Her Construction Career

Chi Melhem never set out to lead her own firm. But after two decades shaping major projects and mentoring the next generation of designers, she realised the only way to build the culture she wanted was to start from scratch.In this episode, Chi shares her journey from a childhood in Alice Springs to becoming a founding director of EM BE CE, an architecture practice rooted in equity, process, and people. She opens up about the pressures of leadership, her decision to walk away from a prestigious role, and what it took to back herself and begin again.We talk candidly about burnout, parenthood, and imposter syndrome - and how Chi’s quiet leadership style is making a loud impact across the industry.You’ll hear:Why Chi initially turned down a director role - and how a recruiter changed her mindWhat it’s really like starting your own firm while raising a familyThe practical steps she’s taken to create a flexible, family-friendly workplace cultureHer reflections on risk, responsibility, and why architects need to understand the business side of the jobHow she’s reframing leadership to include vulnerability, reflection, and authenticity

Alia Karaman didn’t start her career in construction - or plan to end up leading one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in NSW. But with a background in social sciences, a master’s in planning and urban management, and two decades working across government, Alia has built a career defined by her grit, clarity, and belief in public infrastructure as a force for good.Today, she’s the Project Director for Sydney Metro Southwest, overseeing the conversion of the T3 rail line into a world-class metro system connecting the very communities she grew up in. She’s a champion of strong leadership, culture-first teams, and backing people based on potential - not job titles.In this episode, Alia shares how saying yes to unexpected opportunities (including the one job she didn’t want) led to her proudest career moments. She reflects on managing projects where she’s not the technical expert, balancing marathon training with boardroom meetings, and calling out subtle sexism with humour and honesty.You’ll hear:🛤 How Alia built a leadership career without an engineering background💬 Why communication - not technical expertise -is her biggest superpower💡 Her advice for future leaders (and what she wants her kids to say about her)💪 The difference between flexibility and chaos - and why she’s okay with both🎯 How she’s making decisions today that will shape Sydney for generations

Hala Taouk didn’t get to where she is by doing things the usual way. From her early days as a site engineer to leading the commercial function on major infrastructure projects, she’s built a 20-year career defined by curiosity, courage, and showing up as her full, authentic self - even when it meant standing out.Now a Senior Commercial Manager at UGL, Hala is leading on HumeLink West, a once-in-a-generation renewable energy project she’s proud to tell her kids about. But beyond the technical side of the job, she’s passionate about culture, intersectionality, and helping others succeed without compromising who they are.In this episode, Hala reflects on making strategic career moves to support her family, building a diverse career across multiple sectors, and why leadership isn't about fitting in - it’s about backing yourself and doing things your way.You’ll hear:Why Hala moved from engineering into commercial (and why it was never the plan)Her advice for career pivots, even if you’ve “never done it before”The truth about leading while parenting - and how to make it workHow she helps break down industry stereotypes, one authentic conversation at a time

Alison Mirams didn’t always plan on working in construction - she originally wanted to be a forensic scientist. But after being raised in a family that admired cranes and construction sites like works of art, she followed her practical instincts into the industry - and never looked back.Over two decades, Alison worked her way up through site roles to executive leadership at Multiplex and Lendlease, before becoming CEO of boutique Tier 1 builder Roberts Co. There, she grew the company from scratch, championed a five-day work week, and didn’t shy away from calling out the parts of the industry that needed fixing - regardless of what was said about her.Now enjoying retirement (and working on her handicap), Alison looks back on the moments that defined her career - from turning down a big promotion, to getting her name graffitied in the site lift. This episode is a masterclass in gutsy leadership, cultural reform, and refusing to do things “just because that’s how we’ve always done it.”You’ll hear:How Alison turned down the CEO role the first time - and why she eventually said yesWhy she believes the five-day work week could fix more than just burnoutWhat really holds women back from thriving in construction (hint: it’s not confidence)Her candid take on risk, reform, and why some leaders still haven’t got the memo

Jac McLoyd has never been afraid to get her hands dirty - in fact, that’s how her career started. On her 22nd birthday, shovel in hand, she showed up for what she thought would be a casual labouring job over uni holidays. Instead, she stumbled into the start of a 21-year journey in construction that’s taken her from muddy car parks to overseeing some of Australia’s biggest rail infrastructure projects. Today, she’s the Engineering Assurance Manager at CPB Contractors - and still proudly calls herself a fixer at heart.In this episode, Jac shares how she went from Chinese medicine and studying pharmacy and to driving rollers on road projects, building a fish lift in Kangaroo Valley, and eventually finding her niche in quality and systems assurance. She reflects on what it's like being the only woman on site, how her neurodivergence shaped her approach to work, and why she stayed with one company for over a decade. Plus, she gets real about family life, returning to work as a new mum, and the mental load of always having something to prove.Whether you’re just starting out or questioning your next step, Jac’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a master plan - just a good work ethic, a sense of humour, and the courage to keep showing up. Her career path wasn’t linear, but it’s living proof that there’s more than one way to build a successful, satisfying life in construction.

From sketching architectural drawings to overseeing design across multimillion-dollar builds, Lianna Augoustis has had a front-row seat to Growthbuilt’s evolution - and her own. Lianna began her career in architecture, but it didn’t take long before her curiosity for how things came together on site led her into construction. What started as a three-month contract has turned into a 15-year journey across project management, contract admin, and design leadership — all at the same company.In this episode, we speak with Lianna Augoustis, Head of Design and Services at Growthbuilt. Lianna shares her unconventional path from architecture into construction management, and how a job ad in the newspaper turned into a 15-year career (and counting) with the same company. She’s grown alongside the business - from fitouts and toilet blocks to complex multi-residential builds, and has worked across project management, contract admin, and design leadership roles.We talk about what it takes to stay in the game while raising a young family, the benefits (and boundaries) of flexible work, and how trust and autonomy have shaped her career. Lianna also shares what design management actually involves, why early planning is everything, and how modular construction is changing the game - one prefab bathroom pod at a time.This one’s full of honesty, insight, and quiet trailblazing, a reminder that your path doesn’t have to be linear to lead somewhere powerful.