64. Gillian Forde - Aurecon Operations Director WA & NT

“You can’t do it all — and you shouldn’t. Leadership starts with learning to say no.”In this episode, I sit down with Gillian Forde, Operations Director at Aurecon for Western Australia and the Northern Territory, to unpack her journey from Ireland to the top of one of Australia’s most respected engineering consultancies.We talk about:🛫 Leaving post-GFC Ireland to restart in Perth🔧 From structural engineer to leading 460+ people across WA & NT💡 The shift from technical work to executive leadership👩‍💼 Why women hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the brief🇮🇪 The Irish business network in Perth — and how Gillian helped relaunch the St. Patrick’s Day parade🏉 Playing rugby for Western Force, board work with Rugby WA, and breaking barriers🙅‍♀️ How “strategic no-saying” protects energy and impact👶 Balancing executive work and motherhood with real honestyIf you lead teams, work in engineering, or are navigating high performance with family life — this one’s for you.🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you tune in.