From glamorous events and tourism to operating heavy access machinery, Jessica Gilchrist is an inspiring young woman who refuses to let anyone or anything get in her way.
Jess is Managing Director of Pink Boots Hire, a family operated business based in Melbourne providing a service for scissors lifts, all terrains, cherry pickers and knuckle booms.
Jessica has overcome cancer, major surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, lack of experience and so much more in the last 12 months of her life journey.
She has now taken on the challenge after being approached by her father in December 2016 to rebrand, expand and develop an existing access hire business.
Why? Jess has a clear vision and nothing will stop her. “When my father approached me to join an industry I knew nothing about, I thought of a quote I once read from Richard Branson, who said: ‘If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later’, ” said Jessica.
JESSICA ON GIVING BACK AND EMPOWERING OTHER WOMEN
Previously in the chocolate and event management industry, Jess decided after a very traumatic 2016 that she wanted to give back to the people whom looked after her while going through cancer. Jess is using Pink Boots Hire as a vehicle to give back and empower women in trade-related industries.
From every hire $10 goes directly to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre and in just three months the total donated has been an extraordinary $17,581.
Jeremy Maxwell, Director of Fundraising and Development, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre was delighted and wrote to her saying: “Thank you Jessica, it is fabulous to see your donations come through and to know you gave huge support to the gala is quite inspiring.”
The entire team also wear pink steel cap boots as part of the uniform, $10 from every pair sold goes directly towards people across Australia that are affected by breast cancer.
- In 2017, it is estimated that 134,174 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia reported Cancer Australia
- The Australia Bureau of Statistics 2015 reported that just over a third of Australia’s business operators are women (34%), and the numbers are rising.
- Fewer than two percent of construction, automotive and electrical tradespeople in Australia today are women. There were just 676 female carpenters, 931 female motor mechanics, 638 female plumbers and 1,432 female electricians nation-wide in 2011 within a total technicians and trades workforce of nearly 1.43 million people.
For more information please visit www.pinkbootshire.com.au
