Maare-Liis Kalamäe ('12)

Helmets off to Maare-Liis Kalamäe (’12), who is in the final stages of a three-year stint as a Construction Manager for the new European headquarters for Apple, part of London’s £9bn Battersea Power Station redevelopment.

Maare-Liis is one of only a handful of female project managers in a field traditionally dominated by men. “I’d always loved buildings, design and architecture,” she explains, “and the type of environment I ‘thrived’ in was one that was collaborative, continuously evolving and one I could call upon my own intuition. I definitely didn’t perform at my best when sat at a desk all day. I still don’t!”

Her advice for young people on the brink of their careers? “Don’t be afraid to be different! Be proud of who you are and what sets you apart. And get out of Australia and experience the world! The experience will shape you in a way nothing else quite can.”