This month was International Women’s Day 2022 and this year’s theme was Break the Bias. For us women in the construction industry, this was a very fitting theme as we are very often underestimated in our abilities – even us in the office!

So we thought this a great opportunity to celebrate and highlight the women in our team and the skills they bring to their roles.

Susanne Nyblad – Director & Accounts Manager

Susanne was doing the accounts for the family business back in the 90s prior to our arrival to Australia in 1999 (while working her own full-time job!). In the year 2000, Kenth once again went out on his own, starting his own renovation business, and again, Susanne looked after the accounts. Different country, different tax laws and a different language but the invoices were sent out and invoices were paid. Since then, the sole trader model has changed to a trust to a company and with it, numerous employees, larger accounts and so much more paperwork but she’s hanging in there and doing a great job!

Linn Batey – Business Manager

Linn has over 15 years of building and construction industry experience. She began her career as an Accounts Administrator for an insurance repair builder where she worked herself up to Administration Manager. She then joined a new homes builder where she was employed as Office Manager before making the decision to team up with father Kenth Nyblad and establishing Nyblad Construction. She also boasts a Bachelor of Business (Public Relations and Advertising (minor in Marketing) from QUT, a Certificate IV in Building and Construction, a Diploma in Project Management, and a Diploma in Estimating. It is no surprise that Linn has been instrumental in the expansion of Nyblad Construction in the last four years.

She has also taken on the role as Mentor to other young women through the Women Building Australia mentoring program.

Sanna Davis – Communications Manager

Sanna has a Bachelor in Business (Public Relations and International Business) from QUT and has worked with a range of companies such as IKEA, Lindt chocolates and Victa Lawnmowers as well as health and ageing clients. In 2014 she took on a role as Communications Adviser at The Master Builders Association of Victoria where she stayed until she went back on maternity leave and moved back to the Sunshine Coast. After a few more years of having babies, Sanna joined the family business and has been responsible for all aspects of marketing, from design, promotions and social media. She’s also stepped into internal communications roles such as preparing employment contracts, looking after all the COVID-related duties, occupational health and safety protocols and general human resources needs.

 Camilla Gilbert  – Administration Assistant

Camilla is our office admin assistant, and she is wealth of knowledge! She knows just about everyone on the coast and has over 30 years of experience in the building and construction industry, having entered the industry when she was just 15 years old. Throughout her career she has worked for the council’s building department, civil and structural engineers, and electrical contractors. Currently Camilla works for Nyblad Construction part-time, runs her own family plumbing business with her husband and son (you may know our plumber Bernie already!) and works as admin assistant at a flooring retailer and installer.

As you can see, the women of the Nyblad Construction team bring a host of different skills and experiences to the team.

And in true celebration of International Women’s Day, Sanna and Linn attended a couple of events held in honour of the day.

We first attended Master Builders Queensland’s annual Influencer Lunch where we were treated to a fantastic panel discussion by Loren Hickey from John Holland, Alli Smith from Suncorp and Mikki Richardson from Master Builders, who spoke about the latest challenges our industry is facing.

A few days later we attended Awesome Women in Construction’s (AWIC) International Women’s Day Lunch where we met and connected with some fabulous women in our industry and heard from Consumer Futurist Amanda Stevens on the latest customer trends.

All in all, a very busy week but well worth it! We love being a part of these great industry-supporting organisations that guide us through the latest industry challenges and help us connect with fellow building and construction workers, facing similar challenges to ourselves in these tough times.