As part of International Women’s Day 2023, Jacky Pitout spoke about her role in monitoring Workplace Health and Safety, what makes her proud to work for Babcock, and the advice she would give to her younger self.
Jacky Pitout is Babcock Australasia’s Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Advisor, based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Tell us about your role as HSEQ Advisor?
My role involves working with Babcock’s workforce in New Zealand (specifically, the frontline staff) to ensure a collaborative effort in achieving and monitoring Workplace Health and Safety best practice and compliance across the Babcock Devonport Naval Base in Auckland. I love the ability to work with and alongside such a varied group of people and expertise. I get the most joy out of simply making things happen, delivering, and being able to provide action.
Did you receive any support as a young girl or woman that was invaluable to your career or your career choice?
Most definitely. I am fortunate to have grown up within a large, supportive, and close-knit family. I was never held to anything – but only ever pushed to do the best in whatever I had an interest in.
During your career who or what have you found particularly inspiring and why?
I have and will always continue to be inspired by the people with ‘the stories’ – and we have loads of them at Babcock! I am inspired by stories about ‘then versus now’ and the stories that reflect on the past and present, the growth and how far someone and the business have come, and the challenges they have faced and overcome. So often we get caught up in the idea of change – we are resistant to it because it is unfamiliar, however you cannot grow without the necessary change.
Looking back on your career, is there any advice you would give your younger self?
Given I am known to be hard on myself, I always expect more. My advice to my younger self would be to “Be kind to yourself. You are right where you need to be and you deserve to be here, because you worked hard for it.”
What makes you proud to work at Babcock?
The work we do at Babcock to ensure Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels are ready and equipped to assist in emergency situations is absolutely a high point for me. Jumping online and looking through social platforms to read info on how the RNZN have been able to assist with the recent National State of Emergency, has made me so happy and so proud to work alongside the people who make it all happen.
How would you like to see Babcock further #EmbraceEquity?
I would love to see more women in the workforce, whether it be fabricating, rigging and/or project managing. There is something so empowering about seeing a workforce of both strong men and women working together to achieve the same outcomes and goals.