International Women’s Day Profile – Tayla Fairthorne

Interview with Tayla Fairthorne. Tayla is RMIT Alumni and works for an Employer of Choice.

Where are you working now? 

“Kapitol Group”

What is your role and what activities does your role entail on a daily basis?

“

I am the Environment and Sustainability Manager. The role aims to embed a culture of Sustainability, and to implement best practice environment and sustainability initiatives and environmental compliance across our operations in line with our Vision to ‘Do No Harm’. This role is also responsible for gaining, monitoring and maintaining relevant accreditations and meeting relevant regulatory requirements.
My day to day can vary quite a lot but it generally involves spending time at all of our construction sites ensuring we are adequately managing our environmental and sustainability obligations.”

What do you like best about your role?

“I like that I have the opportunity to teach people about why protecting the environment is important and how we can all contribute to creating a sustainable future.”

What attracted you to your role? 

“I love the construction industry and have always been drawn to it. Working on large projects from start to finish gives you such a great sense of achievement and it’s so great to be a part of making that process better for people and the environment now and in the future.”

What is most important to you when looking for a job?

“It’s important for me to feel like I will be supported and encouraged in the role. Companies that display a healthy work life balance are also very important.”

Tell us about your career journey so far 

“I studied Environmental Science and Environment and Society at RMIT University as a mature age student after taking a few years off after high school. Following graduation, I worked as a Health Safety and Environmental consultant which exposed me heavily to the construction industry. Through this exposure I was able to apply for my current role at Kapitol Group.”

Tell us about the challenges and triumphs you have faces as a female in a male-dominated industry

“I think it can be intimidating to be the only female in a room, it’s not something you notice until you experience it. Generally, my experiences have been positive, and I think everyone brings something important to the industry, irrespective of how you identify.”

If you could say one thing to young females looking to enter the industry – what would it be? 

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. We know what we are doing, we have good ideas and bringing fresh perspectives to this industry is important for its longevity.”

Why should students in school consider your industry as a further study and career option? 

“The range of careers in this industry are so expansive and often unknown.”

What did you enjoy best about your degree? 

“RMIT is very hands on and practical which exposed me to multiple career types and opportunities.”

You can connect with Tayla on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylafairthorne/

Thank you Tayla for sharing your story!

You can share your story here: https://forms.office.com/r/D3yEG8YStt