Built to RISE: From the Tools to Creating Change – Jasmyn Smith’s Story
For Jasmyn Smith, being an electrician has become about more than the work itself. It’s also about helping make the industry better for the women coming through after her.
A qualified electrician, co-founder of The GO Company and mentor with RISE Futures, Jasmyn has spent the past 10 years working across domestic, commercial and civil projects.
Growing up with a father who worked as an electrician and sound and vision engineer, Jasmyn was surrounded by the industry from an early age. She was drawn to a career that allowed her to work with her hands, solve problems and finish each day having built something tangible.
Ten years later, her motivation has evolved.
“More recently, it’s become about making the industry better for the women coming through after me.”
Knowing she can help create change while continuing to do the job she loves has given Jasmyn a new sense of purpose.
Turning Lived Experience into Solutions
Continuing to work on the tools while building The GO Company has given Jasmyn a unique perspective on the challenges facing tradeswomen.
“Being on the tools every day has been our greatest advantage because we’re solving problems we’ve actually lived with.”
Every product The GO Company has created has come from real conversations and experiences on site.
For Jasmyn, one particular issue highlighted how easily everyday challenges faced by women in trades could become accepted as simply part of the job.
Women could be caught on site with their period without access to running water, sanitary bins or, in some cases, even a toilet.
For years, Jasmyn thought it was something women in trades simply had to deal with. Then she began speaking with other tradeswomen.
“Every single one had almost the exact same story.”
It didn’t matter what trade they worked in or where they lived.
“That’s when I realised this wasn’t my inconvenience; it was an industry-wide gap that had simply been overlooked for too long.”
That realisation helped lead to the creation of The GO Company.
Creating Practical Change
Working as an electrician has taught Jasmyn to be practical, resilient and solution-focused — qualities that have also shaped the business she has built.
Becoming a business owner has shown her that many organisations genuinely want to create better workplaces but may not know where to start or have the right team to make it happen.
“I’ve realised that change happens fastest when industry and business work together.”
Rather than simply identifying problems, Jasmyn and The GO Company are focused on giving businesses practical solutions they can implement.
That work has also brought significant industry recognition, including NECA and NAWIC awards and being named the 2026 ABC Trailblazer.
But for Jasmyn, recognition was never the goal.
“The biggest reward isn’t the awards themselves, but hearing from women who tell us they finally feel seen, or businesses that have changed the way they support their teams because of our work.”
The Power of Community
At the RISE Tradeswomen Summit, Jasmyn had the opportunity to share her insights and connect with apprentices from across Australia.
Her favourite moments weren’t necessarily those that happened during the formal presentations.
They were the conversations in between.
“Watching apprentices open up, ask honest questions and realise they weren’t alone was incredibly powerful.”
Over the course of the Summit, Jasmyn could see confidence growing as apprentices connected with other women who understood their experiences.
“Sometimes all someone needs is to know there’s a community behind them.”
For Jasmyn, that is also at the heart of why initiatives like RISE Futures matter.
When she began her own apprenticeship, she didn’t have opportunities to connect with other tradeswomen or mentors.
“Programs like this create the support network I wish I’d had.”
That support can help build confidence, reduce isolation and support women to remain in the industry.
Recognising the Strengths of Women Apprentices
Through her work and mentoring, one quality consistently stands out to Jasmyn: resilience.
She sees women apprentices continuing to show up determined to learn and improve, even when they feel they have to prove themselves before receiving the same opportunities as others.
Jasmyn also believes women bring valuable strengths to the industry, including communication skills, emotional intelligence, attention to detail, collaboration, adaptability and problem-solving.
“Those strengths deserve to be recognised just as much as technical ability.”
Making the Industry Better Than You Found It
If Jasmyn could give every apprentice one piece of advice on their first day, it would be simple:
Don’t let anyone else define what you’re capable of.
Mistakes, she says, are part of learning.
“Don’t mistake being new for not belonging. Ask questions, back yourself, stay curious and never stop learning.”
And while learning a trade can open the door to a rewarding career, Jasmyn encourages apprentices to remember that their trade is only one part of who they are.
Their experiences and ideas can also help shape what the industry becomes.
“Don’t be afraid to use your unique experiences and ideas to make the industry better than you found it.”
Looking to the Future
What gives Jasmyn the most hope is that the conversation around women in trades is changing.
Businesses are listening, leaders are taking action and more women are entering trades knowing there is a community behind them.
She is also seeing more women step into leadership, mentor others and create opportunities for those following them.
“That ripple effect is powerful, and I genuinely believe the future of our industry will be stronger because of it.”
Outside of work, Jasmyn rarely sits still. She enjoys tinkering with her house renovations, spending time with her partner Zane and their German Shepherd and cat, and, whenever she gets the chance, heading to their shack to switch off from the busy pace of work.
💜 Built to RISE celebrates the stories of apprentices, mentors and industry leaders who are helping shape the future for women in trades through the Together We RISE community.
About RISE Futures
RISE is a national initiative supporting women apprentices and trainees to succeed in traditionally male-dominated industries. Through mentoring, peer connection, industry engagement and leadership development, the program is helping build a more inclusive and supportive workforce.
Together We RISE is delivered by the National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) in partnership with Women’s Health in the South East ( WHISE ) , the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and Bendigo Kangan Institute, and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations through the Building Women’s Careers Program.
To learn more, visit www.naenrise.com.au
