Suffrage 125 Tauranga: Media Release, 17 September 2018
BWN Lunch - Redefining Workplace Roles

As part of the Suffrage 125 commemorations, the Tauranga Business Women's Network are holding a lunchtime panel discussion with three local women who are working in traditionally male dominated industries. The event “Redefining Workplace Roles” will be MC’d by the BWN committee chair Mary Hill. The speaker’s panel is made up with the following women:

Heather Jones – Security Patrol Owner/Operator - Aegis Private Security
Heather Jones was born in the Wairarapa in the mid 1950's. Her work career began when she left high school on the Friday and started work in a bank on the following Monday. At 19 years old she married a Bank Manager and worked in the bank for another 4 years before stopping work when children came along. Heather's husband was transferred to Tauranga in 1984, by this time Heather had had 3 children in 3 different cities and 5 moves in 10 years. A casual job with the TAB led to a part time job with Armourguard where Heather was the 1st female security guard. After 6 years with Armourguard, in 1998 an ex-detective and ex-detective inspector offered Heather a job in their security company.
When they sold their client base in 2000, they encouraged Heather to start her own Company and so AEGIS was born. Heather has now built a highly successful security business, managing security for a number of sites and events including coordinating 95 staff over four days at Fieldays, and managing speedway events.

Trudy Green – Earthmoving Business Owner - MT Green Contracting
Trudy Green is a Greerton Girl at heart, being born and always lived in Tauranga. Her work career began when she left school and worked at the Tauranga Hospital in the radiology Dept. She worked there for 18 years and, after losing her father, she started to work and support her brother in the family business M.T Green Contracting. The business has been operating for over 50 years as a locally owned and operated Earthmoving business with a full range of Heavy Machinery such as Trucks, Diggers, a Bobcat, Bulldozer and Rollers. Trudy undertakes the running of the day to day operations including sitting on a machine all day, and doing office admin often after hours. Trudy lives life to the fullest and goes hard enjoying fishing, Jetskis, Motorbikes, Gardening, Shooting sports, the great outdoors and managing a lifestyle block. Also somewhere along the way she adopted her daughter and now has a 7yr old mokopuna and with another on the way. Her most recent challenge is attending the Te Wananga Aotearoa to learn and Korero Te Maori Language.

Grace Lowe - Mechanical Engineering Apprentice – Page Macrae
19 year old Grace Lowe from Greerton, is the only female mechanical engineering apprentice at Page Macrae Engineering in Mount Maunganui. The Tauranga apprentice fell into engineering by accident after signing up for a welding course which was too full and having to switch to an engineering course. She ended up loving it. Early this year she was one of four recipients to be awarded a $3000 Acorn Foundation scholarship to spend on tools. Lowe also received an additional $4300 to put towards further training. She put some of the money towards buying a pair of bright pink work boots. As well as being a lot smaller and lighter for Grace she loves wearing them to make a statement that there is a female working in the environment.

These women will be discussing their backgrounds and influencers that led them to pursue their chosen career and what advantages they feel being female in a traditionally male environment brings. They will share their experiences and be imparting some invaluable advice to others looking to enter their industry or other male dominated industries.

The Business Women’s Network are a subcommittee of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, formed by women for women in business in the Tauranga and Western Bay region. They hold events at least once a month with a lunchtime speaking programme on topical issues, and evening Business Behind the Scenes events focusing on local women in business. The events provide excellent networking opportunities with an emphasis on education, inspiration and connection. There is no membership as such and everyone is welcome to attend their events.

Where: The Tauranga Club, Level 5, 72 Devonport Rd, Tauranga, New Zealand 3110
When: 12noon to 1.30pm on Tuesday 18 September.
Chamber Member: $30
Non Member Registration: $40
Bookings: http://bwn.org.nz/events/#id=1413&cid=502&wid=1201
Further information: Jeanette Mindham 577 9823

“Proud to be a part of the Suffrage 125 national event programme.” #suffrage125 #suffrage125tauranga #whakatūwāhine

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