Meet the incredible women behind
the new shellharbour hospital

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Left to right: Annemarie D’Souza, Philippa Delevaux and Claire Moran

As we prepare to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the new Shellharbour Hospital project is celebrating the incredible women driving its success. As construction progresses at Dunmore, women are making impactful contributions at every level.

This year’s campaign theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ highlights the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.

Senior Project Director Dominic Longo said the construction industry’s target of 15% female workforce participation by 2030 would help achieve greater representation of women in construction.

"I’m incredibly proud to be working on a project that includes so many inspiring women, whether that be in leadership or non-traditional roles," Dominic said.

"It’s crucial that we foster a diverse workforce, especially gender diversity. Not only does it open the door for innovation and creative problem-solving, but it also contributes to a safer and welcoming working environment for everyone."
One of the key women leading the way is Annemarie D’Souza, who brings over 24 years of experience in the health sector. She began her career in human resources before transitioning to a Change Manager role in 2018.

Annemarie has since played a pivotal role in the design and delivery of several major redevelopment projects, including three new community health centres. Early in her career, she completed an apprenticeship and worked in her trade for several years.

Reflecting on her journey, Annemarie shared “I completed an apprenticeship after school and stayed working within my trade for a few years, but a long travelling stint overseas saw me make the move to hospitality and then human resources. I’ve come almost full circle as the work I do within the design and delivery space involves a lot of construction conversations and planning, and I think my early years support a better understanding of this.”

Work Health, Safety, and Environmental Advisor Claire Moran, who moved to Australia from Ireland six years ago, developed an early interest in construction. Growing up, her mother worked for an architectural firm, providing Claire with valuable insights into the industry.

“These experiences really sparked my interest in the work, health and safety aspect of the industry,” Claire explained.
Assistant Project Manager Philippa Delevaux shifted careers after pursuing a degree in psychology, discovering her true passion for construction. She transitioned into the industry following a traineeship with NSW Infrastructure.

At first, Philippa didn’t see herself in construction. “Honestly, at first I didn’t. As a high school student, all I knew was that I wanted to work with people and feel like I was helping a team or the wider community.”

Now, Philippa considers it a blessing to have entered construction during COVID-19 and takes great pride in contributing to the delivery of public health facilities.

"I’m proud to be part of a project that will leave a lasting, positive impact on the community," she said.
When asked if women should join the male-dominated industry, all three women wholeheartedly agreed and shared their reasons why.

“It’s so worth it,” Claire said.

Claire highlighted the vast opportunities in construction, noting, “Construction has so many areas—the opportunities are endless. The skills you learn can be applied anywhere in the world.” She encouraged others to take the leap “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”

Annemarie echoed her sentiments, offering advice to others looking to enter the field - “Go for it.” She added, “From my early days learning a trade, I’ve gained life skills, especially in using tools safely and correctly. In my current role, the variety of tasks I tackle keeps things interesting—no two days are the same, and I’m constantly learning.”

Philippa also shared her views, saying, “The construction industry is so large that there truly is a role for everyone, and so many interesting niches you could find yourself in!”