Bruce Mactier Building Designers has been a household name for the GV for nearly 43 years. Across residential, commercial and project management, Bruce Mactier has shaped the landscape of Greater Shepparton and beyond. With more than half their workforce made up of women, it’s safe to say that Bruce Mactier Building Designers fosters an environment of growth and support for the professional women on their team.
There isn’t a better example of the benefits of a supportive work environment than in Melissa McCoy, a senior building designer who has been with the firm for as long as she has worked in the industry – over 28 years. She’s a mother to an 11-year-old boy, and loves taking time with her family in nature. “We like to adventure a bit.” Over her time with the firm, Melissa has learned that building design is anything but static. “It’s given me experience in working with different personalities…building a house can be an emotional thing.” Alongside building rules and regulations which are always evolving, the job is never the same from project to project. This makes for even more of a reward – Melissa finds it in “designing an interesting facade, then driving past the completed building to see the vision brought to life”.
The newest addition to the team, Mary Stevanovska, has been with Bruce Mactier for almost two years, pointing towards an environment that’s worth staying in. “I’ve been in all different industries over the span of my career but it’s really lovely here”. A mother to two, she has a love for travelling and food which has sent her all over Australia and the world for work and travel. “I loved the financial administration and management side of everything; that’s pretty much my niche.” She takes pride in the work she’s done in the office, including regulatory systems, toolboxes for staff, and OH+S compliance efforts. “That’s what I think is very important in any industry – to feel that it’s a comfortable happy place… We bounce off each other; it’s not a hierarchy.”
Bruce Mactier’s new partner, Tom Griffin has spent the past six months learning the ins and outs of the Shepparton office as it prepares to expand its operations out to Geelong. “I think it’s fantastic we have so many women working with us.” Tom spoke to the importance of flexible working hours and genuine support for the many designers with families like Mary and Melissa. Like them, he is confident in what the firm can achieve. “We can handle anything from a decking to a basketball stadium”.
