Inspiring the next generation

We sat down with Merise Seko to learn more about how she’s loving her career choice as a Mechanical Fitter after three years with the Monadelphous team, having started out on the apprenticeship program to now fully trade certified. 

Merise’s career journey wasn’t a conventional one. She started as a carpentry apprentice in New Zealand before moving to Australia. She took a break from working to raise her daughters, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her passion for trades.  

I applied for a scholarship and studied full-time for six months where I gained my Certificate 2 in Process Plant Operations and Certificate 3 in Process Manufacturing. 

“Once that finished, I saw Monadelphous were offering apprenticeships in Mechanical Fitting, which I was really interested in,” Merise said.  

“Long story short, I was lucky enough to get the apprenticeship through Monadelphous. I started my apprenticeship up in the Pilbara, then went down to Greenbushes, from there I went back to the Pilbara with the Monos commissioning team, now I’m currently on another project in the Pilbara with Monadelphous.” 

Merise’s advice for other women in the industry or girls who might want to do a trade is simple but powerful: “Give it a go, believe in yourself, be determined and motivated to constantly take on new challenges and opportunities to learn something new, which will help to keep improving your skills.” 

When asked about what she enjoys most about her role, Merise said, “I love physical work. I enjoy the hands-on aspect of fitting and the challenges and problem-solving skills that are often required in order to get the job done. There’s nothing better than going home knowing you have done a decent day’s work and given it your all.” 

Outside of work, Merise cherishes her time with her young family. “FIFO can be challenging, so making the most of that one week off and quality time with my daughters is what is important,” she said. 

Merise’s story is a testament to the fact that with determination and hard work, anyone can break into any industry, regardless of gender. Her words of advice are a reminder that we should always be willing to take on new challenges and opportunities, as they can lead us down paths we never thought possible.