The journey from learner to leader is a dynamic and ongoing process and Janine Branje, General Manager of Hush Interiors grasped that concept from the beginning of her working career. She is a passionate leader who has worked her way up through the ranks from being a junior measurer for a painting firm to senior leadership roles in the Interior sector.

Starting her career as a junior measurer, using just a scale rule, calculator and pad, things were tough there were no computers back then, although that didn’t matter as the company went bust four weeks later and she never got paid!

Janine decided that the second job wasn’t that hot either. She was with another painting construction related company but this time the back office was next to the spray painting booth – and it stank of fumes… She wasn’t allowed to price… just measure… it was boring… but she was determined to get a foothold in the construction industry.

These challenging work experiences propelled her into becoming an industry professional completing her National Diploma in Quantity Surveying in the mid / late 90’s. She moved to Wellington, where she got to work in Interior Construction at Forman Commercial – it wasn’t as a QS though – she was the office admin lady. She faced bias as a woman in construction, both in Christchurch and Wellington, but decided at least she had her foot in the door. Eventually, her tenacity paid off and she was offered a junior QS role and became the first female ever employed as a QS at the company.

She then went on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction majoring in Quantity Surveying. You had to attend block courses and back then it was all males bar herself and two other females – everyone on the course were main contractors or client side. Both had family in the industry, and a lot of support. She says ‘it was incredibly tough – from memory I was the only subcontractor’.

Janine rose to 2IC at Forman’s leaving the company in 2007. She worked for Choice Commercial Interiors – again pursuing her passion for interiors work. Like many in construction, she worked for Fletchers notching up 12+ years in the interiors field with ceilings and aluminum partitions being her forte. I have a passion for interiors.

A stint at Fletcher EQR running and training over 100 QS’s for the Canterbury Rebuild then saw her get back on site for the Burwood Hospital rebuild. Fast forward a few years and she appeared at Hush Interiors.

She confesses she has loved her 30 year career. There have been so many changes from how a project is priced, site tools used, changes in people behaviour, to technology used – the list goes on. Women are more welcome today even though there is still a need for attitudinal change.

Janine is an active and valued member of the AWCI’s ‘Women in Interior Construction Aotearoa’, a group set up by AWCI to provide a dedicated strategic working group providing valuable guidance with a focus on empowering more women to thrive in the Interior Construction sector.

The group’s mission is to ensure that the industry is seen as a viable, safe, and fulfilling long-term career path for women. She has also sat on both the Wellington and Christchurch boards for NAWIC at various times too.

‘My current role is incredibly rewarding. I love the culture of the team that I work along side with. The end of August 2025 marks eight years of being at Hush, and I’m just over 4.5 years as General Manager’, says Janine.

‘My dream is to see more females in our industry. This will come, and with more experience they will be supported and encouraged to take leadership roles. My path hasn’t been an easy one, but one that I’m truly incredibly proud of.

If you want more information about Women in Construction and how apprentices are supported, go to: bcito.org.nz/women