Leading on the Coast: Big work, regional heart

For Tehane Ridley, the best part of her job isn’t the projects, it’s the people. “I’ve got a great team,” she says. “They’re passionate, smart, and care about what we’re doing.”

As the Sunshine Coast Area Manager for global consultancy GHD, Tehane leads a team of 70 engineers, designers, project managers, and scientists. Together, they’re tackling some of the region’s biggest infrastructure challenges, delivering everything from major transport corridors to sustainable water systems that underpin the Coast’s rapid growth and liveability.

It’s a big role in a region that’s growing fast but Tehane wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else. “I think there’s still this perception that if you want a big, impactful career, you have to go to a capital city,” she explains. “But I’m doing some of the most interesting and challenging work of my life, and I’m doing it here in Maroochydore City Centre.”

Tehanei started at GHD 18 years ago and never expected to find such opportunities in a regional centre.

“You get so many more opportunities to do so much more when you’re not in the metro offices, when you’re in the regional offices,” she says. “People think moving to a regional centre is a compromise for your career, but for me, it was an excellent opportunity to actually step up and take on more responsibility.”

For Tehane, the Sunshine Coast is more than a workplace, it’s where her projects can leave a lasting mark on the community. “One of the greatest things we do is create lasting community benefit,” she says. “It’s not just about infrastructure, it’s about people and the spaces they live in.”

Linking infrastructure & community for vibrant cities

Tehane believes great cities are built on relationships and connectivity. “We’re seeing a shift away from designing infrastructure in isolation,” she explains. “It’s about creating places that support how people want to live. Places that are walkable, green, easy to get around, and well connected.”

This philosophy drives GHD’s work across the Sunshine Coast. Whether designing public transport corridors, pedestrian networks, or urban systems, the goal is the same: link infrastructure, land use, and community needs to create places people love.

“The way people experience their city is through movement,” Tehane says. “If we want to build places people love, we have to make it easier for them to move through them.” Her team’s work helps ensure Maroochydore City Centre and the wider region feel connected, vibrant, and aligned with the values of the community.

Shaping the future of the Sunshine Coast

As part of the region’s leadership team, Tehane sees the Sunshine Coast maturing into a place where people can live, work, and thrive without leaving. “Part of what we’re really proud of is that we can keep people here,” she says. “People don’t need to move to Brisbane. It’s a pivotal moment for the Sunshine Coast as it continues to mature.”

Central to this transformation is Maroochydore City Centre, a purpose-built precinct designed to be the heart of the region. “I like the commitment the Sunshine Coast has made to having a CBD,” Tehane explains. “If you’ve seen the master plan images, it’s phenomenal A wonderful gathering place for the community, and it’s already influencing how the region thinks about urban development.”

Tehane’s team has been involved from the ground up, working on active transport planning, green infrastructure, and urban systems. “What’s different here is that we’ve been able to embed really strong thinking around movement and transport right from the beginning,” Tehane says. “It’s been a bit of a proof of concept. You can create a centre that’s connected, that feels good to be in, and that really reflects the values of the community.”

Building an Inclusive Industry

Beyond shaping cities, Tehane is passionate about shaping the engineering profession itself. While only 13% of engineers in Australia are female, GHD’s Sunshine Coast office is bucking the trend: half of its 70 staff are women, and 54% of principals and associates are female.

“It makes me proud,” she says. “A lot of this comes from leadership recognising the importance of diversity and really talking the talk. If I’m a role model for other women, then I’m proud of that. I’m happy for that.”

“This commitment to inclusion isn’t just about who works in engineering today it’s also about inspiring the next generation of talent to see what’s possible right here on the Sunshine Coast.”

Opportunity for young professionals

For young professionals considering their career path, Tehane says the Sunshine Coast is now a place where ambition can thrive. “Young people can see a pathway here,” she explains. “They can build something, grow a career, and be part of a region that’s really coming into its own. They don’t need to move to a capital city to make an impact.”

It’s a message she believes is important for the next generation. “You can have a meaningful, challenging, and fulfilling career right here. And at the same time, you’re contributing to a region that’s defining its future.”

Looking back over her career, Tehane says what matters most is the opportunity to make a difference. “For me, it’s not about the size of the projects, it’s about the people, the teams, and the communities we serve,” she says. “And that’s what makes the Sunshine Coast so special. We’re building something together that lasts.”

As Maroochydore City Centre rises, Tehane sees a city that’s more than just buildings and roads. It’s a connected, vibrant hub where people can live, work, and belong.

“It’s exciting to see a region growing in a way that allows people to stay, thrive, and shape the future,” she says. “That’s the real reward of regional leadership.”