Jillian McGinley always knew she wanted to work in construction so two years into a degree in architecture, with her father’s encouragement she changed career direction and headed to a construction site to explore her options.

Working alongside a quantity surveyor, Jillian found the perfect blend of her passions for maths, commerce and negotiation and secured a role as Senior Quantity Surveyor on the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project.

“My job generally involves managing the commercial and contractual aspects of the design team to keep the project wheels turning from a commercial point of view. The work is really satisfying but the highlight will be seeing the train running to Ellenbrook once the project is complete,” Jillian said.

With a recent promotion to Commercial Manager, Jillian strongly encourages people to consider career opportunities in rail infrastructure.

“You learn so much on a rail infrastructure project and working in an alliance structure has been a great learning experience and has given me greater insight into how the complex design of a project like the Morley-Ellenbrook Line comes together in real time,” she said.

“A lot of people might look at a train line and see just that, but I look at it and see all the different parts that had to come together to make it possible to lay that track.”