Millie Gilbert’s journey with UGL began in 2022 when she joined as a recruitment coordinator in our fuels and energy east team. The opportunity marked the beginning of a transformative career at UGL, where Millie gained valuable mentorship which would guide her professional growth.
In her role, Millie worked closely with five recruiters responsible for staffing various sites and planned outages. An outage is a planned, temporary halt in the operation of an asset for maintenance or upgrades. After hiring candidates, Millie would ensure all necessary requirements are met for each job. The role is vital in streamlining recruitment, and seamless onboarding processes.
At the end of 2023, Millie discussed her career goals with her manager Stacy Bacon, expressing interest in transitioning to the tendering team. Stacy was supportive, and she allowed Millie to split her time with another team to gain experience and advance her skills. Recognising Millie's transferable skills, Sally Abdilla, UGL’s strategy and pre-contracts manager, stepped in as a mentor, providing guidance and support. For six months, Millie balanced recruitment with hands-on experience in Sally’s team, which led to her successful appointment as a proposal coordinator in mid-2024. "Sally has been an incredible mentor, helping me navigate all aspects of the role and pushing me to achieve my best."
Before joining UGL, Millie gained two degrees — Bachelor of Science Majoring in Zoology from the University of Queensland and Bachelor of Creative Industries, Majoring in Fashion Communications and Marketing from Queensland University of Technology. As part of a semester abroad exchange program, she spent six months studying at Hong Kong Baptist University, doing a combination of equivalent and elective units. This diverse background provided her with a strong foundation in communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Through her journey, Millie has developed essential skills, particularly in communication and networking. "In recruitment, I learned the importance of transparency and collaboration,” says Mille. “Keeping everyone informed and supporting each other leads to more efficient processes and successful project outcomes."
Reflecting on her experience, Millie acknowledges the important role of women at UGL. “The Women@UGL program provides a platform to support and elevate women through leadership programs, networking events, engagement and empowerment,” says Millie. “I am proud to be part of a company that actively champions female growth and leadership."
From recruitment to proposal coordination, Millie’s journey is one of adaptability, mentorship, and continuous growth. Her story serves as an inspiration to those looking to evolve within their careers, proving that with the right support and determination, anything is possible.
