In my career, I have been fortunate to work in a variety of industries, from manufacturing to sports event management, where I have gained experience in supporting women in male-dominated environments. I have also gained a wealth of experience from my role as the Community Sponsorship and Marketing Manager for the Aberfeldie Sports Club. The Sports Club is committed to “Inspiring Women Through Football” with participation of female players in the Youth Girls and Senior Women’s Team. Now I am able to transfer my expertise into my current role in the RAC sector.
When I saw the role of Part Time People & Culture Advisor for A-Gas advertised, I knew without one shadow of a doubt that I wanted to apply for the post and learn more about A-Gas and the wider RAC industry. My aim was to return to a manufacturing environment where process, procedure and culture were at the forefront of the business. From my investigations prior to interview, it was obvious that A-Gas had something different to offer and had a strong focus not only on its product offering, but its staff, the environment and the community.
I had never been directly involved or connected with the RAC sector prior to commencing at A-Gas, but since joining I have been extremely impressed with what I have seen and learned, and I have identified where I can personally make a difference to women within the company and in the wider industry.
“As part of a global company, I can share the work we have done in
Australia regarding women in our industry, to inspire the People &
Culture teams in other regions... and enhance our efforts to
encourage opportunities for women across the board. ”
My introduction to the RAC sector was marked not only by what I learned at A-Gas, but also by an inhouse training programme where the presenters were Michael Bennet (General Manager RRA) and Greg Picker (Executive Director, Refrigerants Australia). Both gentlemen provided the attendees with valuable information about the industry, and it was during that training session that I realized that there is still so much to learn, and perhaps the sharing of information is something that, as an industry, we can all do more of.
In that training session I became excited about my own role and the part I could play in this training and education process. That day was my lightbulb moment: my awakening to the magnitude of the sector and the global impact we can all have.
My role as People and Culture Advisor is an opportunity to bring to A-Gas and the wider industry an additional stream of people, talent and expertise.
Inspiring women in traditionally male environments is something that I have always been passionate about, and I have brought my experience from the sports club to my role at A-Gas, where I can inspire women in the RAC industry.
Being the first point of contact for our business with regard to People & Culture is important. I am part of a committed team that inspires and encourages women to consider careers in the RAC sector and supports women who seek further opportunities and career progression.
A-Gas gives me the tools to support each individual with opportunities for girls and women, and there are training and development programmes in place to ensure they can achieve their goals. My team has a genuine commitment to each individual, encouraging and facilitating women to pursue careers in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, empowering people from across the world.
I also see my role in People & Culture as being something of a spokesperson. Through recruitment I can share important messages regarding environmental services. I have available to me a forum to raise awareness and promote interest in working work in our industry. How do I do this? Through education, through facilitating training sessions, through advertising current recruitment roles, through all kinds of media from LinkedIn to social media and through networking within the industry to encourage others to do the same!
From a personal perspective, to be sharing the same office as Elvira Nigido, who is a representative to the United Nations, is an honour. Elvira is also a member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Halons Technical Options Committee (HTOC). At the national level, she is the first female member of the Australian Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board.
I am so inspired by Elvira’s career achievements and I feel quite fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside her. Having women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning sector is as important as it is in any industry. Elvira is a knowledge bank of information, and I feel I can use her as a case study to inspire other women in our office, within the wider company and in the industry, to help them gain confidence and work towards reaching for more in their careers.
As part of a global company, I can share the work we have done in Australia regarding women in our industry, to inspire the People & Culture teams in other regions (such as South Africa, Asia and Europe) and enhance our efforts to encourage opportunities for women across the board. This is vital as we continue to grow as a business, with more opportunities for women in various roles.
Through my own learning and experience, I truly hope I can not only provide value to the staff at A-Gas, but also help add to the knowledge bank within the RAC Sector and the “Who’s Who” of women in the industry!
In an ideal world there should be no barriers for women in the workplace, and to draw on the experience of other women who are achieving so much already would be just incredible.
