In our ‘women in the property and infrastructure industry’ series, we give you a little more insight into the talented women who form an integral part of the Barker Ryan Stewart team. This blog post features Kim Stamper, who is the Central Coast Manager at Barker Ryan Stewart.
Describe your career path and how you have progressed to your current role.
With a father that worked as a Civil Contractor and a mother who has a passion for gardening, landscape architecture seemed like a natural career choice for me – a mixture of outdoors, creativity and functionality. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, I participated in a horticulture internship at Disney World Florida, and then went on to work at design firms in Orlando and later in Sydney. The talented design teams I worked with in these locations were inspirational. When my husband was offered an opportunity to work in Hong Kong, I took some time off to start a family.
From there we relocated to Singapore where I continued my career working as a Project Coordinator for a high-end specialty finishes contractor, which meant I was managing the procurement and installation of Italian marble, gold leaf and murals on projects such as Marina Bay Sands Casino and W Hotel. The highlight of working in Asia for me was meeting people from such a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds.
When life’s adventures brought us back to Australia, I began my career with Barker Ryan Stewart where I hold my current position as Project Manager and Manager of the Central Coast office.
What does a day in your working life look like?
One of the reasons I like my job so much is the amount of variety I have in my roles on a daily basis. Each day and week bring different opportunities ranging from project management, council and client relations, human resources and general office activities. I try my best to make our work environment on the Central Coast as enjoyable as it can be for all employees, and developing individual relationships is a key aspect that I particularly relish.
What is the favourite part of your role?
Without a doubt, it is the day-to-day discussions and working with the other staff within our office and company wide. This is especially true when we are able to see projects through to their fruition with a successful outcome.
How is your role integral to Barker Ryan Stewart’s operations?
Beyond the billable hours and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Central Coast office, I like to think that I bring a sense of ease to the office and help others with the day-to-day issues they may be having.
What have been some of the highlights of working at Barker Ryan Stewart?
I appreciate the level of trust that the firm places in people for making decisions that affect not just them personally, but the company as a whole. The Directors constantly seek input from staff, ensuring that we can give feedback into the direction, goals and values of Barker Ryan Stewart.
What is one thing that surprised you about working at Barker Ryan Stewart?
Barker Ryan Stewart has made an effort to ensure all the employees are supported, both professionally and personally. The Employee Assistance Program allows staff to seek assistance for whatever issues they may be having either in the office or at home. It is clear that Barker Ryan Stewart truly values the employer, employee relationship which means a tremendous amount.
How has Barker Ryan Stewart been able to support your career progression?
Barker Ryan Stewart has allowed me to further my project management accreditation which has proven very beneficial.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?
Beyond spending time with my family, I enjoy staying fit and being outdoors. I can be found at the beach most days, either walking, swimming, or attempting to surf. I also love travelling and experiencing new places, people, music and food.
What are you looking forward to achieving next year?
I am looking forward to continuing to grow with the company and expand my roles. Navigating the issues related to COVID-19 this past year has been challenging and I am hopeful that next year will allow us to move beyond those issues and focus again on doing what we do best.
