Jo Hocking | Woman Manufacturer of the Year 2025

On 9 October 2025 Jo Hocking, Director of Finance, Sales and Marketing at Copamate, was recognised as the Victorian Woman Manufacturer of the Year at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards. This honour reflects her exceptional leadership in advancing Victorian manufacturing, her strategic influence across operations and commercial performance and her role in strengthening Copamate’s position as a benchmark for innovation and industry capability in Australia.

About Jo Hocking

Jo Hocking is a highly accomplished leader in Australian manufacturing and currently serves as the Director of Finance, Sales and Marketing, and co-owner of Copamate. Since officially becoming co-owner in 2024, Jo has continued to drive strategic growth for the business, building on decades of dedication to the company and the manufacturing industry at large.

The Inception of Copamate

Jo’s journey with Copamate began at its inception in 1993, when the company was founded by her father in their family home. From the early days, Jo was actively involved in helping establish structure and processes to support the company’s growth. While contributing to the family business, she also completed a Bachelor of International Business and held several other jobs, showcasing her strong work ethic and determination.

Jo Hocking’s Leadership

In 2008, Jo stepped into the role of General Manager, successfully overseeing the company’s operations and navigating it through a crucial phase of expansion and development. She led the business until 2015, after which she transitioned into her current role, focusing on financial management and commercial strategy. At the same time, her now-business partner took over the General Manager role.

Since 2018, under Jo’s financial and strategic leadership, Copamate secured a major contract to supply refurbishment and new assemblies for the world’s largest tram refurbishment project. This achievement marked a turning point for the company, leading to a renewed focus on investment in capabilities, workforce development and technical excellence.

Copamate Today

Today, Copamate operates with an impressive breadth of in-house capabilities, serving critical sectors such as rail, transport, pipeline, infrastructure and industrial manufacturing. The company specialises in both new component manufacturing and refurbishment, offering bespoke engineering solutions tailored to complex industry requirements.

The Critical Role Women Play in Manufacturing

Jo Hocking’s leadership has not only contributed to Copamate’s long-standing success but has also set an example for innovation, resilience, and strategic thinking within the manufacturing sector. Her story reflects the strength of intergenerational business leadership and the critical role women play in driving the future of Australian industry.