Construcciones Yamaro: Bella Doyle: Building for a better future
From the stunning shores of Vanuatu to the vibrant Sydney Harbour, Bella Doyle is making her mark as a dynamic leader in innovative and sustainable project delivery.
Growing up around construction, with her father and other family members working in the industry, it seemed inevitable that Bella Doyle would follow in their footsteps. Her love for design, technology and art at school – particularly projects involving ‘major works’ – further reflected her natural fit for the field.
However, a career in construction wasn’t always on her radar. Initially drawn to architecture, Doyle’s path took a turn when an opportunity arose to join the commercial building company Icon, where her father worked.
“As I got older, I edged less toward architecture and more toward construction design,” says Doyle. “As I started discovering the role design plays in the construction world and the opportunities within the field, I decided that was the career path I would pursue.”
Bella Doyle began her journey in Icon’s accounts payable team, aiming to save money for her upcoming travels. It was through a supportive group of women – that she affectionately calls a “power to the girls” crew – that Doyle was introduced to different aspects of the business. Inspired by the various offerings, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney and commenced a cadetship at Icon.
“During my cadetship, I worked across various departments, from business development to estimating, before transitioning to a more site-based role,” she explains. “I’ve been fortunate to work on some incredible projects, each one a massive landmark in its area – complex and impressive.”
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One of Doyle’s early projects was The Workshop in Pyrmont, Sydney – a 6 Star, Green Star rated commercial office building. She then worked on The Harrington Collection, a luxury apartment development in The Rocks, Sydney, followed by The Brewery Yard Redevelopment, an adaptive reuse of the heritage former Carlton and United Brewery Yard, built in 1912.
Doyle’s role in The Brewery Yard project involved extensive investigative work, structural scanning and reinforcing the heritage brickwork. “We worked closely with heritage consultants to retain the building’s historical elements while future-proofing it for reuse,” she says. “The most challenging aspect was developing a methodology to introduce new elements with minimal impact on the heritage structure.”
The project required meticulous structural planning and vibration monitoring to ensure construction activities didn’t compromise the building’s integrity. “We also had to catalogue, dismantle and restore beautiful heritage plant before reassembling it onsite,” Doyle adds.
Following this, Doyle’s next project, the Cook and Tiroas Barracks in Vanuatu, significantly accelerated her experience and knowledge. A collaboration between the Governments of the Republic of Vanuatu and Australia, this infrastructure project for the Vanuatu Mobile Forces involved 42 buildings across a large parcel of land – a mix of upgrades to existing infrastructure and new builds. This included accommodation, engineering and vehicle workshops, an armoury and magazine storage, a fire station and off-branch barracks.
“It was a job we were self-performing,” she explains. “Our site team consisted of just a few project managers and tradespeople from Australia, paired with local crews. We put around 1,000 local Ni-Vanuatu through White Card induction training and taught them construction skills, from civil works to roofing.”
Despite logistical challenges – everything ordered from Australia took three months to arrive – Doyle says the project was delivered successfully. “The daily challenges were unlike anything I’d encountered before, but it was incredibly rewarding,” she says. “I gained vast experience in a short time, even down to the specifics of screw types and carrying out my own slump tests.”
Part of the Vanuatu project involved building a small wastewater treatment plant, sparking Doyle’s interest in this area. Recognising her enthusiasm, Icon placed her on the West Wodonga Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity and Emissions Reduction Upgrade project, where she currently serves as a project coordinator overseeing concrete and civil works.
In this role, Doyle is involved in seeking prices, letting trades, putting together scope packages, cross-checking designs, coordinating design across various packages and managing the ongoing quality assurance associated with the works.
“It’s hard to define exactly what I do day‑to‑day, as every project is different,” she reflects. “But I’m eager to continue growing my knowledge in the water treatment space.”
Doyle’s commitment to sustainable construction is evident. As a Green Star Accredited Professional with the Green Building Council of Australia, she has gravitated towards environmentally conscious projects – a move that Icon fully supports.
“These projects typically provide value to the wider community, which I find particularly rewarding,” she says. “Delivering defence and infrastructure projects is fulfilling because it generally benefits everyone, with a strong focus on inclusivity, environmental awareness and social procurement.”
Her recent experiences in heritage conservation and water treatment have solidified her belief that a project’s environmental and social impacts are the most rewarding aspects of construction.
“On the Vanuatu project, for instance, it was incredibly fulfilling to be part of upskilling so many local people, equipping them with skills they’ll carry for life,” she says.
As Bella Doyle continues to excel in the industry, she remains committed to environmentally conscious construction and designing for a better future. Proud of the projects she has contributed to so far, she looks forward to what the future holds for her construction career.
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