Komatsu technician Caitlyn Hayes has claimed a top honour at the 2025 Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) gala.
Hayes took out the Tradie Trailblazer Award as recognition for her achievements as a skilled tradesperson. The Tradie Trailblazer Award recognises women who make an impact in the trades sector by breaking new ground and driving change within their field.
“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,” Hayes 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.”
Hayes joined Komatsu more than five years ago as a third-year apprentice and is a dual trade-qualified technician in both diesel fitting and automotive electrical. She currently works as a mobile plant mechanic with Komatsu’s contract team in the Pilbara region.
“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,” Hayes said.
“Every day there’s a new challenge thrown your way, the Pilbara conditions definitely keep you on your toes, but it keeps it exciting and has pushed me to grow more as a tech working independently in the field.
“I’ve faced a few challenges along the way, including a redundancy during the drought and completing two trades back-to-back, but I’ve persevered and had a heap of support to get me to where I am today.”
Hayes’ mentors at Komatsu were impressed by her journey from apprentice to qualified tradesperson as she now mentors and trains the new Komatsu apprentices. She has also contributed to Komatsu’s apprentice recruitment campaigns which have increased the number of female apprentices in Komatsu’s intake both in Queensland and nationally.
Hayes has plans to complete her Certificate IV in training and assessing so that she can further support the next generation of technicians.
“It’s important to always have something new to work towards and to never stop learning. For anyone else in my position thinking of a career in trades, just give it a go. There’s so much opportunity here if you’re willing to chase it,” she said.
“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.”
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