Radmila Desic AM migrated to Australia at the age of seven after an earthquake destroyed her family home in Bar in the former Yugoslavia. Radmila began her career as an apprentice Carpenter Joiner in 1992. In 2010 Radmila received the 1st Place Gold Winner of the inaugural 2010 Centre for Leadership for Women’s National Advancement of Women in the Workplace Award (AWWA) for developing and implementing a state-wide strategy for Women in Construction.  In 2013 Radmila was a Finalist in the Brisbane Magazine’s (BMAG) Brisbane Person of the Year. In 2019 Radmila received a NAWIC Life membership. Radmila was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2021 Honours List for her significant service to women in the construction industry, and to unemployed youth. She was the NAWIC representative on the QLD Housing and Public Works Exemplar Building Project which aimed to have 30% female representation.

Radmila has also had a successful sporting career. She played in the second-row position in the women’s rugby league for 4 years, representing both Brisbane and Queensland during that time. Radmila works for the Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group as the Digital Professional Workforce Plan – Program Manager and is a mother of three.

Radmila believes women can do anything! What she doesn’t understand is why others believe they can’t. It’s what drives her every single day to do what she can for other women.