Wāhine in Trades and Engineering

Discover your future in trades and engineering!

Join our Centre for Trades, Hospitality, and Centre for Engineering and Industrial Design whānau for this exciting opportunity to hear from an inspiring group of wāhine excelling in different areas of trades and engineering and how you can discover career options in these fast-paced, fulfilling industries.

Our guest speakers come from a vast range of backgrounds and will share their personal journeys, challenges, and successes in their industry-specific areas. Learn firsthand how they carved their paths and how you can embark on your own rewarding career. Get inspired by their incredible stories and find out more about each wahine below the registration form.

Come and engage with us, get your questions answered, and have a chance to win some awesome spot prizes. There is also an opportunity to network after the panels, with light refreshments provided.

Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
Time: 11.45am-1.30pm
Venue: RkLg.14, L Block, Rotokauri Campus

Register below to secure your place, and we will send you event reminders:

Get to know our speakers

Summer Hurrell F B Hall Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying	After spending seven months overseas while trying to decide on a career path, I realised that the ability to start earning money right away was far more appealing than taking on a student loan. Thriving in a hands-on work environment, I knew that a job in the trades was for me. The opportunity to be a Plumber presented itself. I started the apprenticeship with F B Hall, and after five years of hard work, learning, and growing in the field, I became a qualified Plumber, Gasfitter, and Drainlayer. What I love most about my job is the variety. Every day brings a new challenge, and I’m always working on something different. There’s never a dull moment, and there’s always something new to learn, which keeps things exciting. Working in the trades has given me a sense of pride and empowerment, knowing that I can tackle any job, big or small. Moving from a small town to Kirikiriroa has been a journey of embracing new experiences and opportunities to meet people from all walks of life. Currently, I’m working on a project in Tonga, and my trade continues to offer me both challenges and rewarding opportunities. As I look ahead, I’m excited about the future and the possibilities it holds.
Brooke Ellis Fonterra Electrician/IMC	Brooke Ellis is a qualified electrician and instrument technician with expertise in industrial measurement and control (IMC) practice and theory. Currently working as an on-call electrician at Fonterra, she plays a crucial role in covering breakdowns across the site and providing maintenance support in both the powder plant and milk treatment areas. Brooke's journey in the electrical field began with completing an electrical apprenticeship with Fonterra, where she was given the unique opportunity to study IMC alongside her apprenticeship. With the support of the electrical team at Fonterra, this training allowed Brooke to build a well-rounded skill set that combines both process knowledge and Fonterra-specific expertise.  Her role involves working on a diverse range of equipment throughout the manufacturing area, alongside electrical work in buildings and facilities, giving her a wide scope of responsibilities. Brooke’s combined technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and process-focused approach make her a versatile and valuable member of the Fonterra team.
Xingyan (Amber) Zhang GZ Group Construction Carpentry 4	In February 2024, I returned to Wintec to study Level 4 Carpentry. The course has been incredibly practical, hands-on, and closely aligned with real construction site needs. I’m especially grateful to my tutors, Alan and Russell, whose clarity, patience, and dedication to teaching have helped me deepen both my technical knowledge and confidence. I genuinely love this industry. I see construction as a space where I can grow endlessly, combining management and technical skills to become a well-rounded project leader. Through sharing my story, I hope to encourage more women – especially those from diverse backgrounds – to find their place in the trades. As an Asian woman in construction, I know that labels can sometimes bring doubt. But I’ve learned that the best way to respond is with ability, action, and outcomes. And I’m proud of every part of my identity – it makes me who I am. Because I understand how hard the journey has been, I’m even more grateful to those who believed in me along the way. That belief fuels me to keep improving, to stay accountable, and to become someone truly worthy of the trust I’ve been given.
Bryar Cookson  Volare Culinary	I started at Wintec in 2015 as a single mum to a then 8-year-old boy, completing my qualification at the end of 2016. During my time there, I endeavoured to get as much as I possibly could out of this experience, entering into the Culinary Fare both years, volunteering at a Charity Banquet organised by one of our Chefs, as well as volunteering at the Hamilton Food Show both years and getting the opportunity to work alongside Chelsea Winter in 2016.  I started a work-based learning programme through Wintec at Iguana Street Bar and Restaurant, volunteering one night and one day there each week for four weeks in 2016, which then led to me gaining employment there afterwards. I left Iguana and started working at Volare Bread towards the end of May 2017 and have been here ever since. I started as a Pastry Assistant in a team of 3, stepped up as a supervisor in 2019, and then took on the position of Pastry Manager in 2022 with a team of 17. I have worked alongside Hamilton Girls High School students every year since, working on a Pastry Project that focusses on Local Producers, which is something we try our best to incorporate within Volare when developing new products.  I love being involved in Product Development, training new staff, and working alongside my team with production, along with updating and streamlining processes to work with our current production needs. Having the right attitude, showing care, pride, and passion is important in what you choose to do in life, it can take you on a journey that you may not have thought possible. Step out of your comfort zone and really push yourself to succeed!
Seymohn Bethwaite Downer Civil Engineering	With a passion for civil engineering ignited during daily collaboration with professionals in the field, Seymohn embarked on a journey to shape her own trajectory within the industry. Despite some apprehensions stemming from her roles as a mother and wife, she seized the opportunity and pursued a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil) at Wintec in 2019, determined to surmount any challenges that lay ahead. Graduating in 2022 marked the commencement of her career journey in engineering, beginning as an assistant transportation safety engineer at Hamilton City Council. There, she eagerly absorbed every opportunity to expand her skill set and proficiency.   Seymohn currently works at Downer as a Project Engineer, specialising in Traffic Signals and ITS. She has leveraged her technical prowess and unique life experiences to craft solutions through a distinct lens. She aspires to catalyse positive transformations in people's lives, whether by streamlining their daily commute or advocating for inclusive infrastructure design. She firmly believes that the only limitations we face are those we impose upon ourselves. Envisioning a boundless career, she strives not only for personal fulfilment but also to inspire others, especially wāhine, to transcend their own boundaries.
McKenna Anne Lesley Longveld Mechanical Engineering	McKenna started out unsure of where her career journey was going to take her. It wasn’t until she got a taste for fabrication through Wintec Trades Academy that she found her forte. After winning a Level 2 Manufacturing and Technology excellence award, she realised she had found her calling. McKenna enjoys the hands-on work where she gets to see things come together, from fabricating small parts to assembling larger-scale projects. It was her passion for the industry that motivated her to get ahead in her apprenticeship alongside part-time study to complete a Bachelor of Engineering. McKenna’s goal is to eventually progress into an office position as a design engineer, where she can use both her theory and practical knowledge to succeed.
Nicola Anderson  Wintec Automotive tutor	Tēnā koutou katoa Ko Kaimai ngā maunga Ko Wairere ngā awa Ko Matamata te whenua tupu Ko Kirikiriroa te kāinga Ko Nicola Anderson tōku ingoa   Kia ora, I'm Nicola. Originally from Matamata, but have spent a number of years in and around Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. I started my career in Automotive by completing a similar course many moons ago, and now have come full circle to tutor other ākonga in their automotive study journey. I've done mahi in the industry in various roles, from technician to warehouse management, sales rep, plus service and parts advising.   I enjoy all the normal things like good kai, getting out and about with friends, the outdoors, music, learning and church life.