Over the years, I have developed strong expertise in project management, contract administration, planning and scheduling, cost control and forecasting, negotiation and conflict management, and tendering processes. My focus is now shifting toward residential estimating, with the goal of becoming a licensed home builder and expanding into small to medium-rise construction.

I am currently completing the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to pursue my passion for teaching and passing on the knowledge I’ve gained to those entering the construction field, professionals seeking growth, and adults interested in learning about the built environment. I am also studying the Diploma of Building and Construction to strengthen my understanding of the NCC and gain the technical foundation for home building and mid-rise projects.

My work is guided by values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for the craft of building. I believe in sharing knowledge, encouraging ethical practice, and helping others build confidence, structure, and real-world problem-solving skills that lead to lasting growth and better project outcomes.

I work in Project Management in the Building & Construction Industry specialising in Retail & Shopping Centres. I started my own business when I was 23 years old as a young, Asian (POC) female working in a male heavy industry. I have been going for close to 20 years now.

The areas I usually speak about or get questions about are my experiences around: - Navigating the challenges of running your own business - Starting out at a young age - Being a woman and dealing with men in my industry - How I flip between working onsite and being in executive meetings - My experiences on racial, gender, age discrimination - Being divorced does not taint you - Academic success does not equal Life success (or happiness!) - How to juggle work, life balance (raising 2 young kids i.e., 18 months and 3yo as a single Mother, running a business and studying for my Masters Degree) - Living and working from a place of integrity - Know your values and let your values drive your decision making - Being female and fierce is a superpower! - Lead with humanity and emotions: be kind, always

I am a Volunteer Business Mentor at various organisations such as Business SA and Rarebirds. I also lecture at UniSA and deliver the Project Management in Business Course. (2024 & 2025) The way I mentor, share, teach is through storytelling. I speak from the heart through lived experiences; and I’m big on developing meaningful connections.

As the founder of the “NextGen Tradies – Try a Trade” program, Polly has helped reduce barriers for young women considering careers in trades. Her initiative has led to 15% of participants re-evaluating their career paths or commencing apprenticeships post-school.

In 2023, Polly was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate international programs that encourage women and underrepresented individuals to pursue skilled trade careers. Her research took her to Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, and Portugal, where she studied initiatives like Girls’ Day in Germany, Boss Ladies in Denmark and Build a Dream in Canada . Her findings emphasise the importance of early exposure to trades, inclusive support, and challenging stereotypes to foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry. Polly holds a Diploma in Event Management, a Graduate Certificate in Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and is a certified Partnership Broker. She has over eight years of experience in education and this year founded LinkUpCareers.com.au connecting industry professionals from construction, manufacturing and energy, primarily women, into childcare, primary & secondary schools and registered training organisations such as TAFEs to bust the myths about women on the tools.

Her work has been featured on platforms like The Smoko Podcast, where she discusses practical solutions for creating equitable pathways into skilled trades.

Polly's commitment to empowering young people and advocating for diversity in trades continues to inspire change both locally and internationally.

I’m an experienced designer passionate about creating innovative design solutions for consumer-facing products that align with brand values, driving business growth.