Ambassador Interview Series | Voices of Sydney Build - Sherin Titus
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In our Ambassador Interview Series — Voices of Sydney Build, we spotlight leaders, advocates and rising stars driving change across Australia’s construction and design industry. Each episode features a handpicked ambassador sharing their story, inspirations, insights and positive wins.
< Introducing Sherin Titus - Project Management Intern at Chandolin Construction >
1) A short Bio
Hi, My name is Sherin. People lovingly call me Shay!
I’m in my final year studying a dual Master’s degree in Construction Project Management and Property Development at UNSW. Being in this environment has really encouraged me to keep learning - with support from peers and professors, I’ve even started thinking about further study down the track, possibly a PhD. For now, I’m focused on gaining hands-on industry experience and learning from those around me, while working towards integrating sustainability more meaningfully into project management practice.
2) Fun fact + What’s one project or moment in your career so far that you’ve found especially exciting or memorable?
A fun fact about me is that I can’t fall asleep without something playing in the background - for the longest time it was Friends (to the point where I could probably recite entire episodes from memory), but since it left Netflix, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has taken over. One of the most memorable parts of my journey so far has been seeing how my interests in construction and community have started to intertwine. During my time at UNSW, I closely followed the development of the Health Translation Hub, which is designed to better connect research, education, and healthcare to support both students and staff. At the same time, through my volunteering work with Phil’ which is a volunteering program under Arc UNSW, I’ve been fundraising for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick - so being able to see both sides, from the built environment enabling better healthcare systems to directly contributing to patient support, has been incredibly meaningful. I started as a volunteer in 2024 and went on to help run the program in 2025, and I continue to stay involved as a volunteer. It’s been a grounding experience - contributing to a community I’m part of while seeing real lives impacted. In 2024, we raised over $115,000, and in 2025, over $96,000. To me, each dollar feels like a drop in the ocean - small on its own, but incredibly powerful when it all comes together.
3) As someone early in your career, what challenges have you faced so far, and how have these experiences shaped your perspective on the industry?
One of the challenges I’ve faced early in my career has been navigating the industry as a woman, where equal footing isn’t always something you can assume. Moving from the Middle East to Sydney also meant starting again in a lot of ways - rebuilding my experience and adjusting to a different work environment and expectations. Work-life balance has been something I’ve had to consciously learn, especially figuring out how to set boundaries and understand when something is too much. I’ve also been learning how to work more efficiently and use tools that actually support my workflow rather than just taking on more. More recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about where the industry is heading with AI. Construction is still quite slow in terms of digital adoption, so there’s a lot of conversation around how it should be used properly and not just for the sake of it. I read a LinkedIn post recently that said, “AI will handle the plan. But it will never handle the people.” That really stayed with me, and I think it’s something I want to carry forward into project management - balancing innovation with the human side of the industry.
4) What’s one small change you think every construction professional could make to support sustainability?
I think one small change every construction professional could make is focusing on simple behaviours - better communication, awareness, and accountability around sustainability. Alongside that, smarter planning and procurement decisions, and embedding sustainability into early-stage design rather than treating it as an add-on, can make a real difference over time. I’m still learning and exploring these ideas through initiatives like UNSW’s upcoming Environmental Sustainability Plan for 2026–2030, which aligns with the Progress for All Strategy and its focus on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable society and planet. It’s been really encouraging to see how these ideas are being embedded at a larger institutional level, even as I continue learning what they look like in practice.
5) How has working in project management shaped the way you see the construction industry?
Working in project management has really changed the way I see the construction industry, mainly in how much of it comes down to people, communication, and coordination rather than just the technical side. I’ve had a few “aha” moments through both my time at Aztec and my role at Arc, where I’ve managed volunteering programs – Phil’ in 2025 and now Volunteers United in 2026. Through this, I’ve realised how transferable these experiences are to construction, especially in areas like stakeholder management, communication, budgeting, and overall operations. I’ve also seen how easily things like workflow breaks, miscommunication, or small delays can escalate if they’re not managed early. Even aspects like risk assessments and WHS considerations reinforce how important it is to stay proactive rather than reactive. It’s been both challenging and exciting in a good way - it’s shown me how complex the industry is, but also how much room there is to improve systems and processes. That’s something that really motivates me as I continue working towards a career in project management.
6) Why do you think young professionals are so important to the future of the construction industry?
I think young professionals are so important because we bring fresh perspectives and aren’t afraid to question how things have always been done. For me, it’s about being open to new ideas - especially around sustainability and technology - and wanting to be part of shaping a construction industry that’s more innovative and responsible for the future.
Tune in for fresh perspectives, practical advice and a closer look at the people shaping the future of our built environment!