Victoria’s Building Commissioner, Mr Greg Hyams, has today commended the state’s first woman Municipal Building Surveyor (MBS) for her appointment to the position.

Ms Suada Ramic began work in February as MBS with the Ballarat City Council. One MBS is employed at each of Victoria’s 79 councils, with their role including issuing building and occupancy permits for buildings, and ensuring all buildings are constructed according to Victoria’s building regulations.

“This is a significant occasion for all women in Victoria’s building industry, and really highlights the high calibre of our MBSs,” said Mr Hyams.

“Ms Ramic has worked as a building surveyor since 2001, including a stint as a building technical adviser with the Building Commission in 2002.

“I hope her appointment as a Municipal Building Surveyor demonstrates the opportunities that exist for both men and women in Victoria’s building industry.”

Building Commission Pulse statistics show that at 31 December 2012, almost 22,000 women were employed in Victoria’s building industry – making up around 12 per cent of the total workforce. Of the state’s 576 building surveyors, 16 (three per cent) are women.

The Building Commission is a statutory authority that oversees the building control system in Victoria to ensure the safety, liveability and sustainability of our built environment. The Commission oversees building legislation, regulates building practices, advises the Government, and provides services to industry and consumers.

City of Ballarat Chief Executive Officer Anthony Schinck said Council was proud to welcome Suada to the role of Municipal Building Surveyor.

“We’re thrilled to have Suada as part of our team. She brings a wealth of experience from both the private sector and previous government roles which is of great benefit to the Council and the broader Ballarat community.”

“The City of Ballarat works hard to attract the best quality candidates for all our positions, and we’re pleased to be the first municipality in the state to appoint a woman to this role. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come across the sector.”