Kate Flint
Country Director, Mace Consult, Australia
How did you get into what you do?
When I moved to London in 2004 I had grand plans for a career in film and television, building on my background as a production manager. But, when I first arrived, I had to take up temp jobs so I could pay the bills, and ended up working on the electrical fit out of the American Express headquarters in Victoria. I enjoyed the construction environment so much that I started to actively seek roles in the sector.
In 2006 I joined the fit out team on the HS1 works at St Pancras Station, and in 2008 I joined the CLM joint venture responsible for delivering the London 2012 venues. Among many benefits on that project, I got to know Mace’s people and values. Clearly, the positive impression made an impact as I joined Mace in 2012.
Looking back on your career, which projects or milestones have had the greatest impact on how you approach programme delivery?
Working on the London 2012 programme was a defining starting point. It showed me the real impact infrastructure can have on people and places, and that successful delivery is as much about people and alignment as it is technical excellence.
My time in Peru was another step change. Leading teams through the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and the Reconstruction Programme – particularly through COVID – reinforced the importance of resilience, adaptability and building trust in complex environments.
As Country Director for Australia, how do you define success in your role, both for the business and for the people you lead?
For me, success is about doing good work with people you trust and building something that lasts.
From a business perspective, it’s about being a partner clients come back to – because we’re honest, we challenge constructively, and we deliver. A big part of that is how we bring people together and create clarity in inherently complex programmes.
For our people, it’s about giving them the confidence and opportunity to grow. When the team is performing well, clients trust us, and people feel proud of what they’re part of – that’s success.
When you think about your career with Mace Consult so far, what are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of the team we’ve built and the foundations we’ve put in place for long-term growth in Australia.
It’s been about more than individual wins – focusing on strong client relationships, bringing in the right people, and creating a culture where people take ownership, collaborate, and deliver outcomes.
The real test is seeing the team operate confidently and independently. That’s when you know the business is in a good place.
What has been the most challenging period in your career, and what did it teach you about yourself as a leader?
The most challenging periods have been when delivery pressure, team growth, and uncertainty all come together.
COVID, during my time in Peru, stands out. Maintaining momentum while supporting people through a very uncertain time required calm decision-making and open communication, even without having all the answers.
It reinforced that leadership isn’t about perfection – it’s about consistency, judgement, and being there for your team when it matters most.
COVID, during my time in Peru, stands out. Maintaining momentum while supporting people through a very uncertain time required calm decision-making and open communication, even without having all the answers.
It reinforced that leadership isn’t about perfection – it’s about consistency, judgement, and being there for your team when it matters most.
Outside of work, what experiences or passions have shaped the way you show up professionally?
One important realisation for me was that what I had always seen as “social skills” – connecting people and building relationships – are actually core professional skills. Bringing people together, navigating different perspectives and building trust is fundamental to delivering certainty in complex programmes, and learning to articulate that has shaped how I lead.
That, alongside experiences that build resilience, influences my approach – staying calm, maintaining perspective, and focusing on people as much as the outcome.
That, alongside experiences that build resilience, influences my approach – staying calm, maintaining perspective, and focusing on people as much as the outcome.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice at the start of your career, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self not to wait until I felt ready before taking on new challenges.
Some of the biggest steps in my career came from roles that felt like a stretch. You rarely have all the answers, you learn quickly by stepping into them.
I’d also emphasise relationships. Long-term success is built on trust, and the people you work with will shape your career more than any single role.
Some of the biggest steps in my career came from roles that felt like a stretch. You rarely have all the answers, you learn quickly by stepping into them.
I’d also emphasise relationships. Long-term success is built on trust, and the people you work with will shape your career more than any single role.
“From a business perspective, success is about being a partner clients come back to – because we’re honest, we challenge constructively, and we deliver. For our people, it’s about giving them the confidence and opportunity to grow.”
Kate Flint
Country Director, Mace Consult, Australia
Country Director, Mace Consult, Australia