Meet our Melbourne Speakers
View the list of industry experts who will be speaking at the Melbourne Women in Construction Summit.
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Amireh Amirmazaheri
PMO Solutions
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Amy Lezala
Department of Transport VIC
Angela Oaten
Multiworks
Bronwyn Williams
Cassandra Chalmers
Fulton Hogan
Cathryn Greville
NAWIC
Christina Hung
Nacap
Clea Smith
Tradeswomen Australia Group
Collette Burke
Inland Rail
David Collett
BG&E
Elizabeth McMahon
Jacobs
Gosia Suchorska
Winslow Infrastructure
Greg Rafferty
DT Infrastructure
Hannah Yap
Fulton Hogan
Karin Wallin
Laing O’Rourke
Kate Wingad
John Holland Group
Lauren McCormack
McCormack
Marelise Knobel
WSP
Meg Cairns
SPARK North-East Link
Megan Small
Nacap
Melinda Davis
Empowered Women in Trades
Michelle Riley
Development Victoria
Pauline Duncan
Mazzei Group
Portia Pitt
Ventia
Rebecca De Cicco
Women in BIM
Roselli Hedditch
Deakin University
Roxy Shirvani
Major Road Projects Victoria
Sally Law
Clough
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Sam Linke
Aurecon
Siobhan Maxwell
John Holland
Sonja Syre
Denton Corker Marshall
Sophie Green
Wamarra
Tica Can Ge
WGA
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Amireh Amirmazaheri
Chief Executive Officer & FounderPMO Solutions
Amireh is the CEO and founder of PMO Solutions, specialising in project governance, portfolio management and delivery capability. He works with organisations to improve decision-making, accountability and performance across complex project environments.
Speaking at
09:00
Masterclass A: Advanced Project Management for Construction Professionals
Bronwyn Williams
Keynote Speaker, Mentor, PhD ResearcherBronwyn is the founder of BronWilliams, advising organisations on leadership, future skills and workforce transformation. She works with senior leaders to navigate change and build capability in complex and evolving environments.
Speaking at
09.00
Masterclass B: Empowered Leadership for Women in Construction
Roselli Hedditch
Senior Specialist, Sustainable DesignDeakin University
Roselli Hedditch leads sustainable design and environments at Deakin University, focusing on climate-responsive design, research translation and education. She brings experience linking academic insight with practical built environment outcomes.
Speaking at
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair
Cathryn Greville
Chief Executive OfficerNAWIC
Cathryn Greville is CEO of NAWIC, leading national advocacy and professional development initiatives for women in construction. She works closely with industry and government to drive cultural change and workforce participation across the sector.
Speaking at
09:00
Turning knowledge into progress: redefining the future for women in construction
Gosia Suchorska
Project DirectorWinslow Infrastructure
Gosia Suchorska is a professional civil engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Her expertise lies in project management, commercial, estimating, and high-risk civil works, gained in tunnelling, rail, bridge, and road infrastructure. Gosia's experience has been gained across may states of Australia and Internationally.
As a Project Director at Winslow Infrastructure, Gosia manages the delivery of major projects. She fosters a culture of high performance in safety and budget diligence and is passionate about continuous improvement and developing her team's capabilities.
A strong advocate for diversity and wellbeing, Gosia aims to increase the representation of women in the industry. She is committed to creating an inclusive work environment and believes that diversity improves decision-making and project outcomes. An effective leader, Gosia sets standards through her actions and strives for excellence in the construction sector.
Speaking at
09:30
Owning your career journey: how to advocate for yourself at every career stage
Megan Small
Organisational Development & Communications ManagerNacap
Megan Small is the People Development and Communications Manager at Nacap. With extensive experience in leadership development, business transformation, and change management, Megan is passionate about helping individuals achieve peak performance. She brings a pragmatic approach to capability building, ensuring alignment with business outcomes. Known for her strong relationship management, clear communication style and project delivery skills, Megan prides herself on driving results efficiently and effectively.
Speaking at
10:00
Getting ahead and moving up: what practical actions actually lead to leadership or alternative career success?
Lauren McCormack
DirectorMcCormack
Lauren McCormack is a director at McCormack Property Services, providing development advisory, project management and asset strategy services. She works closely with clients to optimise project outcomes across commercial, residential and mixed-use portfolios.
Speaking at
10:00
Getting ahead and moving up: what practical actions actually lead to leadership or alternative career success?
12:10
Connect, influence & lead: mastering collaboration on every design and construction project
Kate Wingad
Group Manager, Engineering & Design (Rail)John Holland Group
Kate Wingad leads rail engineering and design across John Holland Group, overseeing technical governance, assurance and delivery integration. She brings extensive experience managing complex rail systems and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Speaking at
10:00
Getting ahead and moving up: what practical actions actually lead to leadership or alternative career success?
Roundtable 1:Navigating new horizons: identifying & moving into new roles & career opportunities
Sam Linke
Transport Leader - Victoria & South AustraliaAurecon
Sam Linke leads Aurecon’s transport business across Victoria and South Australia, overseeing strategy, client engagement and delivery. He brings extensive experience in transport planning, infrastructure advisory and complex project leadership.
Speaking at
10:00
Getting ahead and moving up: what practical actions actually lead to leadership or alternative career success?
David Collett
Director - Victoria & South AustraliaBG&E
David leads BG&E’s Victorian and South Australian operations, overseeing engineering services across transport, infrastructure and built environment projects. His role includes strategic growth, client engagement and delivery oversight.
Speaking at
10:00
Getting ahead and moving up: what practical actions actually lead to leadership or alternative career success?
Sally Law
Commercial Director Snowy Hydro 2.0 Future Generation JVClough
Sally Law is a project director at Clough, delivering complex energy and infrastructure projects across engineering, procurement and construction phases. She brings strong experience in governance, safety leadership and stakeholder management.
Speaking at
11:20
Mastering 5 critical non-technical skills that every construction professional needs
Roundtable 3: Safety in action: implementing effective on-site protocols to drive safety & results
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Clea Smith
Chief Executive OfficerTradeswomen Australia Group
Clea Smith is the CEO of Tradeswomen Australia, leading national initiatives to support, train and retain women in skilled trades. She brings deep experience in workforce development, advocacy and building inclusive pathways across construction and infrastructure sectors.
Speaking at
13:40
How can we build our own paths and achieve success in a male dominated industry?
Amy Lezala
Chief Engineer – Rail,Department of Transport VIC
Amy Lezala is a Registered Professional Engineer, holding EngExec and Fellow qualifications from Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors. She has worked in rail for 17 years across the globe, starting her career with maintaining trains in the UK. Amy has delivered roles in Materials & Fire Engineering, RAMS Engineering, Through Life Engineering, Project Management and Engineering Governance. She has been involved in the development groups for a number of Standards, including EN45545 and AS7529.
Amy joined the Department of Transport and Planning in 2022 as the Victorian Chief Engineer – Rail, supporting the Operators and Major Projects with practical engineering governance from the State. Using a whole-of-life, whole-of-system view, Amy brings a practical approach to the governance systems.
Outside of her core roles, Amy is an active volunteer. She has held senior volunteer roles with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Engineers Australia. She was also an inaugural member of Australasian Rail Association’s Young Leader’s Advisory Board.
Speaking at
14:10
What I wish I knew earlier: real world triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career progression
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Greg Rafferty
Head of Social ImpactDT Infrastructure
Greg Rafferty leads social impact strategy at DT Infrastructure, shaping approaches to workforce inclusion, community engagement and social value delivery. He works across projects to embed measurable social outcomes into infrastructure delivery.
Speaking at
14:10
What I wish I knew earlier: real world triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career progression
Hannah Yap
Environmental and Sustainability Advisor – Program LeadFulton Hogan
Hannah Yap leads environment and sustainability programs at Fulton Hogan, supporting projects to manage environmental risk and improve sustainability outcomes. She brings experience integrating environmental considerations into operational and delivery decision-making.
Speaking at
14:10
What I wish I knew earlier: real world triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career progression
Meg Cairns
Site EngineerSPARK North-East Link
Meg Cairns is a site engineer supporting the delivery of civil infrastructure projects at Symal. She brings hands-on experience in site coordination, quality assurance and contractor management in live construction environments.
Speaking at
14:10
What I wish I knew earlier: real world triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career progression
Tica Can Ge
Senior Structural EngineerWGA
Tica Can Ge is a Senior Structural Engineer and Team Lead at WGA (Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec) in Melbourne, specialising in bridge engineering, inspections, and transport asset management. She plays a key role in growing WGA’s building and transport asset management capability and market presence in Victoria, while leading and mentoring engineers across delivery teams.
Tica is a strong advocate for diversity, mentorship, and practical career progression in construction, drawing on her own experiences navigating leadership in a traditionally male‑dominated industry. In 2025, she was awarded the NAWIC Victoria Young Achiever of the Year, recognising her technical contribution, leadership, and impact on the profession.
At Women in Construction 2026, Tica will share honest reflections on the triumphs, setbacks, and lessons learned in building an engineering career, and will host a round‑table discussion on mentorship and how to proactively seek mentors aligned with your career path.
Speaking at
14:10
What I wish I knew earlier: real world triumphs, failures & lessons learned on the path to diversity & career progression
Roundtable 7: Mentorship and how to reach out to gain a mentor relevant to your career path
Portia Pitt
General Manager, TransportVentia
Portia Pitt leads Ventia’s transport operations across Australia, overseeing service delivery, asset management and performance across major networks. She brings extensive experience in operational leadership and infrastructure services.
Speaking at
Roundtable 2: Managing a diverse team on a high-pressure project
Roxy Shirvani
Director, CommercialMajor Road Projects Victoria
Roxy Shirvani leads commercial strategy at VIDA Roads, overseeing contract management, commercial risk and performance across road maintenance and operations. She brings experience aligning commercial frameworks with long-term service outcomes.
Speaking at
Roundtable 4: Overcoming imposter syndrome: strategies to build confidence and thrive
Karin Wallin
Sustainability Operations LeadLaing O’Rourke
Karin Wallin is a sustainability leader shaping some of Australia’s largest infrastructure programs, known for bringing people together to create practical, future-focused change. With over a decade of experience across design, client side and construction, she has worked on iconic projects including the Melbourne, Sydney, and Stockholm metro networks, as well as major urban renewal developments in both Australia and Sweden. Karin brings a unique cross-sector lens to how major projects can reduce carbon, lift industry standards, and leave a meaningful legacy.
She currently leads sustainability for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades – Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) which is part of the State of Victoria’s Big Build Program. Her work spans construction emissions reduction, innovative materials such as calcined-clay concrete and bio-bitumen, renewable diesel trials, EV-ready construction sites, waste-stream transformation and embedding ISC requirements into everyday operations. Her approach is hands-on, collaborative and always centred on shifting innovation into business-as-usual rather than one-off trials.
Beyond the technical, Karin is deeply passionate about culture and people. She is partnering with Tomorrow Architects on a behavioural and leadership development program that strengthens psychological safety, gender participation and mental health on site. She believes high-performing teams are built when people feel safe, included and are supported to grow.
Originally from Sweden, Karin brings a global perspective and a strong belief in community, equity, and practical leadership. Her work is driven by a simple idea: that major projects should leave people and places better than we found them, and that construction can be both high-performing and deeply human.
Speaking at
Roundtable 5: Navigating challenging conversations and uncomfortable situations
13:10
Building green, building forward: how sustainability is reshaping construction & your role in 2026
Elizabeth McMahon
Senior Associate, Stakeholder Engagement & Communications ANZJacobs
Speaking at
09:00
Tools, tactics and behaviours to change site culture from the ground up
Angela Oaten
Chief People & Business Services OfficerMultiworks
Angela Oaten leads people and business services at Multiworks, overseeing workforce strategy, operations and organisational performance. She brings experience driving capability uplift and supporting delivery-focused cultures.
Speaking at
09:30
How can mentorship, skills development and real opportunities drive long-term change for women in construction?
Pauline Duncan
Head of People & CultureMazzei Group
Pauline Duncan leads people and culture strategy at Mazzei Homes, overseeing workforce development, leadership capability and organisational culture. She focuses on building sustainable teams aligned with business growth and delivery outcomes.
Speaking at
09:30
How can mentorship, skills development and real opportunities drive long-term change for women in construction?
Cassandra Chalmers
Alliance People, Capability & Inclusion ManagerFulton Hogan
Cassandra Chalmers leads people, capability and inclusion initiatives within alliance project environments at Fulton Hogan. She focuses on workforce planning, leadership capability and inclusive practices that support safe, productive delivery on complex infrastructure programs.
Speaking at
09:30
How can mentorship, skills development and real opportunities drive long-term change for women in construction?
Collette Burke
Chair of the Board of DirectorsInland Rail
Dr Collette Burke was appointed Chair of the IRPL Board on 4 November 2025. Prior to her appointment as IRPL Chair, Dr Burke joined the ARTC Board as a Non‑Executive Director in February 2023 and became an ex officio member of the IRPL Board on 1 July 2025. She is a highly qualified and experienced engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in the infrastructure construction sectors.
Dr Burke has held various senior roles with several tier 1 infrastructure companies, with her most recent as Interim CEO for Marinus Link. Collette was the inaugural Victorian Chief Engineer and has a strong understanding of the rail industry.
Previous roles include senior management positions with Leighton Contractors and the joint venture between Thiess and John Holland. Her PhD was in risk management on infrastructure projects, and she is currently a non‑executive director of Marinus Link and National Transport Research Organisation.
Speaking at
09:30
How can mentorship, skills development and real opportunities drive long-term change for women in construction?
Siobhan Maxwell
Group Manager, Hydrology & Drainage, Construction & Engineering DivisionJohn Holland
Siobhan Maxwell leads hydrology and drainage capability across John Holland Group, providing technical leadership on flood risk, water management and climate resilience. She supports major infrastructure projects through design assurance and risk mitigation.
Speaking at
13:40
Communicating complex concepts with clarity and authenticity across disciplines
Rebecca De Cicco
Global ChairWomen in BIM
Rebecca De Cicco is the global executive leader of Women in BIM, driving international initiatives to improve diversity, digital capability and leadership in the built environment. She works across industry to influence policy, education and practice.
Speaking at
14:10
Female innovators and the next era of digital construction
Marelise Knobel
Digital Engineering LeadWSP
Marelise Knobel leads digital engineering initiatives at WSP Australia, supporting BIM implementation, data integration and digital delivery across major infrastructure projects. She focuses on practical adoption that improves project outcomes.
Speaking at
15:00
Building the future with data-led digital engineering
Sonja Syre
DirectorDenton Corker Marshall
Sonja Syre is a director at Denton Corker Marshall, leading architectural design across civic, transport and commercial projects. She brings experience balancing design excellence, functionality and long-term asset performance.
Speaking at
15:30
From resistance to results – turning industry shifts into project success & career growth
Melinda Davis
General ManagerEmpowered Women in Trades
Melinda is General Manager of Empowered Women in Trades, supporting workforce participation and inclusion across trade industries. Her work focuses on training pathways, industry engagement and capability development.
Speaking at
16:00
How do you thrive on site or in the office? Real strategies for succeeding in the day-to-day reality of construction work
Christina Hung
Commercial ManagerNacap
Christina Hung is a commercial manager at NACAP, overseeing contract administration, cost control and commercial risk across infrastructure projects. She supports project teams to deliver strong financial and governance outcomes.
Speaking at
16:00
How do you thrive on site or in the office? Real strategies for succeeding in the day-to-day reality of construction work
Michelle Riley
Director Risk & HSEDevelopment Victoria
Michelle Riley leads risk and health, safety and environment at Development Victoria, overseeing governance frameworks across major development programs. She brings experience embedding risk management into strategic and operational decision-making.
Speaking at
16:00
How do you thrive on site or in the office? Real strategies for succeeding in the day-to-day reality of construction work
Sophie Green
Site EngineerWamarra
Sophie Green is a site engineer at Wamarra, working across civil construction projects with a focus on site delivery, safety and coordination. She contributes to practical problem-solving and efficient on-site execution.
Speaking at
16:00
How do you thrive on site or in the office? Real strategies for succeeding in the day-to-day reality of construction work