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Back to SearchJo Metcalfe, GHD’s Manager – Canberra and Southern NSW, has been named as one of the most inspiring leaders in the infrastructure consulting sector, receiving the prestigious 2016 Female Champion of Change award from industry association Consult Australia.
The award recognises Jo as an outstanding leader who has made a remarkable difference to the bottom line, increased employee engagement, supported flexible working practices, and contributed to increasing the company’s diversity.
A landscape architect, Jo was the first woman in Australia to have been appointed to manage one of GHD’s ‘operating centres’, comprising offices in Canberra, Bega, Nowra and Wagga Wagga. She has played a key role in growing revenue in this region at a phenomenal annual compound rate of 30 percent.
She explains, “We are continually punching above our weight in a challenging market, contributing to multidisciplinary projects through inter-office collaboration, and supporting the growth of our international offices. What’s more, our employee engagement rate has grown to 73 percent in 2016, one of the highest at GHD.”
More recently, Jo helped to implement initiatives and policies to address gender diversity, flexible working conditions, unconscious bias, Indigenous internships and personal leave options.
Her current passion is to develop Indigenous enterprise through helping federal, state/territory and local governments shape procurement policies that enable Indigenous-owned businesses to start, grow and succeed.
According to Phil Duthie, GHD’s General Manager Australia, “Jo is a talented leader who combines being a mum with managing a high-performing team and contributing to industry associations. She is a great role model for women at GHD and has earned the respect of her peers by not being afraid to challenge the norms.”
Leader in diversity
While no company received Consult Australia’s Diversity Award for Excellence this year, GHD was the only one to be Highly Commended for accelerating diversity within its workforce in a way that aligns its core values and business strategy.
The judges recognised GHD for developing a comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Step-up Plan in 2014 and progressively ‘embedding’ it in the company’s culture across three years.
Phil says, “We look forward to continuing to build a workforce that is truly diverse and inclusive, that connects with our clients, and is a role model for our industry.”
Engaging stakeholders for success
GHD was also acknowledged alongside its client and partners for setting new benchmarks for public participation on the Hanwood Modernisation Project near Griffith in New South Wales.
The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Renewal Alliance, made up of Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI), GHD, John Holland Group and UGL, was Highly Commended for exemplary collaboration.
To successfully deliver this major upgrade, MIARA introduced a new public participation process, with a multi-level approach to engage more than 200 farmers, who are also the customers and shareholders of MI.