There is no better time for women to consider a career within the energy sector! Sponsored
Opportunities in the energy sector are there for the taking for women. Companies are looking to hire more women each day due to the diversity, unique perspective and skills they bring to the workplace.
Connexis, the Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation, says they have seen a positive shift in their trainee numbers since 2015 when they first introduced the Girls with Hi-Vis® initiative under their Ultimit – Women in Infrastructure programme. The initiative was developed to address the recruitment challenge within the sector.
“We are encouraged to see the results to date," says Kaarin Gaukrodger, Group Manager Customer Engagement. "Companies are really jumping onboard this initiative, and some are even including it in their recruitment plan which is fantastic.”
Women like Dannielle Dendle, a Project Manager in the energy sector, certainly highlight the variety of opportunities available. It’s a career she loves and seems to have been almost born to do – but it was a long, meandering path to get here.
When the now 29-year-old left school in Australia, an aptitude for business studies meant any careers advice she was given pushed her in that direction. The problem was it bored her to tears.
Nevertheless, she embarked on a series of roles from legal secretary to nursing home administrator before landing a position in the engineering department of a large coal mining company in Moranbah, Queensland.
There she was asked to lead and manage several change projects as an administrator and it became apparent that her real skill was leadership; being able to direct and manage often diverse groups of people to achieve a goal. Within a few short years, Dannielle completed a qualification in Project Management and is extremely passionate about her career, and just as passionate about the careers advice young women are given.
“I’m particularly passionate about STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects for girls. If you don’t have them, you don’t realise how it drops you out of the pipeline for so many jobs in the future.
“When I was at school I was getting A’s in business, but I was so bored I couldn’t engage in class. I had to fight to switch to chemistry because my school was worried I would only get Cs. They wanted me to focus on a career in business since that was what I was apparently good at.
“My argument is don’t do something just because you find it easy. Do something because it interests you, you’re engaged with it, and because it’s going to lead to something in the future.
Dannielle's role offers something new and different every day. In the course of a project, she may co-ordinate designers and crew, or mediate and consult with staff from NZ Heritage and the Department of Conservation, among many other things.
“I love that no two days are the same, and no project is the same. I also love that every project makes me learn something new.
“Working with different crews is awesome and being able to get out on site is fantastic.”
If there was one thing she could change, it would be increasing numbers of women around her in the infrastructure space. “I do meet other women on projects, but a lot of the crews are male.
“I would really love to see women in all different areas of the business, particularly in roles like supervisors and engineers.”
Outside of her work, Dannielle attends school job fairs where she can promote her passion for giving girls those opportunities.
For more information about Girls with Hi-Vis® and to register for interest for 2019 visit www.connexis.org.nz/careers/girls-high-vis/
For entry-level to management opportunities within the sector visit www.ijobsite.co.nz