Only a handful of women are in leadership roles in the steel industry in Australia, and even fewer have built a steel business from ground to top. Maria is both; she is the visionary force behind Structural Challenge, the steel fabrication powerhouse she founded in 2020 and has been managing since. During this time, the business has delivered over 1000 major projects and has built an admirable reputation for handling the most complex ones in the market. As a leader, Maria has always focused on growth, innovation, sustainability and inclusion. She remains as passionate about Australian manufacturing as she was on her first day on the job and is excited about the role it can play in Australia’s future workforce development. This is precisely the mission of her upcoming venture Steel Chicks, a social enterprise aiming to help women grow meaningful careers in the steel industry and support their transition to senior roles. Currently serving as a member of an advisory group to the Local First Jobs Commissioner, Maria is also a board member of the Australian Steel Institute, a committee member of the Steel Fabricators Association of Victoria and part of the charity organisation ‘The Steel Club of Victoria.’𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🔹NAWIC City of Melbourne, Crystal Vision Award for Advancing the Interests of Women in the Construction Industry (2005)🔹Telstra Young Women in Business Award nomination 🔹Australian Steel Institute, Fabricators Award (2006, 2008, 2014) 🔹The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Business Excellence Award (2019)