work to be done to balance things out. When we have processes and systems that allow for multiple voices and perspectives, that’s when we can be truly responsive to the needs of the community.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? IWD provides a space to recognise, celebrate, and create dialogue around how we can all foster equity, not only in our workplaces but in our society as a whole.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter your industry? It’s so important to have a strong support system around you. Seek out others who can give advice, lend an ear, build you up, and encourage you to achieve your goals.
What does the International Women’s Day theme #choosetochallenge mean to you? For me, ‘choose to challenge’ means: that we should challenge ourselves to move outside of our comfort zone; challenge others to see from a different perspective; and challenge the big ideas in society that don’t serve us anymore.
EVIE STARK
Coutts Redington accountant
What’s your favourite thing about your job? It’s very interesting dealing with a diverse range of clients, and solving the “puzzles” that some clients present us with is very rewarding.
What are some of the biggest challenges? When some of the above mentioned “puzzle pieces” are missing haha.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in your industry? A lot of clients appreciate the soft skills that women possess, it makes them feel comfortable that they’re being looked after.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? It’s a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate ourselves and other women’s achievements and abilities, and the contribution that women bring to the workplace, our families and friends, and society in general.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter your industry? Go for it! Be confident within yourself and your skills. It’s a great industry to be a part of, and is generally very flexible and family friendly.
KYLIE JOHNSON
Owner/franchisee Red Rooster Aitkenvale
How did you get a start in your current role? I have a degree in Hospitality Management and had been running my own small business for a number of years, when the opportunity to purchase Red Rooster came up.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? The pace, being a part of developing young staff, the food!
What are some of the biggest challenges? Juggling family and work. I learnt early on that we can’t “have it all”, we have to sacrifice something in order to have the other. But I work hard to be present in each role – as a boss and as a mum. And it can be a struggle.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in your industry? I think it’s important for women to be present in whatever industry they want. I think we need to focus less on gender and more on ability.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? It’s an opportunity to celebrate the amazing people in the Townsville business community.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter your industry? Ask questions. Always seek out the smartest person in the room.
MADONNA SIMMONS
Getbranded director/owner
How did you get a start in your career? I schooled and developed a career of marketing and commercial business acumen but always loved the creative side of marketing. A graduate of St Margaret Mary’s, I studied at TAFE, JCU and finished with a Masters in Business before becoming director and owner of Getbranded, a successful business with my husband Peter. Getbranded is a local promotional product, marketing, events and corporate communications consultancy. The business celebrates its 16th birthday in March and we have clients all over Australia. I want to acknowledge my previous employers and business friends who have mentored me to become the person I am today.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? People – I absolutely value my relationships. Having a positive attitude goes further than having a negative one. So be happy in what you do as life is too short.
What are some of the biggest challenges? My health, work life balance and ensuring that the business grows with all that is happening in the world. The challenge is also to give back without sacrificing your own business needs. I have had a personal policy to volunteer on at least two boards or committees per year since I was 20.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in your industry? I think that by being the best version of yourself can only inspire other women in any industry. Women in marketing and corporate communications normally excel, because we can listen, be patient, can be creative and can apply business nous with learned skills. I always say that marketing is not rocket science but it is a science; one with strategy and creativity meshed together.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? It is a day that allows us to reflect how far we have come as women in the working world. I personally have been affected in the past by persons who did not behave properly in the workplace. It is only through speaking out that society understands that it is not acceptable and that all persons should be treated equally.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter your industry? It is important to get work experience prior to entering the workplace, as it will give you an insight into what you what to specialise in. Getting a basics in business in both the commercial sectors and the SME areas will allow better opportunities for employment. Getbranded does mentoring with JCU School of Business and over the years has had more than 40 students. Lastly be patient with climbing the career ladder – bosses will reward when they see you have the right attitude.
KETA ROSEBY
Consultant, Purcell Taylor Lawyers
THE local legal profession today is far more evolved than the one I joined as a graduate in the mid 90s.
I can still remember, and quickly count, the handful of senior female lawyers.
Graduates were becoming more equal in numbers, but top ranking female practitioners were certainly considered the exception, not the rule. (I can also still remember being asked by a client if they could speak to “a real solicitor” – and that client was female).
Twenty-five years on and the scales have tipped; women graduates outnumber the men.
Senior female lawyers are now easily spoken about in the same breath as the men and there’s no discussion about whether the lawyer is male or female.
Thanks to those women (and their male colleagues who helped break the mould), senior positions are more attainable and achievable as each generation mentors and supports the next.
Law is a demanding, consuming and incredibly rewarding profession.
I speak from experience when I say it is not the easiest profession to pair up with being a Mum.
That said, even with their own juggling acts, female lawyers don’t think twice about supporting each other.
The strong camaraderie between us and trusted bonds formed in and out of the workplace endure throughout your career and beyond.
I’m proud to say that women looking to join the legal profession today will readily find inclusive and progressive workplaces and be spoilt for choice when it comes to experienced women mentors; it’s no longer the exception, but the rule.
DR NIRJYOT GILL
Dentist, Dentist at Healthlink
How did you get a start in your current career? From a young age, going to the dentist had always been a fun and exciting experience for me. So when it came to choosing a career I knew I wanted to work in a field where I could help and care for patients in an environment I enjoyed.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? Being able to change a patient’s perception of the dentist is always challenging yet rewarding. Many people visit the dentist anticipating pain however, I try my very best to leave them with a change of mind and a beautiful smile.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in your industry?
Gender representation has drastically changed in Dentistry from a male dominated industry to currently 50 per cent of dental practitioners in Australia being female. This marks a significant change in gender diversity. It would be great to see more women in leadership positions across dentistry and further progress the industry in a positive direction.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International women’s day to me is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the great changes that have occurred to create equality. Today I also pay tribute to the wonderful women in my life and especially my mother who has been my greatest inspiration. I will forever be grateful to all the women throughout history who have opened doors and paved paths where there were none so women like me can achieve their dreams.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter your industry? I would encourage all women considering a career in dentistry to go for it! Dentistry is an exciting and rewarding career which incorporates creativity with technical ability.
Originally published as Meet the extraordinary women making a difference in our city
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