Meet the women who call Firth family

Bernice Cumming, Architectural & Specification Consultant

“What I am tasked with at Firth is to liaise, build and maintain strong relationships with architects and specifiers to promote and facilitate understanding and education of Firth’s products and systems, growing market share and building a pipeline of future work through specification,” says Bernice.

With over 30 years experience in the industry, and nearly 11 of those years at Firth, Bernice says there is always something new to learn and feels fortunate to have seen some amazing places and projects around New Zealand. “I get a real sense of pride to see the finished building or landscape which includes our products.”

“The network of people I have built over the years are not just colleagues but are a wonderful group of people to work with – making it not just a job for me,” she says. “I absolutely love what I do. It gets me up and going each day.” 

“The concrete industry has certainly changed over the years and is not as male dominated as it once was.  I always say it is not one person that makes the difference, but a team, regardless of gender, which makes a project successful.”

Christy Thompson, Residential Sales Manager (Certified) Auckland

16 years ago I started with Firth in the dispatch team,” says Christy. “Back then I would never have dreamt that I would develop such a passion for concrete and blocks. It is in my blood now and I can’t imagine life without Firth.”

Christy says she has tried over the years to also give back to the industry by contributing her time and experience and is currently the Chair of the NAG (National Advisory Group) for the BCITO for Brick and Block, is the area advocate for the AKL Masonry Trades Association and is on the board for Master Brick and Block Layers of NZ.  Would you believe this very capable woman also finds the time to help with local community projects. Christy and her fiancé have a two-year-old daughter.

“What I love about Firth is the people and the special way we form strong relationships with our customers,” says Christy. “I am lucky to come to work and be surrounded by a great bunch of people, from our drivers through to our admin staff.  They are my Firth family.”

Helen Cheyne, Taranaki Supply Manager (Certified)

Helen has been in her role for nearly 20 years and looks after the day to day running of the Certified side of the business in Taranaki. Her every day activities can include staffing; repairs and maintenance on the trucks and plant; production; Health, Safety and Environmental compliance and customer relations. As a ‘Jill of all trades’ she also fills in with loader driving, truck driving, testing and batching when required!

“I have seen a lot of changes in the 20 years that I have been at Firth,” says Helen. “One of the biggest is the positive changes in the industry regarding the cultivation of equal opportunity for diversity and equity in the business. Many years ago, I believed a woman in our industry needed to be better to be viewed as an equal. I don’t feel this is the case anymore.”

Jacqueline Morrissey, Laboratory Manager (Certified) for nine of Firth’s Auckland plants

Jacqui, originally from the UK, fell in love with New Zealand when catching up with her daughter on holiday while she was on her OE. A contact she made while in the country passed on her details, eventuating in a job offer as a Laboratory Supervisor for Firth. In 2015 Jacqui and her husband emigrated and haven’t looked back.

“I sort of fell into to my area of expertise after I took an administration position in a local construction supply company in the UK,” says Jacqui. “We were asked if anyone wanted to do any industry training. As I had always wanted to work in a laboratory, I took the opportunity and four years later I received my City and Guilds qualification – a national system of technical education in the UK.”

“For many years in the UK I would attend training courses or conferences and be the only woman in the room,” she says. “I am glad to say that is changing. It’s no longer the case and the pressure isn’t there as much to prove I know what I am talking about.”  

Lexie Ray, Plant Manager (Certified) Wanaka

Lexie is the Plant Manager of Wanaka Certified and is responsible for maintaining and building relationships with customers and key stakeholders in Wanaka. She says she is very production based and likes to be involved in the day-to-day production also.

“I have been at Firth for four years now, after taking a temporary position as an Assistant Batcher,” she says. “I loved it! I then moved into the Batcher role in Queenstown where I stayed for two years before taking the Manager’s role in Wanaka.” 

“The concrete industry is an extremely high paced and intense industry. It takes a certain type of personality to be able to put up with some of the pressures that production staff face. I love the pressure and pace of the industry and working for Firth is just the bonus!”

Philippa Tainui, Customer Service Manager (Masonry) Auckland

Philippa, aka Pip, is married, a mother of two daughters who first started with Firth in 2005 in concrete dispatch. After a few years away she returned to the fold and worked firstly as a marketing assistant, then managed the 0800 team, worked in the commercial team, and now heads up Customer Service Dispatch for Masonry out of Firth’s Hunua plant.

“I have seen and been part of many changes over my 20 years with Firth,” says Pip. “There is now more than ever the opportunity to grow in the company and work in an industry doing innovative and exciting things.   There are many amazing women working at Firth and I am very proud to be one of them!”