The attitude sparked something in me, Destimas said.

“Within a week I had enrolled in construction management,” she said.

She then worked in the construction industry but “wanted a seat at the table” where the decisions were being made.

After gaining a builders license in 2019 she posted the achievement on social media and among hundreds of positive comments was one that asked whether she could swing a hammer. It again “sparked something in me”.

Belnic Constructions, where she is a director was founded that year and that has led to her winning the First Among Equals award in the In Queensland and The Weekend Edition’s 40 Under 40 awards last week.

Belnic was now generating turnover of $8 million a year.

Detsimas said she was surprised at winning the award and hoped it would be a platform to continue to be a leader for women in the sector. Only about 1 per cent of builders were female-identifying.

Although the sector was dominated by men, she said it had been welcoming to her.

“There isn’t that overt sexism, the discrimination is systemic. The systems are built in a way that advantages men, but not in a way that purposely discriminates against women,” she said.

However, men also faced discrimination because of the lack of paternity leave options for them.

“A lot of men want to be carers,” Detsimas said.

Winning the award had been a clarifying moment for her and she had thought about how she could use her platform.

“I think I want people to have the opportunities that I had,” she said.

Opening the way for women to enter the sector would be a benefit to the state, particularly in the run up to the Olympics.