Construcciones Yamaro: Amanda Allan: Bringing order to the chaos
Six years after stepping away from a career in IT, Amanda Allan has become a linchpin in Canberra’s construction sector and a key voice in the ACT’s professional community.
Long before the first sod is turned or a contract is signed, Amanda Allan is already at work. She’s active in the early, unseen phases of construction, before final drawings circulate, scopes are finalised or boots hit site. Her role is grounded in the often-overlooked corridors of a project: tenders, schedules, compliance frameworks and submission packs. It may sound procedural, but for Allan, this is where the real structure takes shape.
“It’s just one big puzzle,” she says. “And I love putting the pieces together.”
As design and bid coordinator at AMA Projects and president of the ACT chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Allan sits at the intersection of strategy, structure and advocacy. Her entry into the industry, however, came from a less conventional path.
Before construction, there was IT. Allan’s early career was shaped by systems upgrades, project rollouts and change management – precise, process-driven work that never quite resonated.
“It never felt right,” she says. “I’d sort of fallen into it, and then I decided to finish my degree in the field I was already working in.”
The projects were impersonal, the outcomes rarely satisfying and the environment homogenous. Seeking something more tangible and engaging, Allan pivoted.
She entered the construction sector in 2019, taking on an estimating role at Harvey Norman Commercial. With a foundation in coordination and systems thinking, she progressed from residential into commercial work.
“I genuinely love construction,” she says. “Every project brings something new, whether it’s sustainability measures, heritage elements, or something really technical like installing a Faraday cage. I love those little details.”
And then there’s the satisfaction of seeing it all come to life.
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“It’s one of those industries where you can physically see the results of your work,” says Allan. “There’s that classic moment of walking down the street and saying, ‘Hey, I worked on that.’”
In 2021, Allan joined AMA Projects. The business was looking for a bid coordinator, someone who could blend technical understanding with structured communication. It was a natural fit. She saw it as a chance to bring everything together – understanding project requirements, reading plans, drawing on her business analysis background.
She also found a workplace that backed her ambition. AMA encourages industry engagement, makes space for development, and has supported Allan’s participation in the Audrey Fagan Leadership Program.
“AMA has really backed me,” she says. “It’s been four years of constant personal and professional growth.”
Her role now places her at the front end of every project. She unpacks tender documents, summarises key requirements, manages schedules and compiles returnables. At submission, she ensures every element is aligned, compliant and competitive.
But there is no template. Each submission is shaped by a changing web of procurement policies, sustainability criteria, Indigenous participation requirements, skills guarantees and several other moving parts.
“I keep track by generating summaries of each policy or guideline I read, so I’ve got a quick reference point and a link to go back to. It’s my own compliance library,” says Allan.
Strategy also shapes every decision – AMA is intentional about what it pursues.
“Rather than trying to drive down price, we focus on methodology and making sure we’ve fully understood the requirements,” she says. “Fit-outs and refurbishments are our sweet spot. Outside of that, we only pursue projects that genuinely align with our strengths.”
That focus doesn’t mean Allan is limited to pre-construction paperwork. One of her most memorable projects was a Department of Health and Aged Care fit-out in Woden. After contributing to the tender, she began visiting site weekly to document the progress.
“It was incredible seeing the transformation firsthand,” she says. “It gave me a whole new appreciation for how quickly things move and the level of coordination required.”
Other tenders have taken her deeper into technical territory, such as CSIRO lab upgrades involving negative air pressure systems and electromagnetic shielding, or a lighting upgrade at the National Gallery of Australia that sparked a deep dive into brutalist architecture.
Her curiosity and commitment to detail have similarly shaped her role at NAWIC ACT. Initially brought on to support social media and marketing, she now leads the chapter, overseeing advocacy, education and events.
“I’d heard that line before – don’t wait until you’re fully ready to try something new,” she says. “So, I didn’t. And it’s pushed me in the best ways.”
The NAWIC ACT calendar is wide-ranging, from site tours and panel sessions to relaxed gatherings like Constructive Coffees. The team also delivers Embark, a support program for apprentices entering their first year on site, and a mentoring program for mid-career professionals.
It’s a high-output commitment balanced alongside her full-time work at AMA. Support at home helps make it possible.
“I’ve got a really supportive husband. We treat it like a hobby, so if I disappear into the laptop for a few hours, that’s my hobby time,” says Allan. “Honestly, you just find the time. Little pockets in the day. That said, I think balance is something a lot of us are still figuring out. It’s always going to shift as life, work and family change. But I find time because I love it.”
Her proudest moment so far? Delivering NAWIC ACT’s 2024 International Women’s Day event.
“It was a huge effort,” says Allan. “There were problems to solve, moments of panic, but it came together. The messages that followed, the support from the room… it made it all worthwhile.”
The industry has taken note. In 2023, Allan received an award for her contributions to workplace wellbeing under the ACT Government’s Healthier Work Program. The following year, she was a finalist in two NAWIC ACT Awards for Excellence categories: Diversity and Inclusion, and Leadership in Construction.
“I’ve been running the Healthier Work Program for the last few years. I developed AMA’s plan to support social, physical and emotional wellbeing and aligned it with ACT Government expectations so we could continue participating,” she says. “That showed me how bringing a different perspective into construction can lead to meaningful change.”
Still, it’s the everyday achievements that resonate most – a successful builder’s licence application she’s helped shape, a seamless bid handover, or a moment where everything clicks.
“The turning points often start with someone asking for a hand,” she says. “That’s what I love about this industry – people are willing to reach out, and to pitch in when needed.”
Allan describes her time in construction as “a lot of fun”, a phrase that doesn’t always show up in industry profiles. Beneath it is something deeper: a sense of belonging.
“When you find the right community and culture, it makes a huge difference,” she says. “And I’ve found that in construction.”
It’s been a generalist’s journey, but a rich one. At AMA, she has worked across bids, workplace wellbeing, social media and office management. Beyond that, she is building hands-on experience through local workshops.
“Construction gives you the chance to explore so many different areas. You can absolutely specialise and become highly technical in a niche, but there’s also real value in broad exposure,” says Allan. “The more varied your exposure, the more opportunities you’ll find, and the more likely you are to discover what you really enjoy.”
Her advice for those considering a start in the construction industry is refreshingly direct: ask questions, start small, talk to people, join events.
“There are free courses online, videos about construction, events through NAWIC,” says Allan. “You don’t need to commit to any massive costs or learning plans; you just need to get involved.”
And if it ever feels overwhelming?
“Scale back. Do what you can. You don’t have to give everything. Every small contribution still counts,” she adds.
It’s an approach that reflects how Allan has built her career: piece by piece, with clarity, conviction and a respect for the structure behind it all.
Since this interview, she has taken on a new role as senior administrator at Crafted Hardwoods. There, Amanda Allan is supporting operations, developing procedures and undertaking certification processes, using the skills she has built to help drive a more sustainable construction industry.
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