Port Fairy's Hannah Carrucan recognised on national platform Top 100 Women

The Port Fairy mum-of-three is the only female building inspector in the south-west region, and has been recognised on national platform Top 100 Women for her work at Coast to Country Building Approvals in her home town.

She was nominated by a colleague who noticed the hard work she put in day in, day out.

"It's a nice way to recognise that women are in the building industry," she said.

"It's been a long road, I've been involved in the industry for 15 years now and coming up to my one year anniversary as a building inspector next week.

"It's been fun, challenging and rewarding. I'm the only female building inspector in the south-west and I really want to get other women into the industry."

Ms Carrucan admits she never planned to end up in construction.

"I just fell into it basically," she said with a laugh.

"I started doing development plans at Wannon Water just scanning materials, I was a bit lost with what I wanted to do in life.

"Then I started out as admin support at Warrnambool City Council in the planning and building department where I took a real liking to how construction worked and the whole process.

"I got stuck into it, then ended up in the building department where there was an opportunity that came up with the Victorian Building Authority to be a building surveyor. I was one of eight people that got in.

"Ten years ago I never would have thought I would be doing what I am doing today, and I am looking forward to the next 10 years."

Ms Carrucan said despite being the only female onsite for a lot of jobs, she has always felt supported in her role.

"It's really nice to get the support from the builders, especially given one day it was probably frowned upon to have female on site," she said.

"Through this nomination I want to make people aware that there are women in the industry, I have such a passion for what I do, I love my job.

"I want to show other women: don't be afraid of standing out on a piece of steel, don't be afraid to look at a piece of timber and work out if its structurally sound.

"I went to university every second weekend for two years to get my qualifications, and every three months I would do the VBA training, all while having a full-time job and being a single mum at the time.

"It was a challenge but we got there, it can be done."

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