Komatsu technician Caitlyn Hayes has been honoured nationally, taking home the Tradie Trailblazer Award at the 2025 Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) Gala in Melbourne.
The annual EWIT Awards celebrate women driving change across the trades, from apprentices to industry leaders. The Tradie Trailblazer category recognises individuals who break new ground and inspire others through their leadership and contribution.
“It was amazing to not only be recognised as a trailblazer, but to be in a room full of incredible women who are leading the way for others in the trades,” Caitlyn said. “It’s inspiring to see how far the industry has come and how much support there is for women building their careers in this typically male-dominated field.”
A dual trade-qualified technician in diesel fitting and automotive electrical, Caitlyn joined Komatsu more than five years ago as a third-year apprentice. Her career has since taken her from Queensland to Western Australia, where she now works as a mobile plant mechanic in the Pilbara with Komatsu’s contracts team.
“No two days are the same, which I love. At the moment I’m working across two customer sites in Port Hedland in iron ore, manganese and salt. The crew and I work on breakdowns, servicing and mid-life repairs. Every day there’s a new challenge thrown your way – the Pilbara conditions definitely keep you on your toes,” she said.
Caitlyn’s mentors nominated her for the award, recognising her resilience, her mentoring of apprentices, and her involvement in Komatsu’s apprentice recruitment campaigns, which have helped boost female apprentice intakes to nearly 50/50 across Queensland and nationally.
She’s also given back to her community, volunteering for the past six years as mechanical support for the Fraser Coast Dunga Derby – Rally for a Cause, supporting local families in need.
Looking to the future, Caitlyn plans to complete her Certificate IV in Training and Assessing to help train the next generation of technicians.
“It’s important to always have something new to work towards and to never stop learning,” she said. “For anyone thinking of a career in the trades, just give it a go. There’s so much opportunity if you’re willing to chase it.”
Caitlyn credits her mentors for their support and hopes to do the same for others:
“My mentors have supported me for years, and it’s really special that they nominated me. I hope I can do the same for others in my position in the future.”
