Carol’s journey began at MLC School, where she was inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps into the building industry as a Builder/Quantity Surveyor. At a time when few women pursued careers in construction, MLC School’s inclusive curriculum—offering subjects like Physics and Chemistry—helped empower her ambition.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Building with Honours and the University Medal for Quantity Surveying, becoming, in 1973, Australia’s first female graduate in Building. Despite her academic success, Carol faced gender discrimination in the workforce and was initially unable to find work in her field.

(Carol also completed a Master of Built Environment – Building Conservation.)

She began her career as a tutor at UNSW before moving to Hawkesbury Agricultural College (now Western Sydney University – WSU), where she developed and led innovative programs in environmental health, building, land economy, and fire safety design.

In 1986, she became Head of the School of Environmental Health, and later established WSU’s Centre for Building Studies, which evolved into a full School offering a wide range of qualifications.

For the past 25 years, Carol has collaborated with her conservation architect husband on heritage conservation projects across NSW. In 2022, she was awarded Honorary Life Membership by the National Trust (their highest honour) for her outstanding volunteer service and leadership in heritage advocacy through the Hawkesbury Branch that she founded in 2000.