Ameliya Gibbs

I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life when I was 17 and I followed my peers into a Psychology degree at university. I was three years into the degree and still unsure of my future. I pivoted and graduated with a Bachelor of Public Relations & Communications, thinking that would make me happier, but it didn’t! I decided to go travelling for 12 months when I was 21 years old. When I returned, I was chatting with my sister, who said she needed help on a project in construction. I joined the project to help out and never looked back!

I’m passionate about helping build the next generation of construction professionals and making sure young women can see a clear and confident place for themselves in the industry.

Through my work with UNIQ You, I share an honest and practical view of what a career in construction really looks like. Construction offers so many opportunities beyond the tools, including careers in procurement, commercial management, project coordination and leadership. I’m a strong advocate for women in construction and am committed to helping young women recognise their potential, back their abilities and explore an industry that needs their skills, ideas and perspectives.

As Procurement Manager at Paynters, I lead and manage the Building Cadet Program across Southeast Queensland and regional offices. I provide guidance, support and mentoring to Building Cadets and Project Coordinators, helping them develop practical skills, build confidence and explore long-term career opportunities in construction. The most rewarding part of my role is supporting people as they grow and develop into capable professionals.

Alongside this, I lead procurement initiatives across the business, working closely with subcontractors and suppliers, supporting commercial negotiations, and helping deliver successful project outcomes. I also oversee procurement systems and create training resources and user guides to make processes and technology easier for teams to use.