Radmila Desic's journey from immigrant carpenter to Order of Australia Medal recipient proves what's possible when resilience meets purpose.

In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Rad to explore her bold vision for Brisbane 2032: getting women and elite athletes into trades to build the very stadiums they'll one day compete in.

Rad shares what it was really like being a female apprentice in a male-dominated trade, how she stood up to discrimination, and why inclusion on job sites benefits everyone.

She also unpacks the Male Allies program changing mindsets across construction, and why targeting sporting clubs—not just schools—could be the key to recruitment.

Key takeaways:

• Culture is the barrier, not the work itself
• Flexibility and work-life balance need rethinking in construction
• Diversity drives innovation and productivity
• "30 percent by 2032" could reshape the future of trades

Rad is a qualified carpenter, former elite rugby league player, and national leader in the construction sector. Her work bridges sport, trades, and equity.

"We're not just building stadiums, we're building futures."

Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.