Grace Foo, co-founder of boutique energy and carbon management consultancy DeltaQ, says she’s often the only woman in the room.
Having recently been awarded the young achiever award by the Australian international Air conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services (ARBS) trade exhibition, she wants the industry to recognise that “diversity drives innovation”.
Ms Foo has influenced national policy development on diversity and inclusion, contributed to revisions of Section J of the National Construction Code and supported the expansion of the NABERS program.
Her company, DeltaQ, is a leading Australian energy management consultancy partnering with clients to manage all aspects of their energy concerns with a small team of experts in the field including Dr Paul Bannister and Caoimhin Ardren. (She says Dr Bannister really inspired her in her career, because his dedication to the cause went as far as to ride a bike to work “before it was cool”.)
She says she “fell” into this career, but quickly rose through the ranks to be leading a team in her mid 20s and now at age 34 she is principal consultant at the company.
The biggest challenge that she’s come up against is unconscious bias – in some instances she’s felt as if she wasn’t taken seriously.
“Sometimes walking into meetings you’re the only woman, and you have to conform and be someone you’re not, be more blokey and masculine.” Ms Foo told The Fifth Estate.
She says that although there are now more women in the field, it’s time to reject the blokey culture.
“This industry has traditionally and is still incredibly blokey, which can be a barrier to women and other minority groups from entering and staying within the industry.
“Diversity drives innovation and in face of the climate and skills shortage challenges of our sector, we cannot afford to continue business-as-usual.
“I am where I am today because of the support and trust the community around me provided – this applies to my clients, colleagues, friends and family.”
Her message to other women in her field is to believe in yourself, be self-confident in your own abilities, and find a support system and mentors to help you if things get tough.
“It can be lonely without the support.”
According to the International Institute of Refrigeration and UNEP OzonAction alongside UNEP, women only made up around 1.2 per cent of the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) industry in 2019.
She encourages others to hire women to make sure that number changes.
“We’ve hired some amazing women. I love putting them at the front where they belong and making that space for them.”
“I look forward to the day when I can walk into a construction or building services meeting, and my colleague and I are not the only women on the team. The whole community is part of the solution to the diversity issue, so let’s work together to make this a reality.”
She’s been awarded the ARBS young achiever award due to her enterprise, commitment and leadership in the industry.
“I am honoured that ARBS has given me the opportunity to be a voice and inspiration to other women like myself within the HVACR and building services industry.
“I hope that my winning this award says to the girls and women out there that you can do it too – it is possible for you to thrive in this industry. So, a big thank you to my network and those who have kept me going throughout my career.”
