To mark International Women’s Day, we interviewed some truly remarkable Cleanaway women. Here are their stories. Read part one here.

“Taking charge of workplace health and safety”

Name: Jackie Kelly
Role: Health & Safety Business Partner
Location: Queensland

Jackie’s career in safety started in 2011, when she was an administrator within a safety team for a harbour dredging project in Gladstone. Her background in senior administrative roles gave her insight into different business areas, including HR, commercial operations, quality assurance and strategic management, enabling her to see how the successful management of risk can positively affect other areas of a business.

For the first time, Jackie could see a career path she enjoyed. She was encouraged by her manager to complete a Certificate IV in OHS. Upon completion, Jackie researched the qualifications multinational businesses were looking for in a safety manager. Degree qualifications were required for some roles, so she began a Degree in Occupational Health and Safety. Jackie expects to complete this in early 2019, making her the first person in her family to complete tertiary education.

Jackie’s next role saw her working as a safety advisor on a project involving the shutdown, overhaul and maintenance of seven power station units. She explains, “This particular role was a huge learning curve for me. After nearly two years on the road, travelling between power stations, I completed that project with experience that others could only dream of.”

It was through this shutdown project that Jackie was introduced to Cleanaway. She has been a Health & Safety Business Partner with Cleanaway for the past year. Jackie enjoys the variety her role offers, where she supports nine sites, all with very different activities.

“I love making a difference and changing people’s perceptions on how they view safety in the workplace,” she says.

Overall, Jackie’s experience of being female in a male-dominated workforce has been positive.

“On occasion, I have been viewed with suspicion because I have not come from the tools. Once people see that I am not there to tell them how to do their jobs, they drop their defences and constructive dialogue can commence.”

When considering International Women’s Day, Jackie believes, “It will be good when we don’t see having women in senior roles as something special or unique. But until that becomes the norm, it is important that women’s achievements and contributions are highlighted and celebrated.”

“Breaking the mold in an engineering role “

Name: Kristy Barnes
Role: Engineering Manager
Location: Queensland

As a child, Kristy Barnes wanted to be a fighter pilot. After gaining her private pilot licence, she switched to geology. Upon completing her degree, she began an exciting 15-year journey in the mining industry, going across the Northern Territory, Queensland and British Columbia in Canada. Kristy has taken on various roles from mine geology, coal quality, pit to port logistics, consulting and even a stint in human resources.

While a consultant, Kristy discovered the waste industry through an internal seminar in the USA. She gained a passion for it and headed the development of a business case for a waste consulting arm of the business in Australia. Kristy attributes her start in the waste industry to meeting Edward Hood (Cleanaway’s Head of Engineering) at a conference.

Kristy’s introduction to Cleanaway was an initial short term appointment as a contractor two years ago, where she successfully ran a cell construction project with a tight budget and time frame. A few months into her contracting role, Kristy was offered a permanent Cleanaway team member position, taking on the role of Engineering Manager for Queensland.

Kristy embraces the challenges and diversity of being a part of Cleanaway in a role that she has really been able to make her own. She thrives under pressure and enjoys the flexibility of her job and the different people she gets to work with.

She explains, “My passion is really about resource recovery and recycling as a way to make the industry and our lives more sustainable.” It’s something she wants to focus on as she moves forward in her career.

Having worked and trained in various male-dominated roles, Kristy doesn’t see the difference between males and females as a big thing.

“I don’t even think about it! I don’t believe I have any more or less chance of success as a female – I’m a hard worker. For me, it’s been about having the chance to prove to myself and everyone else that I’ll work as hard as them,” she elaborates.

Having won an award for her contribution to the mining industry with a Women In Mining and Resources Queensland award, Kristy believes International Women’s Day provides the opportunity to recognise women who are in quite different roles to what they traditionally were.

“It’s much more commonplace now, and in the future, it won’t be such a big thing. Over time, there’s been more of a gender balance within the industries I’ve worked in,” Kristy says.

With two young children, Kristy reinforces the importance of workplaces allowing more flexibility – with options such as working from home or flexible hours occasionally to help facilitate a family life. Kristy says, “For me it’s all about trying to maintain the balance between work and family. I’m lucky I have such a supportive family that allows me to do what I love.”

Check back tomorrow for the final installment of our International Women’s Day Series.

In our final International Women’s Day 2018 article, we meet Heather and Maria, who drive our sales through exceptional customer service and a keen eye for data. Read part one here and part two here.

Excellence in the workplace and at home

Name: Heather Reynolds
Role: Sales Coordinator
Location: SA/NT

Heather joined Cleanaway eight years ago as a Sales Administrator in Adelaide and immediately felt at home in a team driven by sales and customer service. In 2010, Heather was working with five account managers, and eight years on, there’s not much that remains the same.

Today, Heather’s range of stakeholders includes key account managers, sales reps in the Northern Territory, as well as Telesales and Customer Care. There’s still a lot of reporting but now it’s not just sales results.

“It’s always really satisfying to see the waste diversion achievements highlighted in the customer waste reports. Especially when you can see where a customer was 12 months ago, and how far they come after implementing a particular solution – it’s really impressive.”

Whether it’s tracking a customer’s progress or supporting the Sales team with different reports as the focus of the business evolves, Heather loves getting stuck into the data.

“I don’t mind when they request a different report, because it always sheds new light on the data. It’s amazing what you can find out.”

This customer service focus is one of the things that keeps things interesting. “I love discussing options and solutions with our customers, and our reps. One time we had a problem with a customer who was putting horse manure in their general waste bin. We recommended an organics service. It was such an easy solution, but it made a big difference.”

For Heather, it’s all about balance. Family is number one so she appreciates that her role allows her to keep regular hours and spend time at home. “It can get busy trying to keep up with all the reporting, while supporting so many teams, but it’s great to feel valued. People come to me because they know I can help.”

“The one thing I wish people knew about Cleanaway is the potential for waste recovery and what’s involved in delivering a total solution.”

Bridging worlds, breaking boundaries

Name: Maria Nangoy
Role: Sales Business Analyst
Location: Malaga

Meet Maria, the highly motivated, problem solving Sales Business Analyst based in Malaga, WA.

Maria was 16 when she and her family moved from Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, to Perth. Maria said it was a big change initially, especially with the language barrier and cultural differences; however, she now feels more at home than ever. Living in Perth, she completed a Bachelor of Commerce and followed it with a Master of Professional Accounting.

Maria has been working in analytical roles since 2009 and has been with Cleanaway since November 2016. She discovered that compared to her previous roles, Cleanaway has a high level of professionalism and that she has grown a lot both personally and professionally since joining the company.

Maria really enjoys being a part of Cleanaway, where she has the resources and support to get behind business initiatives and make a difference. She looks forward to working with her team every day, “We pick each other up and go through the ups and downs together. There is always someone who understands and support me,” she says of her colleagues.

Although Maria enjoys being a part of her team, there can be challenges as a female working in a male-dominated workforce. She finds that she can relate more to her female colleagues, as they all face the same issues and often have the same mindset.

Maria sees International Women’s Day as a fantastic opportunity to celebrate females and the positive differences they are making in the workforce. She sees men and women as equals, with everyone bringing a different perspective. Maria believes that by nature, women can sometimes be very nurturing people who tend to take care of others, and this is an asset in the workplace.

Driving trucks may seem like a daunting career choice, but for Sheryl Schulz, it’s second nature. Managing five municipal contracts, C&I customers and CDS requirements while studying for a degree? Not a problem for Jade Maric.

For International Women’s Day, we’re showcasing just a few of the many talented women that make up our workforce. Here are their stories.

“Thriving in a male-dominated role”

Name: Sheryl Schulz 
Role: Driver, front lift
Location: Bendigo

When Sheryl moved to Karratha with her partner in 2013 to work in the mines, there wasn’t a lot of job opportunities available, so she applied for her heavy rigid driving license and hasn’t looked back since. With a background in sales, it was a huge career change, but she couldn’t be happier with her decision.

Sheryl worked for Toll for 12 months in Karratha before landing a job at Cleanaway, driving front lift trucks. Since starting at Cleanaway in 2014, she worked in Malaga before being transferred to the Bendigo depot.

Sheryl and her husband made the move back to his home state of Victoria last year. The decision to move more than 3000km across the country wasn’t easy, but being able to transfer Cleanaway depots made the relocation easier.

After living in Perth for the past two years, Sheryl was surprised by the laidback lifestyle Bendigo offered. “The team in Bendigo is much smaller and I’ve noticed how much the customers appreciate the drivers. You actually get to know people personally.”

“One of the great things about working for Cleanaway as a truck driver is you don’t take your work home. Once you’re home safe you can switch off and know you have done your job and done it well.”

When Sheryl first started at Cleanaway in Karratha she was one of only two women driving trucks. She has now driven for four years and continues to thrive in the male-dominated industry. “It can be challenging at times and as a female you can be underestimated but those stereotypes are outdated. I would encourage more women to get their heavy rigid driving licenses. If you’re a woman considering a career change it’s a great opportunity, the trucks can seem daunting but it’s all automatic and it’s not long before it becomes second nature.”

“Making the most of leadership and learning opportunities”

Name: Jade Maric
Role: Area Manager
Location: Tamworth

Jade started at Cleanaway four years ago in an Administrator role in Newman, a small mining town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

It didn’t take long for Jade to find her groove, getting promoted to Branch Manager in her first three months. Within 18 months she became Business Manager, where she facilitated the operational merger of the solid, liquid and industrials business units in Newman.

After three years in Newman, she moved back to her home state of NSW, where she transferred to the Tamworth depot as Area Manager, tasked with the management of five municipal contracts, C&I customers and CDS requirements spanning from Coffs Harbour to Moree. Jade is currently studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.

When asked what she likes most about working for Cleanaway, two things come to mind: the people and the opportunities.

“You’re only as good as the team you are working with and I’ve worked with some incredible people at Cleanaway. My teams at both Newman and Tamworth are hardworking, resilient and motivated.”

Jade is very grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to her at Cleanaway. “It’s been challenging at times, but you’re constantly learning and growing.”

Over the years Jade has been involved in some large projects, including the waste management scoping for Roy Hill Mining’s transition from construction to production, the Newman business unit merger and most recently the implementation of CDS in NSW.

Working in a male-dominated industry has been trying at times, but for Jade, it has been empowering to prove to herself that she can succeed. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some great male leaders who always respected and appreciated my capabilities and the different perspective a female can bring to the table.”

“I believe it’s very important to recognise International Women’s Day because a lot of women have not been afforded the same opportunities as I have. It’s inspiring to see an increasing number of women in executive leadership roles.”

Come back tomorrow for the second part of our International Women’s Day series.

At Cleanaway we’re proud of how our workforce has grown across Australia, welcoming team members from all places and walks of life. On International Women’s Day we’re taking the opportunity to shine the light on just a few of the many women in our business who contribute to our success. We interviewed six women from around Australia, representing all levels and many of the different roles in our company. Our interviews revealed a wide range of journeys and experiences that led to joining Cleanaway, but a consistent passion for continuous improvement, team work and making a difference.

 Sharyn Elphinstone – Group Shared Services Manager, based in Queensland

I’ve been at Cleanaway for just on four years. My career has always been in finance, starting in external audit with one of the big 4 accounting firms while completing my degree part time. After a 12 month break backpacking overseas I settled in at TNT in an internal audit role (mainly because it came with a car) and from here moved across various finance roles and projects to General Manager of Accounting.

In late 2012 I joined Cleanaway and packed up my things to move from Sydney to Brisbane for an exciting next step in my career as Group Shared Services Manager. As someone who had been very comfortable where I was, this was big change! I haven’t been disappointed and love the challenges and opportunities that I find every day at Cleanaway, not to mention the people I work with. There is great team spirit and I have a real sense that we are making a difference. The main thing that keeps me going is the opportunity for change and always striving to do things better.

The transport and waste sectors are typically very male dominated industries and there have always been challenges – but I have seen a lot of change. I have been given many opportunities throughout my career, and I have always been supported to succeed.

Catherine Dwight – Senior Health and Safety Business Partner, based in Victoria

I started with Cleanaway 18 months ago after several years working in safety in retail and warehousing. I chose Cleanaway because I was looking for a new challenge in my career and I knew Cleanaway would have a completely different risk profile from what I was used to. I went from ergonomics and manual handling to vehicles and heavy machinery, so it was definitely a change of pace!

I didn’t choose Health and Safety as a career – it chose me. From my first job I knew immediately that I wanted to be a voice for frontline team members, advocating for safety and helping people understand the why behind the policy and procedure. It may be corny but I’m genuinely passionate about making sure everyone goes home safe.

I’ve always worked in male-dominated industries but I enjoy the dynamic. We may not always agree on everything but respect is earned through genuine engagement, and taking the time to listen and make sure everyone feels heard. To me it doesn’t feel like gender is a factor at Cleanaway – if you’re willing to work and willing to learn then there’s a place for you here.

There’s an enormous amount of pride at Cleanaway for our history, for what we’ve achieved and for where we’re going. I want to be an integral part of that progress. Safety is something that’s never finished and I’m excited about the direction we’re going in.

Angela Pavlovic – Environmental Scientist, based in New South Wales

After graduating from university I started my career as a laboratory technician analysing environmental samples. Since joining Cleanaway I have come across to the other side of the fence, undertaking most of my sampling in the field. Every day is different with activities varying from environmental site assessments, to project management, to site supervision. It’s fast paced and we’re responsible for delivering on customer expectation from conception and planning through to roll out and implementation.

I enjoy building meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues to deliver successful outcomes. I work hard, play hard, and travel a lot for work. There are some real characters along the way which makes work life more fun amongst the grind involved in any busy workplace.

I think there is an international day to celebrate just about anything, so having March 8 internationally recognised as Woman’s Day is profound. Women deserve to be part of a more inclusive, gender equal world, and their achievements acclaimed. Nature cannot thrive without woman, just as it cannot without man.

I will have been with Cleanaway for six years this July and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my skills, moving into the next stage of my career, and hopefully managing a team of my own.

Bhavna Torul – Branch Manager, Malaga, Western Australia

After completing a Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety at RMIT University in Melbourne I moved to Adelaide and began with Cleanaway as a Health and Safety Advisor. After several years in Health and Safety, and a move to Perth, I had the opportunity to move into operations as MRF Manager – and I jumped at the chance. In 2015 I became branch manager for one of Cleanaway’s largest depots, Malaga. I’ve now been with Cleanaway almost ten years, and recently completed my Masters in Business Administration at Curtin University.

Working for Cleanaway has offered me many opportunities, diversity in roles, recognition based on merit and unparalleled support. Cleanaway is an employer of choice in my eyes. I have achieved much personal and professional growth and I am looking forward to the next opportunity and challenge that presents itself to me within Cleanaway.

For me the biggest issue for women in the workplace is pay inequality and lack of career growth opportunities once they start a family. I hope one day both are eradicated and International Women’s Day is no longer necessary to highlight gender disparity in the workplace.

Donna McIntyre, Operations Supervisor, South Australia

When I joined Cleanaway 9 years ago it was a big decision for me. I took a pay cut and completely changed industries but I knew I was starting with a company that would take me forward. I started as a Customer Service Officer and slowly worked my way up to Customer Service Team Leader and now Operations Supervisor.

My favourite part about my job is working closely with our teams to help people, work through problems and resolve issues. Residents are so passionate about recycling and waste services and I love being able to engage with them and deliver a great result.

I do notice that I’m a bit out-numbered from a gender perspective but it doesn’t bother me and I feel I’ve thrived in the operational environment. I’ve always been part of great teams and I enjoy working with our drivers, sales reps and other team members to get the job done.

One thing I love about working for Cleanaway is that the opportunity is there for whoever has the right attitude. We give people a go. I started with no experience but I’ve worked hard and I’m always up for a new challenge, the chance to learn something and to continuously improve.

Contact us today to find out how we’re making a sustainable future possible.