Gemma Edwards

Training Institute: TAFE NSW North Coast Institute, Port Macquarie Campus
Qualification: Certificate IV in Hairdressing
National Results: Gold Medal

Viewing hairdressing as both a profession and an artform, Gemma “Gem” Edwards is a talented and driven hairdresser looking forward to learning from the UK’s best stylists.

Choose three words that best describe you.
Creative, ambitious, bubbly

What do you enjoy most about your trade/skill?
I love being creative and my trade allows me to do that. I love being able to make people feel good about themselves, and interacting with different people with different stories.

What has been your favourite part of your WorldSkills Australia experience?
My favourite part was how the whole competition tested me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped boost my confidence in my trade. It also opened a lot of opportunities for me.

What type of work experience would you like to undertake in the UK?
I would like to work in a salon and gain more experience. Seeing how other salons run, train and perform would be amazing and give me valuable knowledge for where I eventually want to take me career in hairdressing. I would love to be in involved with hair shows, photo shoots or competition. This type of experience can’t be gained where I am. I am very eager to learn so much more.

Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you.
I’m a really, really jumpy person – you say “boo” and I jump.

If you had one unlimited resource at your disposal for one day, what would it be and what would you do?
I would do something big with it and try make an everlasting impact – something like stop poverty and help with world hunger.

What is the funniest question you expect to be asked about Australia?
Probably something about our wildlife and kangaroos jumping down the middle of the street.

You’re on your way to the UK so it has to be asked: Vegemite or Marmite?
Vegemite.