How Clea became a tradie influencer for Bowens

Clea White was only seven years old when she told her dad, “I want to be just like you.” Fast forward to today, and Clea is living her dream as a third-year carpentry apprentice at Chisholm Institute of TAFE and an Ambassador for Bowens, making her mark as an inspiring role model for women in trades.

With an Instagram account that’s accumulated over 1,400 followers, Clea White has enjoyed combining the worlds of building and construction and social media influencing. From on-the-job updates about construction development, to selfies celebrating career milestones, Clea’s account has blossomed into a digital diary.

She makes sure to post multiple times a week on her Instagram (@the_little_chippy_chick) to engage with her self-built community, often receiving comments of support and appreciation from her friends and followers.

The 22-year-old from the Mornington Peninsula worked at her dad’s building and construction company, Lizard Building and Development, while studying toward a Certificate III in Carpentry.

“I love the idea of building a house. Someone’s going to live in that one day!” said Clea.

This year, Clea was invited to the Bowens Building + Innovation Expo as a Chisholm student representative, to join Chisholm's Building and Construction staff at their exhibit. Clea was ecstatic about receiving a free ticket from Chisholm, as it was an opportunity to expand her industry connections and learn more about the industry.

Renowned construction suppliers Bowens and Chisholm regularly partner to deliver impactful events across various areas, including mental health awareness for tradespeople.

At the innovation expo, Bowens gifted Clea merchandise, which she began wearing regularly to work. As she took on more diverse construction projects, she shared her building progress and finished work on social media, showcasing her skills and passion. To promote her posts and increase their visibility, she tagged Bowens in a number of images of her wearing their merchandise while working.

Eventually, Bowens reached out to Clea via Instagram DM and offered her an ambassador contract. Clea was thrilled and felt incredibly proud.

As part of her contract, Clea will attend several events, such as store openings and Tradie Lady Club events, to create content for both her and Bowens, as well as to get exclusive access to the newest products.

Clea will also be featured on the Bowens website and social media by taking part in photoshoots and Instagram Reels to showcase new merchandise, announce brand deals and highlight industry trends with new products.

“Bowens being affiliated with Chisholm is really cool,” says Clea. “Without Chisholm I wouldn’t have gone to that event.”