Juliet Fordyce
Distribution Trainee of the Year finalist
Starting as a trainee line mechanic two weeks into New Zealand’s first lockdown in 2020 hasn’t stopped Juliet Fordyce from thriving in the role.
A finalist in the Orion-sponsored “Distribution Trainee of the Year” category of the 2021 Connexis Industry Excellence Awards, Juliet works for Unison Contracting Services in Rotorua.
She was nominated by Unison Trade Coach William Hataraka who says she is a standout employee who is a great team player, always striving to learn new things and is never afraid to
ask questions or seek help.
William says Juliet has shown early leadership potential with plenty of confidence, strong communication skills and a willingness to help other trainees when necessary.
“She has a very good rapport with staff at all levels who consider her to be a very good asset to any crew she works with,” he says.
She plays an active role in encouraging young women into the industry too, taking part in one of Unison’s Girls with Hi Vis® events in June this year. She, along with another Unisonfemale trainee line mechanic, gave the visiting high school girls a chance to try out a supervised pole climb and pole top rescue.
William adds that Juliet strives to learn how to do things correctly and is effective at applying best practice knowledge on the job.
Juliet started with Unison as a traffic management consultant but jumped at the chance to become a trainee line mechanic when the company was hiring.
“What I like most about the job is getting to do different things every day, and how much I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been in the job,” she says.
“I want to just keep learning and progressing up the ladder in the industry, and just see where I can go.”
The Connexis Industry Excellence Awards are a recognition of the hard work, dedication and expertise it takes to succeed in the industry. They will be held online on Monday 6 December from 7pm. They will include a keynote speech by Minister for Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister Hon Grant Robertson and will be hosted by broadcaster Jason Pine.
