Construcciones Yamaro: Emmeline Rocks: Leading projects, leading change
Emmeline Rocks is making waves in the construction industry as a civil engineer and project manager at Zauner Construction, overseeing major projects across regional New South Wales and Victoria.
Emmeline Rocks’ experience exemplifies the diverse pathways and abundant opportunities in the construction industry. Early in her career, she has already achieved remarkable success, earning industry recognition and inspiring the next generation of construction leaders.
Her journey into the construction world began with a passion for architecture in high school, which later transitioned to engineering. “I wanted to be more involved in actually building structures rather than just designing them,” says Rocks.
“So, I enrolled in the engineering course at Charles Sturt University, which involves 18 months of full-time study on campus, along with four year-long work placements.”
These placements provided her with valuable experience and industry exposure during her studies. Initially interested in pursuing structural engineering design, Rocks’ placement at Riverina Water, a water utility company in her hometown of Wagga Wagga, NSW, altered her career direction.
“I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects,” she says. “While I did engage in design work, I found myself particularly drawn to a small building project involving the construction of new water reservoirs.”
During her time onsite, Rocks discovered a genuine passion for construction, realising it might be her true calling. When the opportunity to apply for her next placement arose, Hansen Yuncken was working on the Estella Public School project in Wagga Wagga. She applied for and was accepted into a cadetship, marking the beginning of her construction career.
“Estella Public School was the first construction project I worked on during my time with Hansen Yuncken,” says Rocks. “I think your first project is always important to you, because that’s the one where you have the steepest learning curve.”
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Rocks explains that the project was a rapid build, incorporating both modular and traditional construction methods. Due to the fast pace of the project, she had to quickly learn and adapt, facing a particularly steep learning curve during the defects liability period.
“I was really thrown in the deep end,” she says. “I was given the opportunity to close out final defects post-handover, working directly with the principal of the school to complete our works, prioritising student safety and learning.”
Successfully completing this phase of the project gave Rocks confidence in her abilities. Reflecting on her journey, she notes, “I think if I hadn’t had those placements and had just gone straight into a job doing engineering design, I would have had second thoughts about my career choice.”
Her placements allowed her to explore different facets of engineering and ultimately choose the path that suited her best.
Rocks’ final two placements were at Zauner Construction in Albury, NSW, where she worked on the Northeast Health Wangaratta redevelopment, a complex hospital upgrade project in VIC. Delivered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this five-stage, two-year project presented numerous challenges.
“We were working in a live hospital environment, ensuring we maintained patient safety while delivering a quality build,” she says. “Adding to that complexity was trying to juggle the different requirements in NSW and VIC, due to trades being split across both sides of the border.”
After completing her placements, Rocks joined Zauner Construction full-time and was promoted to project manager at just 24. Currently delivering the redevelopment of Jacob Toyota’s showroom in Wodonga, VIC, which commenced in September 2023, she serves as the primary client contact. Together with the project site management team, she coordinates the construction program, oversees subcontractors and ensures quality and safety compliance.
In addition to her operational responsibilities, Rocks manages budgeting, financials and the submission of client progress claims. She is also responsible for assessing and processing subcontractors’ progress claims.
“The Jacob Toyota showroom redevelopment is scheduled for completion in late 2024,” she says. “It’s been rewarding to build strong relationships with the client and witness the project evolve from its concept design to the actual construction taking shape.”
Emmeline Rocks thrives on the fast-paced, dynamic nature of the construction industry. “No two days are the same,” she says. “There’s always a new challenge to overcome, and that’s what I really enjoy.”
Her achievements were recently recognised when she received the Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Association of NSW’s 2024 Riverina Murray Regions Excellence in Building Awards and second place at its 2024 Building Degree Graduate Awards. The judges praised her for encouraging other females to join the construction industry.
“It was an absolute honour to be recognised for my hard work in the industry,” says Rocks. “I aim to be a role model for other young females so that they can pursue and enjoy thriving careers in construction and help play a role in increasing diversity in the industry.”
Looking ahead, Emmeline Rocks hopes to continue growing as a project manager, taking on bigger and more complex projects, and mentoring junior employees to help them develop their careers. Her journey is a testament to the many pathways and opportunities in the construction industry.
The post Emmeline Rocks: Leading projects, leading change appeared first on Inside Construction.
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