Stephanie Trounce, WHS Property and Compliance Manager at GCCM, talks about marine safety and her win at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Awards.

Please share a snapshot of your career history. I’m a Work Health and Safety professional with 18 years of experience across high-risk industries. Since 2022, I’ve served as the WHS Property and Compliance Manager at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM). I aim to positively influence the safety culture of over 90 marine-based businesses and thousands of visiting contractors.

What led you to follow this professional path and how has your career evolved? Growing up as the only girl among five brothers, I became comfortable navigating male-centric environments from a young age. That early experience gave me the confidence to step into high-risk industries like mining and construction as a university graduate where I built a strong foundation in resilience. While I’m still relatively new to the marine industry, I’ve embraced the challenge of applying my safety expertise in this dynamic environment. My role has allowed me to evolve not just professionally but personally, broadening my understanding of marine operations while continuing to champion a culture of safety.

What do you find most rewarding about your role at GCCM? Every day at GCCM is dynamic and multi-faceted, which is what makes my role so interesting. I wear many hats balancing safety leadership with responsibilities across environmental compliance, facilities and infrastructure management, property management, security and aspects of human resources. The most rewarding part of my role is knowing that the work I do directly contributes to protecting both people, the environment and property. I get to make a real impact, whether it’s supporting a business through compliance challenges or improving systems to protect our people.

Why are safety considerations so important to boating? Safety and compliance are not the most glamorous parts of boating, but they are the foundation of a successful and stress-free experience on the water. At GCCM, we understand that for boat owners, a vessel is more than just a possession, it’s a passion, an investment and often a second home. From lifting and storing to servicing, we follow strict procedures, train our team thoroughly and use systems designed to protect your boat and everyone around it. Boaties choose GCCM because they trust everything is going to be done right, not just for compliance but because we genuinely care.

What drives you and the team at GCCM? What drives us is knowing that every vessel we care for represents a significant financial and emotional investment for its owner. Whether it’s a family cruiser, a luxury yacht, or a working vessel, we’re passionate about creating an environment where those investments are protected through high safety standards, reliable systems and a culture of care.

My role is not only to help protect the vessels but more importantly, to protect the people who work on them. These are skilled professionals entrusted with maintaining and caring for our customers’ valued assets and they deserve to work in an environment where their wellbeing is never compromised.

You won the first Industry Woman of the Year Award at this year’s Nautilus Marine Insurance Marina of the Year Awards. What did the win mean to yourself and the whole GCCM team? Winning was such a proud moment for me and I was so excited to tell my five-year-old daughter. The award is more than just personal recognition; it is a sign that the industry is committed to raising the bar with safety and environmental standards. That shift is something both the GCCM team and I have worked hard to be a part of, and it was incredibly validating to see it acknowledged.

Is giving back to the next generation of women in the marine industry something you are passionate about? It’s incredibly encouraging to see more women stepping into non-traditional roles, particularly in the marine industry. If I can help pave the way for even one woman to feel more confident pursuing a career in this field, then that’s something truly worth getting behind.

Would we find you on the water in your spare time? Coming from a family of boaties I’m lucky enough to spend sunny Gold Coast days on the Broadwater or hitting the local beaches.

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