5 Minutes with Emeritus Professor Richard Henry AM & Dr Rachel Oberon Indigenous Advantage MBA (Social Impact) scholarship recipient Madison Page.
High vis, hard hats and construction sites might seem a world away from social impact theory, but that’s where proud Wiradjuri woman Madison Page is putting it into practice. Â
As Senior Advisor, Diversity, Indigenous and Social Inclusion at CPB Contractors, Madison brokers opportunities for First Nations businesses and workers across some of Australia’s biggest infrastructure projects. She’s also completing an MBAX (Social Impact) to translate good intentions into concrete results.
A: No two days are ever really the same. I might be shaping tender strategies, chatting with Aboriginal businesses and social enterprises or looking at employment pathways for mob. I also co-chair the NSW Awards and Submissions Committee for the National Association of Women in Construction, it’s a big event for over 1,200 people with 13 categories.
A: I started out studying marine biology! I was looking for ways to apply my skills in sustainability roles. I landed a graduate role at John Holland and was offered a rotation in Indigenous engagement, and I thought, ‘You can’t say no to an opportunity like this.’ I didn’t even know working in Indigenous and social inclusion existed in construction. I ended up never doing the environmental rotation, I just stayed with social inclusion everything clicked.
A: I needed something that bridged my environmental background with the Indigenous engagement and social work I was doing. The Graduate Certificate in Social Impact did that. It gave me the analytical tools like social‑return‑on‑investment that a lot of people in this space don’t have. That pushed me to dive into the AGSM MBA (Social Impact) so I could back my ideas with solid business logic.
A: It’s given me commercial and business acumen. When you’re the youngest - and often the only woman - in a room of engineers, being able to translate values into margins and schedules earns credibility. Everything I learn, I can apply the next day.
A: My uncle told me early on: everything you do is for mob. That’s my compass. I remind myself of that because it’s easy to get caught up in corporate politics. I’ve enjoyed privileges many in community haven’t; it’s on me to help create opportunity for others.
A: Long‑term, I want to be at the executive table so impact guides business decisions from the start. The goal is for roles like mine not to have to exist because it should just be BAU, ‘Business as Usual’.
A:  Jump in, it’s really rewarding. The content is interesting and engaging, and you’re surrounded by like‑minded people who’ll pop up in your career years later. I’ve been on job sites with classmates and it’s great to work with people who share the same mindset. And if you are thinking about applying for a scholarship, go for it. The scholarships are more than funding – it’s a platform. It’s backing you to lead change.
