Janine Branje is the General Manager at Hush Interiors in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Hush Interiors is a family and iwi-owned business that specialises in creative suspended ceilings, feature linings and acoustic products for commercial projects and private clients across the wider Canterbury and West Coast regions.
Janine has always been good with numbers, but wasn’t interested in being an accountant. Her stepfather was an estimator at a glass and aluminium firm and would often take Janine to construction sites on weekends while she was still at school. “I was inspired by my stepfather, who was an ex-builder, and when he took me on jobs, it exposed me to a different world where I could use numbers. Numbers had always fascinated me, so he suggested becoming a quantity surveyor.” In 1996, Janine started the Diploma of Quantity Surveying at Christchurch Polytechnic, where she was the only female student in her class at the time. She was also in the first intake of students at Massey University in Wellington, where she studied while working full-time for the Bachelor of Construction (BConst), majoring in Quantity Surveying.
Janine was originally a quantity surveyor at Hush Interiors before she was offered the role of General Manager five years ago. A typical day for her involves collaborating with the operations and commercial teams on solutions for complex project issues, setting goals and growth plans, writing reports and managing staff and project risks. She works with contractors, site teams and engineers, navigating conflicts or inconsistencies in documentation. Janine says being a member of the Building Institute Aotearoa has helped her professional development and given her opportunities to network and step out of her comfort zone. The Institute has also helped her reconnect with old colleagues. “Connection with others and relationships in the modern construction world is so important. With the speed of change, complex issues and a volatile market, we need to have relatable and open conversations with each other to navigate changes effectively,” says Janine.
Through her work in the built environment, Janine has discovered that no matter where you are in your career, you never stop learning, and that everyone has something worth sharing. One of Janine’s proudest moments was her ability to step into the GM role following the death of her daughter, Emily. She says that the pain of losing Emily has opened her eyes and given her insight into what other people might be going through. Emily has shaped Janine’s leadership style into one of purpose and authenticity, with Janine’s team describing her as someone who leads with heart and empathy.
Janine is part of the Future Learners Programme in schools, but says there is still work to be done to encourage more females to enter trade, engineering and construction roles. “I find it rewarding to speak in schools, as many students aren't aware of the career paths that exist in construction. I am trying to break these barriers down.” Janine has employed three female cadets at Hush Interiors: two on the tools and one quantity surveyor. She adds, “I find projects involving women usually have traits of being more organised. Women often consider different approaches, and in a lot of cases, are more thorough and detail-oriented.”
For anyone considering a career in the built environment, Janine says, “Just do it. Talk to others, make solid connections and build relationships as they are incredibly important, and have a learning mindset.”
Out of work, Janine has been navigating the charity space and working tirelessly on the Emily B Trust, and the development of the Emily B Drifters - a search and rescue floating device with GPS tracking. She also enjoys mountain biking and crocheting as a mindful hobby to unwind.
