Cultural identity

We’re committed to fostering a culturally safe, diverse and inclusive workplace. We have historically employed people from many different cultural backgrounds while promoting harmony and respect in the workplace.

Our people currently working in our Australia Business have told us they were born across approximately 85 countries. A majority were born in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, India and South Africa.

Asylum seekers and refugees

We were one of the first companies in Australia to partner with non-profit organisation CareerSeekers, which creates employment opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom have held professional careers in their country of origin. The CareerSeekers internship program is similar to our existing partnership with sister organisation CareerTrackers, which focuses on Indigenous Australians.

Since 2016 we have welcomed more than 52 CareerSeekers participants across our offices in Australia from high, mid, graduate and student career levels. Today more than 32 of these people have transitioned into permanent roles and are still part of GHD – many have become leaders within the organisation.

The interns originally from Afghanistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon, Rwanda, Syria and Yemen, have contributed to our Engineering (Transport, Water, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical), Project Management, Environmental Science, Geology, Business Services (Finance, Administration, Information Technology, Marketing) and Data Analysis teams. They share poignant and inspiring stories about their journeys from war-stricken homelands to finding a job in the Australian workplace. Read Kinda Assayegh’s story below.

+52 62%

CareerSeekers interns since 2016

are still part of GHD today

On a global scale, GHD is one of the only organisations to be involved with all the CareerSeekers and CareerTrackers sister organisations: InRoads (USA and Canada), CareerTrackers PNG (Papua New Guinea) and TupaToa (New Zealand).

Kinda’s story of identity, survival and resilience

“In my life so far, I’ve learned that another day isn’t always guaranteed, and that embracing change is an imperative and key to growth. I’m so excited for this new chapter, to continue to learn and to contribute and grow with my wonderful team at GHD in the gift of today.”

After escaping war torn Syria, Kinda Assayegh had to start a new life in a new country. In a piece she wrote, Kinda reflects on her life in Syria, her arrival in Australia and the support she gained from GHD and the CareerSeekers program.

→ Read more of Kinda's story

200 people from across our Sydney region joined our 2021 Eid al-Fitr lunch celebrations. The word Eid means ‘festival’ or ‘feast’ in Arabic, and Eid is a festival about being ‘grateful towards God for what we have’. Our Parramatta office also had a Henna tattoo artist offering unique cultural Henna tattoos.

For our people, celebrating Eid was not about one specific religion but being able to share all of our unique cultural practices in the workplace.

Eid brings the real message of friendship and being able to share our experiences and food with our family, friends, colleagues and especially the less fortunate around us.

Pictured top right during Eid celebrations: Fatima Jahura and Jillian Smith Below top right: Wasif Hassan and Rory Waddell

Since starting in GHD’s Traffic and Transport team through CareerSeekers, my team has supported me to improve communication skills and feel confident to communicate with influence, despite English being my second language.

I’ve been using modelling software and learning about Australian traffic engineering standards and look forward to gaining more experience in road safety audits. Feeling excited about where my career is going is a great feeling! Mohammed Al-Hamati Engineering Intern and CareerSeekers intern