Keeping up with Kellie

If there’s one thing to know about Kellie Davidson, it’s that she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves.

She laughs that she “learnt to whisper in a sawmill”, having grown up in North Arm where her family ran one. The sawdust might be long gone, but that down-to-earth spirit stuck around.

Before pulling on her steel caps and joining the resources industry, Kellie worked as a bank officer, although she always wanted to wear boots and a hard hat.

“I was a lumberjack’s daughter,” Kellie said.

“I always wanted to work on site.”

In 2006, she made the leap, gaining her confined space ticket and working shutdowns as a Trades Assistant.

“I can tell you a few stories about that - bag house change outs were the worst,” she admitted.

“I could have pulled the pin then and there.”

But she didn’t. Instead, she earned qualifications in EWP, Work at Heights and forklift, and kept pushing forward.

After a few years on the tools, Kellie took annual leave to complete her Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety. When her maintenance contract wrapped up, she sent her résumé to Monadelphous and landed a trainee HSE role.

Just six weeks later, she stepped into a full-time position, eventually working her way to Senior HSE Coordinator.

Working on the tools I believe was an advantage to be successful in my current role, as I can talk to the team, I understand the task involved and have the real-life experience,” Kellie said.

“I continued to completed additional training, Diploma HSE, lead auditors, diploma leadership and management just to name few.”

Now, she oversees safety across multiple Gladstone sites and loves the sense of teamwork around her.

“The Gladstone team has always mentored and encouraged me. They’ve created a workplace that feels more like family,” she said.

Outside work, Kellie’s just as energetic. She loves fishing, spending time with her partner of 28 years and their two boys, and taking on the golf course, even if her GA handicap of 54 leaves “room for improvement.”

“I’m also a proud mum of two boys and have been with my supportive partner for 28 years — they’re a big part of what keeps me grounded and motivated,” she said.

She’s also been recognised for her years of volunteering with the Queensland Ambulance Service, where she was named Honorary Ambulance Officer of the Year.

“I’m very community-oriented and have always enjoyed helping others,” she said.

“I volunteered as a First Responder with the Queensland Ambulance Service for many years, and in 2011 I was honoured to receive the title of Honorary Ambulance Officer of the Year.”