When Sharon and her daughter moved from New Zealand to Brisbane in 2004, she took the first job that came her way—a Customer Service Representative role at Telstra. It wasn’t the long-term plan, but it set her on a path she never expected. A move to Optus led to a manager encouraging her to explore project management, and she liked it so much she took a role in Canberra to continue down that path. After nearly a decade with Optus, redundancy forced her to reassess. Instead of staying within the telco space, she pivoted, taking a PMO role at PSMA, a geospatial data company, while also becoming an Australian citizen.
Her first role in Defence came with the EUC XP to WIN10 upgrade. From there, she worked in CASG on the JP9347 Multi-Tactical Data Link Network Upgrade and several supporting projects. More recently, she was part of the SEA1905Ph1 Maritime Mine Countermeasures and Military Survey project, gaining valuable experience in the CoA Tender Evaluation process. Though the project was ultimately de-funded, her team’s contributions were recognised with Gold Commendations from Defence—a career highlight. Now, she’s back in MIWS, working on the SEA1200 Uncrewed Maritime Warfare project, which focuses on developing uncrewed maritime capabilities.
One of the biggest challenges Sharon has faced is working in a male-dominated industry—having to prove her capabilities repeatedly, without compromising who she is. “It’s a fine balance—you want to be heard without feeling like you have to be pushy or harsh,” she says.
Being made redundant after nine years with one company was another defining moment. “I put everything into my work, always trying to prove myself. When it happened, it was a shock. But it forced me to step back and think about what I really wanted. I decided where I’d draw the line between work and life, and I redirected my career into a space I actually enjoy.”
Sharon is most proud of backing up her hands-on experience with formal training, successfully pivoting into the PMO space after redundancy, and contributing to projects like SEA1905Ph1 that earned high recognition. But at the heart of it all, it’s about teamwork. “It’s the satisfaction of working towards a shared goal with people who are just as invested as you are.”
She credits strong mentors along the way—leaders who not only pointed her toward project management but also demonstrated what it means to lead under pressure while still looking after their team. That humane approach is something she tries to embody in her own work.
Her advice for women looking to build a career in this space? “Set boundaries. Be firm about how you let people work with you, and make sure those boundaries are respected—both in your professional and personal life. It makes all the difference in maintaining balance.”
Sharon has seen progress for women in the industry—there’s less outright dismissal of their input—but she believes recognition is still harder to come by compared to men. She hopes to see continued change.
If she could have coffee with anyone, it would be Jacinda Ardern. “I admire how she leads with both poise and strength. Her words, ‘I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong,’ resonate deeply with me.”
Her best work habit? Taking time to clear admin, so she has a clear view of priorities and a focused mind. Her best advice? She believes it’s important to remember that while work plays a significant role in life, companies make decisions based on business needs—not personal ones. That’s why setting boundaries and ensuring work doesn’t come at the expense of family and well-being is essential.
And if she could master any skill instantly? Learning new languages—including sign language and shorthand. “Communication, in all its forms, is so underrated.”
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate Sharon—not just for her expertise, but for her resilience, her leadership, and the way she champions a balanced, values-driven career.
