WIC Committee

Jemma Bishop | vice chair
General Manager - west coast bitumen

Hi, I’m Jemma – I’m the General Manager at West Coast Bitumen, which is a family owned Bitumen Services business based in Port Lincoln.

I have been working in the Civil Construction Industry for 20 years and have been involved in all facets of the business from Administration to Measuring & Estimating, Business Development, Contract Management  and even a few stints on a Roller. I am excited to be the first Regional representative on the Women in Civil Committee.

I look forward to bringing a Regional perspective to issues facing Women in the Civil Construction Industry as well as being able to provide the Women working in the Industry, in my region, with the support, networking opportunities and advocacy that the CCF / Women in Civil Committee provides.

Tammy Cooper | SECRETARY
Safety coordinator - bmd group

I have been in the civil construction industry for over 15 years. Firstly, in a practical application sense as a Labourer then Leading Hand and now as a Safety Advisor, I have developed insight and a comprehensive understanding of construction safety from the ground up.

Leading a team of safety representatives, I work to ensure our project teams are following stringent safety conditions and mitigate challenges to keep our people safe. I consider the success of a project as something that’s measured by the safety culture onsite. Working at BMD, our safety culture is something which we are extremely proud of.

I have witnessed the evolution of diversity within the industry over my career where I have gone from being one of the only women onsite, to now one of many. While our industry continues to make positive and progressive steps to become more diverse, there is certainly a lot more than can be done. In addition to encouraging more women to our industry, I also feel a great responsibility to ensure those that are in it always feel supported. It is for this reason that I became part of the Civil Contractors Federation South Australia - Women in Civil committee and I am proud to be working towards delivering improvements for women in the industry, from workers on the ground to leadership and management representatives.

Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn

BRITTANY MATTERS | events
Finance Reporting Manager, MCMAHON SERVICES

I'm Brittany and I am the Finance Reporting Manager for McMahon Services.

I joined the committee in 2021 after attending a couple of events and becoming inspired to support and empower women in our industry.

I'm hoping to use my place on the committee to provide opportunities for better female representation in our industry, both on site and in leadership roles. I believe with more women in the industry, we can change the current perceptions and make it a more inviting environment for women looking to enter the workforce. 

Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn.

Amanda Beare | projects
Lad access and stakeholder engagement coordinator - fulton hogan

My name is Amanda Beare and I work for Fulton Hogan as a Land Access and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator. I have worked in the construction industry for 7 years, during this time I have been fortunate to have some amazing Women as mentors. 

I joined the women in civil committee to support their ambitions of improving female representation in the construction industry, and contributing to making the industry more inclusive for all.

As a proud Narungga and Kaurna woman I am very passionate about Aboriginal employment and training with a strong focus on engaging Aboriginal women to join the civil industry. Mentoring and helping others comes naturally to me as I enjoy seeing other people achieve their goals and do their best.

I enjoy developing supportive networks to promote career development through knowledge sharing. I believe knowledge sharing and storytelling are powerful tools that we all have access too. I am excited about how we can shape the future for all women in the civil construction industry!

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn

LEAH LEWTAS | COMMUNICATIONS
CONSULTANT - REDPATH PARTNERS

Hi there – I’m Leah and I’ve been working within civil recruitment since mid 2022. Prior to civil, my background specialised in business support for government departments.

Joining Redpath nearly 2 years ago has opened me up to the exciting world of civil, which I have loved every second of it. I currently partner with a handful of civil business’ within SA, assisting with resourcing for their white-collar needs.

Leveraging my current platform and involvement with the Women in Civil Committee, I'm dedicated to bridging gaps, educating others and influencing positive change for a more inclusive environment. Moving forward, my goal is to reshape the narrative of civil engineering and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive industry. My vision is a future where women in civil not only thrive but also inspire future generations to come.

Connect with Leah on LinkedIn  

Iueza Tjiveta | EDUCATION

Sales and Estimating Manager SA/NT - FULTON HOGAN

My name is Iueza and I’m the Sales and Estimating Manager - SA/NT with Fulton Hogan. Fulton Hogan is family business and a leading provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, of transport infrastructure, construction, asphalt and binder production, land development, asset management and maintenance services for over 90 years with over 10,000 employees.

I have been in the industry for over 15 years and have worked my way up from taking concrete orders to my current position. Having recently moved to Adelaide from Perth, I have joined the Women in Civil Committee to continue my advocating activities for women in the industry as well as networking with some amazing likeminded people in South Australia.

Over the years I have seen the increase in the number of women in our industry, which is great but there is still a lot of work to be done. I truly believe if you can’t see it, it’s hard to be it. My goal with joining the committee is that all women, especially women of colour, can see there are opportunities for them in our industry and advocating for more women in positions of leadership and senior management.

Connect with Iueza on Linkedin

Evonne penrose
Safety advisor - bmd group

I first entered the civil construction industry in 2019 joining BMD as a Labourer as part of a pre-release program run by Adelaide Women’s Prison. During my first 12 months of work in the industry I took every opportunity to upskill and I have obtained formal qualifications in my Certificate II and Certificate III in Civil Construction and tickets including roller, excavator, working at heights, confined spaces, forklift, traffic management, asbestos removal, and chainsaw operation. During my time onsite delivering projects across South Australia for BMD, I found my passion for safety and am very proud to now be in a role where I can lead by example and motivate crews to operate safely in all that they do.

Having truly faced adversity and worked extremely hard to turn my life around, I believe it is my duty to help others to do the same. I feel very fortunate to have found myself a career in construction and as part of the Civil Contractors Federation Women in Civil committee I am hoping to play a part in helping people join this fantastic industry. I look forward to being able to provide my perspective to issues women face and inspire more young women to build a rewarding career onsite.

Connect with Evonne on LinkedIn

ANGELIQUE WAUER

HSEQ & HR ADVISOR - SEM Group of Companies

Hi, I am Angelique, and I have been in the Civil Industry since 2021, when I started with SEM Group, a South Australian owned family business. I am a H.S.E.Q and H.R Advisor, where I get to work closely with all of our employees, and stakeholders. I found a passion for safety, and working with people, which lead me into my role.

I joined the Women in Civil Committee to as I am dedicated to working toward a inclusive and equitable environment, bridging the gender diversity gaps. I want to be a part of the change which not only encourages more women into the Civil Industry, but supports their growth and development within it. I have a genuine commitment  to fostering a more inclusive industry for everyone, and leveraging my professional experience to drive positive change, and supporting women in their careers.

Connect with Angelique on LinkedIn

MICHael FISH
SUPERINTENDENT - bmd GROUP

G'day, I'm Michael Fish,  Superintendent with BMD Constructions, bringing over 27 years of experience in the construction industry. From major infrastructure projects to minor council initiatives, I've navigated diverse challenges across national and international landscapes, shaping my deep understanding of project management excellence.

For me, diversity isn't just a buzzword—it's fundamental to our industry's success. Embracing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and skills fuels creativity and innovation, elevating our projects to new heights. With two daughters, I'm driven to make construction a more welcoming industry for the next generation.

Through inclusive practices and policies, we're building a more equitable environment for all, fostering mentorship, inclusive hiring, and diversity training initiatives.

Looking ahead, I'm inspired by the prospect of constructing a brighter, more inclusive construction community. Together, we can ensure every voice is heard, every talent valued, and every dream achievable.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn