Diane Talbot, of Starline Forklifts Pty Ltd, believes there is no room for "girlie-girls" in the forklift industry.

Talbot has worked in the Australian forklift industry for 25 years, unofficially. She is officially company secretary for and co-owner of used forklift business Starline Forklifts Pty Ltd, in Archerfield, Brisbane. Starline distributes used Komatsu, Toyota, Clark, Caterpillar, Hyster and Mitsubishi forklifts.

Talbot said she formalised her role in the industry two years ago.

"As my husband, Brian, has been in the forklift industry for 25 years, I have been involved on the fringes all that time, but directly now [as company secretary] for 22 months," she said.

Talbot works beyond her formal job description.

"Being a small family business, I get to do a little of everything, except mechanical work, but am sure if I had to, I would be doing some of that as well," she said.

Talbot enjoys the "rough and tumble" of the forklift industry.

"I thoroughly enjoy meeting the clientele this industry introduces you to. Coming from a farming background, I enjoy the more laid-back characteristics of the blue-collar worker," she said.

Talbot is positive about the competition.

"Workers in the industry are a great group of people and we enjoy a good working relationship with them all. They could almost be considered forklift family. I certainly make copious quantities of tea and coffee for drop-ins," she said.

The fact that women and men work differently is an asset, Talbot says.

"I agree men and women work differently. Women can do many different tasks at one time and still be on top of it and men generally can only cope with one or two tasks at any one time. That doesn't make them worse, or us better, it just is," she said.

"Everyone has their field of expertise. I understand how the business runs and can monitor progress and look after the books. Brian is a great sales person and can sell milk to a cow. Therefore, without his expertise, we wouldn't have a business for me to run."

Talbot said she accepted the "unwritten law" of the forklift industry.

"In the machinery industry, men can talk to men far better than women can talk to men. There seems to be an unwritten law amongst them and it is no use trying to change it. It just is and, quite frankly, we women should stop trying to change the man's world of machinery and let the men be men. That doesn't mean if we women really wanted to be in the forklift sales industry that we should not try. It just means we have to learn how to think and talk like a man to be a success," she said.

"Mind you, I wouldn't swap my job for theirs. I enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of my office compared to their hot outdoor activities."

Talbot said her job was a "means to a good lifestyle" and succession planning. "We would like to be able to pass this business on to other members of our family, if that is what they would like to become involved with.

"I know quite a few women in the industry and they all seem to enjoy their jobs. As to whether I would recommend it to others? All I can say is you certainly can't be a girlie-girl and survive in this man's world. And I wouldn't change a thing."