by Helen Shield, Construction Training Fund

CHANCE CREATES ADVENTUROUS CAREER DETOUR

by Helen Shield

Communications Contractor, Construction Training Fund

Construction Training Fund CEO and NAWIC member, Tiffany Allen, is driven by a love of family, sport, adventure and the outdoors, an unshakeable work ethic and a commitment to building robust, positive connections. Her career started early, selling lollies at 10 to raise money for charity, progressing to fast food chain Hungry Jacks and a serious flirtation with the Royal Australian Air Force, where she was hoping to learn more about information technology. But a chance meeting became a major career detour. Tiffany was queuing at the post office to collect her passport before heading off for basic training. She was unhappy about an implied threat that despite passing the hurdles set, her weight, or lack of it, could derail her progression to the next stage. The Australia Post delivery centre manager, who was just about to start a recruitment drive, noticed her in the line cradling her motorcycle helmet, invited her for a next-day interview and snapped her up. Tiffany worked as a postie for three years but ended up having a 14-year career with Australia Post that included delivery, administration, redirections and parcels, sales, marketing, product development, project management and account management. From there she worked on identity verification, taking charge of police checks when they were transferred from WA Police to Australia Post, supported the project team that built the Working with Children Check Card and then moved on to the Country Age Pension Fuel Card, a key project of then Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls. Regional Development later seconded Tiffany to implement and manage the Pilbara Revitalisation Plan in the newly formed Department of Regional Development and Lands and then on Royalties for Regions. She was seconded to the Housing Authority in 2013 becoming Director of Business Development and then Land and Housing Construction in 2018, with responsibility for the delivery of all departmental construction and development projects. She then led the development of the next 10-year WA Housing Strategy and was appointed Executive Director of Housing and Homelessness, before her August 2020 appointment as CEO of the Construction Training Fund. Asked about what it takes to succeed in a maledominated industry like construction, Tiffany says it’s important for leaders to hold to solid values, hard work and good ethics. “Don’t be afraid to give something a go,” she said. “Even though I went to all girls’ school, St Mary’s (Anglican Girls’ School), my brother was at Hale (School, an exclusive Anglican school for boys), so I hung out with the boys. I’m a tomboy. At Australia Post I was one of the only female posties among 40 men and I didn’t really think much of it.” “There are some great men out there, you need to find the right people to align yourself with.” Asked what advice she would dispense to aspiring women

Tiffany Allen in CTF’s Construction Futures Centre, which is an interactive, hands-on Scitech for the construction industry. The Construction Futures Centre is rich with information about the different construction jobs on offer

Tiffany Allen with Skillhire Trainees

Tiffany Allen encourages women in construction to accept the challenge and surround themselves with a circle of advocates.

leaders in male-dominated industry she said: “Don’t limit yourself.” Tiffany contends good leaders have breadth, a good grasp of their subject area and depth. That is, they know themselves, hold true to their values and maintain a capacity for self-reflection. She supports the idea that leaders, particularly women, need a circle of advocates. Knowing who you are and finding the strength in that, goes a long way, she says. Being arrogant or trying to be someone you are not, does not get you very far. Tiffany, a softball enthusiast and a leader and promoter of women in business, is committed to building capability and capacity by developing great people. She thrives on connecting people who can work together to help each other achieve professional and organisational goals. Professionally, Tiffany is focused on steering the Construction Training Fund into a new era of thought leadership, improving accessibility and service and ensuring WA’s construction industry has a diverse, job-ready, skilled workforce.

Ambition Tenacity Leadership Diversity

From apprentices to CEOs, CTF is supporting the talented women in WA’s building and construction sectors leading the industry into the future.

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