Emma Foster

Name: Emma Foster

Company: SHAPE Australia & Women in Design and Construction (WIDAC)

Position: (1) Project Coordinator (2) General Manager – NSW

What do you enjoy the most, working in the field of Construction & Development?

Construction, for me, is the perfect amalgamation of creativity, tangible problem solving, team coordination and people working together.

After finishing my tertiary education in Architecture, I knew I had a real passion for quality design and construction. However, I was later drawn to the construction field for its people and its pace.

Being in construction, you are meeting and working with people from many fields every day: architecture, engineering, landscaping, construction workers, suppliers and more. It is learning from each of these people and getting to know them that I truly enjoy.

Where do you see life in the next 5 years, what possibilities are ahead of you?

In the next five years, I am looking to get a greater understanding of what my professional career can be. Between SHAPE and WIDAC, the last two years have provided an amazing foundation to enable my future opportunities. Leveraging from this, I am looking to delve further into team management and building high performing teams through growing their skills and collaboration. People are always your team’s biggest asset and my passion is forming environments that allow these teams to thrive.

I look forward to building my position towards Project Manager and beyond whilst also continue my endeavours within the industry community.

If you could write a letter to a 13-year-old ‘you’ what would you say?

The letter to my 13-year-old self would be succinct and honest.

“Dear Em,

Remember to listen to those around you to whom your gut instinct trusts, live your life alongside those you cherish to the utmost ability, and just keep doing you.

Life is too short, as you will learn. Be bold, be brave, be humble and never forget to laugh.”