Behind the Facade Episode 14: Irene Tartiris of Hamilton Marino

What does it take to earn respect as a young woman in construction?

In Episode 14 of Behind the Facade, Jake Gorry from Proline Group and Daniel Alizzi from Complex Facade Install sit down with Irene Tartiris, Senior Project Coordinator at Hamilton Marino. The conversation follows her move from Greece to Australia, her time coordinating finishes at Mirvac, and the site culture, mentorship and career decisions behind her progression.

Episode 14 of Behind the Facade with Irene Tartiris of Hamilton Marino.

From Greece to a First Opportunity

Irene moved from Greece to Australia at 11 without speaking English. She studied architecture, then messaged construction companies on Instagram to get her first opportunity in the industry.

She balanced work, retail shifts and studying late into the night, then worked her way from residential projects into larger commercial builds.

Coordinating Finishes at Mirvac

At Mirvac, Irene took responsibility for around $40 million in finishes and coordinated multiple subcontractors.

The first three months brought real pressure. She talks about questioning whether she could do the work, and about a project team whose support helped her build the confidence to deliver.

She also explains what project coordination involves in practice: procurement, design changes, negotiating variations, managing defects and keeping work on programme. The conversation later turns to bridging architecture and construction, including design details and buildability. It also covers backing yourself, asking for opportunities and refusing to stand still.

Respect, Boundaries and Support on Site

The episode deals directly with the challenges Irene has faced as a young woman in construction, including unwanted attention, inappropriate comments and learning to set boundaries. She talks about being the only woman in a room of 30 men, supporting younger women on site, and why having someone to turn to makes a difference.

Jake and Daniel share their perspective on site culture, and on the responsibility leaders have to build teams where people feel respected and supported. The discussion also covers managing pressure, long hours and giving graduates proper support.

Progression, Loyalty and the Cost of Ambition

Irene has progressed into a senior project coordinator role at Hamilton Marino, with a goal of becoming a project manager.

The conversation looks at knowing when a company can offer genuine growth and when it is time to move on. It covers loyalty, leadership and helping people succeed as a business grows. Irene also shares the personal cost of long hours and ambition, and the residential client-side project management service she has started building alongside her career.

It is a candid conversation about career progression, workplace culture and the support people need to succeed in construction.

Episode 14 of Behind the Facade with Irene Tartiris is available now.