Junnelyn is our Senior Quantity Surveyor, mainly responsible for ensuring that assigned subcontract packages are completed within the budget while meeting the desired quality standards. She joined Leighton Asia in 2014 as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor, a year after she graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. With the opportunity to contribute to our projects in different regions, she has moved from the Philippines to Macau and then to Hong Kong.
Use 3 words/adjectives to describe your experience at Leighton Asia.
‘Challenging’, ‘supportive’ and ‘multicultural’. Each project comes with unique difficulties, but being part of the multicultural Leighton Asia team that fosters trust and support has motivated me to overcome the difficulties.
What makes you think Leighton Asia is different from other construction companies/contractors in Hong Kong?
Leighton Asia values a balance between work and personal life. Its family-friendly and supportive work environment offers flexibility so that I can focus on my life priorities at different stages while maintaining a fulfilling career. As a working mother, it is very important to work in a company like Leighton Asia that understands the needs of a parent and family.
Leighton Asia’s inclusive culture also drives us to be productive, motivated and committed to working together as one team to achieve our shared goals. For example, our female colleagues are provided with female-fit Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as female-fit trousers in all our construction projects in Hong Kong which make us feel safe, confident, and welcome at work.
What inspired you to join the industry?
During my formative years, I was influenced by certain individuals which instilled in me a deep appreciation of the engineering field. Out of curiosity, I took up civil engineering in the university. After passing my licensure examination, I got my first job, which further increased my interest in the construction industry.
Besides, the creation of remarkable structures that positively impact communities, professional growth and job security are the reasons why I joined the construction industry. I feel very proud to witness the entire progress of projects, seeing how they serves a purpose and knowing that my contributions played a part in the success.
What do you think about gender equality/diversity in the construction industry in Hong Kong?
Efforts have been made to promote gender equality in Hong Kong’s construction industry and Leighton Asia has contributed to this with different initiatives like launching female-fit Personal protective equipment (PPE) and reaching out with our internal network, Women In Construction and Engineering Group (WOICE).
By reaching out to young females at school and introducing the construction industry to them at an early stage we help them consider joining the industry.
What else do you think can be done to further drive gender equality/diversity in the construction industry in general or in Hong Kong?
We are on the right track – promoting and raising awareness o the diverse opportunities in the construction industry to students of all genders through educational outreach and mentorship programs can help them gain understanding as well as encourage them to explore the rewarding construction career path.
