From Ipswich to Caboolture, it’s just another day on the network for Alaska Montford, a dedicated RTBU train guard and delegate, representing workers across South East Queensland. With years of frontline experience and a deep understanding of transport work, Alaska brings invaluable knowledge to the Queensland Women Rise team.
As an integral part of the transport requirement within the QWR Commonwealth grant, Alaska is helping lead the pilot program with Queensland Rail’s Corridor Maintenance workforce, aiming to deliver training for workers next year. Through strong communication between the QCU, unions, and Queensland Rail, she’s focused on building watertight, worker-endorsed policy, ensuring real change gets delivered on the ground.
ANN GRAY
We often say "workers of the world unite" to encapsulate the sentiment that all workers share the right to negotiate the real value of their labour, as part of the Maritime Union of Australia, Ann Gray has actually seen the workers of the world unite on both domestic and international waters. Ann has spent the last 2 decades as a Seafarer, plugged into international solidarity and seeing the world from the bow of a mighty international vessel.
Now with Queensland Women Rise Project, Ann is working with stevedores at DP World, to constructively improve the rigidity of the workplace, implement safety measures for all workers, and solidify respect as a cultural norm. Ann is also the Women's Liaison Officer for the MUA and a proud advocate for women's active participation in male-dominated industries.
EDEN BRADFORD
Eden began her construction career in in Queensland, after her career in fitness was heavily affected by COVID-19. Quickly identifying with the union values of solidarity, respect, and fairness, Eden found her passion for empowering and lifting women up both in and out of the construction industry.
Over the years, Eden has seen how civil construction can make advances in technology, efficiency, and organisation, however culture, equity, and flexibility are slower off the mark. With her incredible interpersonal skills, Eden is working with the Australian Workers Union and Fulton Hogan and Acciona to deliver workshops to the Rocky Ring Rd worksite in Rockhampton, improving the civil construction industry for all workers.
LAURA DODIN
For nearly a decade, Laura Dodin could be found as a deckhand on Queensland Ferries, and a proud member of the Maritime Union of Australia Qld Branch.
Now as part of the Queensland Women Rise Team, Laura is putting her degree in Industrial Relations from Griffith University to good use by working shoulder to shoulder with the MUA and Hutchisons Ports Australia. She hopes to marry her knowledge of the maritime industry with the lived experience of a working woman in a male-dominated industry. While proud of the time she has spent as a deckhand, Laura is more than aware of the changes the industry needs to make if diverse workers are to embark on this rewarding career. She is looking forward to working with Hutchisons and the Maritime Union of Australia to find policies that fit for the betterment of the whole industry.
JAMIE SYKES
Jamie is the Project Director of the Queensland Women Rise project. With a strong background in community safety and gender equity work, she is passionate about creating safer, more inclusive, and equitable workplaces for all workers.
Drawing on her experience working with governments, unions, and industry, Jamie leads a collaborative team to deliver practical primary prevention strategies and initiatives that address the systemic barriers women face in male-dominated industries. She brings a unique blend of strategic vision, creativity, and lived experience to the project, championing strengths-based, solution-focused approaches that uplift women and transform workplaces for everyone.
MADINA MOHMOOD
Madina Mohmood is the Industrial Women's Officer at the Queensland Council of Unions and Research Officer on the Queensland Women Rise project.
CHARLI FOUHY
Charli Fouhy is a digital strategist with experience working across labour and environmental movements in Queensland. With a focus on social media creation and algorithm fluency, Charli has led digital campaigns across diverse sectors. For the Queensland Women Rise Project, Charli is the Communications Officer, developing and maintaining the project’s digital portal and providing strategic guidance on resource design, accessibility and distribution.
