Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the talented and dedicated women across our business who continue to shape our company, strengthen our culture and lead with integrity.
Renee Millward, NSW/ACT Hard Flooring State Manager
Renee Millward leads our NSW/ACT Hard Flooring team with resilience and empathy in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
For Renee, International Women’s Day is both personal and powerful.
“It’s about showing my son what respect and equality look like in action, and honouring the progress, perseverance and choices that define my journey as a woman.”
Her proudest achievement is her promotion to State Manager, the result of years of dedication and continuous learning. A defining moment in her career came when a mentor encouraged her to step into a senior role managing major retail contracts and trusted her to deliver.
“That experience showed me how powerful positive encouragement and trust can be.”
Today, Renee leads with integrity, setting clear expectations while creating an environment built on fairness, accountability and growth. She actively mentors others and encourages women to pursue opportunities before they feel ready.
“I’ve seen how powerful it is when women don’t gatekeep knowledge or confidence.”
Kate Hawkins, Design Manager
Based in Geelong, Kate Hawkins brings determination and courage to her role as Design Manager after building her career in construction and manufacturing.
“To me, International Women’s Day is a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate the success of the women that surround us today, but also the strong women that have forged a path before us.”
Kate is proud of the career advancements she has achieved despite equality challenges, believing true equality means being recognised as the best person for the role.
“I’m proud to be a leader in my field not because I’m a woman, but because I’m the best person for the role, which is what equality is actually about.”
A strong advocate for accountability in the workplace, Kate believes “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” encouraging everyone to call out inappropriate behaviour. Passionate about mentoring and leading by example, she believes everyday actions such as respect, integrity and compassion are what create lasting change.
Judy-Lea Engel, Product Innovation – Commercial and USA
Based in our New Zealand office, Judy-Lea Engel sees International Women’s Day as a time to recognise the progress women have made while acknowledging there is still more work to be done.
“International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate how far women have progressed and the contributions they’re making, while recognising there is still more to do, particularly in fields like STEM where women remain underrepresented.”
One of Judy-Lea’s proudest career achievements was helping establish early carpet manufacturing operations overseas in a previous role. Through technical training and creative development, she supported emerging designers and helped grow new skills within the industry.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, Judy-Lea values the mentors who helped shape her early career. Starting out as a Dyehouse Supervisor in the 1980s, a highly male-dominated environment, she credits a supportive manager who helped her learn the foundations of leading people and building strong teams.
Today, she carries that approach forward by sharing knowledge, providing context and encouraging others to understand the purpose behind their work.
“I’ve always believed that when people understand why their work matters, it encourages pride, purpose and confidence in what they do.”
Celebrating the Women of Our Business
This International Women’s Day, we recognise Renee, Kate, Judy-Lea and the many women across our organisation who continue to lead, inspire and support those around them. Their experience, leadership and commitment help shape a stronger, more inclusive future for our teams and our industry.
