Project Director
Name: Aleksandra Gorgieva
Career stage: Senior - 10+ years' experience
Working: Office
High School Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, English, PDHPE, 2 unit Maths, Drama
Favourite: I loved the concepts and learning about theories!
Further study: University
where and what: UTS - Bachelor of Civil Engineering
"I am working on the Atlassian Central tower which is currently under construction. The 39-storey building will be the world’s tallest hybrid timber and steel building constructed adjacent to Sydney’s Central Station."
the inside scoop…
What does an Project Director actually do? I manage construction of new projects for a variety of Clients. These Clients engage project managers like me to help manage the builder or developer for them. As a Project Director I usually have a team consisting of assistant project manager, project manager or senior project manager. We each get assigned different roles for the construction project, but our main goal is to make sure we deliver the projects on time and within the project budget. I focus on commercial office construction projects in Sydney's CBD.
What does a day in your life at work look like? My day always starts with a coffee! Typically, with my colleagues so we can have a quick catch up. I mainly work from the office because I prefer to be around people and my team. First up I always check emails - its likely I would have received a few emails overnight so there may be some urgent issues that need to be dealt with! I would typically then have 3 to 4 meetings per day, some days a lot more and some days less. I try to leave some time in between meetings to get work done. Work includes design and documentation reviews, drafting reports, strategic planning, lots of whiteboard sessions, creative thinking, problem solving and collaboration with a huge number of other consultants from engineers to designers to lawyers. A fun day for me usually involves a strategic project planning session where we get together with our project team and we map out the best possible way to deliver a project, and how to manage risks along the way! This would follow with a site visit to one of our big construction projects - seeing the progress on site always motivates our team!
What's the best part of your job? My favourite thing about my job is that no day is ever the same! Construction is such a fast paced and ever-evolving industry. It is constantly changing. You are always learning, meeting new people, solving another complex problem, seeing a new construction method on site or delivering something as cool as the world's first tallest hybrid timber and steel office tower.
What made you realise construction could be for you? My dad was an electrician working on big sites around the CBD. He used to drive me around to visit his sites as a little girl, and I was always so fascinated by the structures!
Do you have any advice for young women picking a career? Don't be afraid to pick something completely different to your friends or what your family may want you to do. Always follow your interests and what your gut is telling you. Even if you make a mistake and want to shift career paths, there is plenty of time.
Tell us about a favourite project you're working on. I am working on the Atlassian Central tower which is currently under construction. The 39-storey building will be the world’s tallest hybrid timber and steel building constructed adjacent to Sydney’s Central Station. The project is also targeting world leading sustainability goals with a huge focus on reducing embodied carbon by 50% and operational energy by 50%. Planning for the project started in 2016 and it will be finished in 2026/2027. This project is paving the way for all new developments due to its sustainable construction practices not only in Australia but also around the world.
Aleksandra is open to engaging further via: Taking a student for work experience, Speaking at a high school, Mentoring a student.
If you'd like to enquire more, please email hello@tomorrowswomeninconstruction.com.au with the subject: "Aleksandra Gorgieva engagement enquiry" and we'll pass your message on.