Our Born to Build Field Coordinators
Introducing our Born to Build Field Coordinators Amanda Hewer and Chris Blowes. Amanda and Chris have both completed trade apprenticeships and have a number of years’ experience working in the building and construction industry. Amanda and Chris are available to visit your school, sporting club or organisation to discuss and present with your audience about the range of jobs available in the building and construction industry. To arrange a time for Amanda and Chris to visit you, contact us today.
Amanda Hewer
My career in building and construction began with a simple conversation with a friend in Darwin when I was 22 years old, travelling Australia and lacking direction on which university degree to begin. She simply said, “I’m thinking of learning a trade”. This blew my mind, because for the first time I realised that becoming a tradie was a real possibility for me, and university wasn’t the only successful pathway after school, as I had been encouraged to believe during high school.
I did some research into the many different trades in the industry, and soon found a passion for telecommunications. I began my apprenticeship and have never looked back. I later found out that my grandfather and great grandfather worked in the same industry in the UK well before I was born, and that my great grandfather Stephen Henry Hewison received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his heroic efforts in keeping communication lines open for British troops during the Second World War!
During my 18 years in construction I have gained experience installing data, security and fire cabling and equipment in residential properties; commercial sites (including the new RAH in Adelaide, other hospital upgrades in Darwin and Hobart, the construction of hotels, shopping complexes, schools, banks, airports and in remote communities); conducting telecommunications audits at a RAAF base, and even installing fire cabling and devices on boats and ships in Hobart.
I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to work in the industry, and to all the people who supported me along the way and I feel lucky to be part of the Born to Build program to give other young South Australians the chance to explore the diverse career opportunities the building and construction industry has to offer.
Chris Blowes
In 2007, I embarked on my journey in the building and construction industry. During my school years, I found a passion for hands-on subjects such as tech studies. This led me to make the decision to leave school early at the age of 17 and pursue my apprenticeship as a carpenter. A Master Builders graduate myself, I now have more than 15 years’ experience in the building and construction industry.
I am living proof that with the right mindset anything is possible. Attacked by a shark in 2015, whilst surfing near Port Lincoln , I was left as an above knee amputee and my future on the tools looked doubtful. I wasn’t going to let my new found disability prevent me from working on the tools and continued to work as a carpenter in the residential building industry. During this time I have had extensive experience in all forms of residential carpentry ranging from home improvements, house extensions to high end new homes.
I consider it a privilege to continue contributing to the building and construction industry, but in a different capacity, by inspiring a new generation of individuals to explore careers within this field. This industry has provided me with a tremendous sense of purpose throughout my fifteen-year journey, and I look forward to continuing this work with the Born to Build program.