Adrienne Porter
Corporate Planning & Investor Relations
For Adrienne Porter, International Women’s Day, held in March each year, is a time to reflect on personal achievements, honour the women who paved the way, and educate the next generation—including her own children—about the importance of equity. “I want both my daughter and my son to grow up with equal access to opportunities,” she says. “It’s about creating a fair playing field where everyone can thrive.”
Adrienne’s professional journey spans continents and industries—from education in Ireland to blue-collar sectors in Australia such as metal recycling, oil and gas, and industrial demolition. Despite working in environments traditionally dominated by men, Adrienne reflects on her career with a sense of realism and gratitude, acknowledging both the progress made and the challenges that remain.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with people who saw the value in my contribution,” she says.
While she hasn’t faced overt barriers, Adrienne is deeply aware of the systemic issues that continue to affect women—wage disparity, unequal access to opportunities, and the lingering impact of traditional gender roles. Her upbringing, shaped by strong female role models like her mother and aunts, instilled in her a commitment to equity and inclusivity—not just for women, but for all underrepresented groups.
Adrienne is lucky to have been supported by both male and female mentors throughout her career, including senior leadership at Duratec, who encouraged her to value her contributions and not undersell herself. “There aren’t any stupid questions,” she says. “Asking might help someone else who’s afraid to speak up.” She emphasises the importance of backing oneself, especially for young women entering the workforce, and learning to respectfully decline tasks that fall outside one’s role simply due to gendered expectations.
She also highlights the subtle biases that persist—from assumptions made during hiring to the design of public infrastructure that overlooks women’s safety and accessibility. A recent example she shared was a train station redesign that removed a visible, accessible ramp in favour of stairs and a lift, creating hidden spaces that could compromise safety and ultimately, limit accessibility should the lift become inoperable. “It’s about designing with everyone in mind,” she says.
On leadership, Adrienne acknowledges the underrepresentation of women and the slow pace of change. While she sees the value in quotas to address imbalances in certain circumstances, she believes true progress lies in creating environments where diversity is genuinely valued—not as a checkbox, but as a driver of innovation and better outcomes. “You shouldn’t be hired just to tick a box,” she says. “You should be heard and empowered to contribute. I feel supported at Duratec in this way.”