Cecily McGuckin is an Australian business leader and the CEO and Managing Director of Queensland Steel & Sheet (QSS), one of Australia’s longest‑running, family‑owned steel distribution companies. Based in Brisbane, she is widely recognised as the only female CEO leading a steel distribution company in Australia, a distinction that has positioned her as a pioneer in a traditionally male‑dominated industry. Under her leadership, QSS has evolved from its modest beginnings in 1985 into a modern, customer‑centric operation supplying a broad range of steel products nationwide.

After initially pursuing a career outside the family business, including roles in finance and construction management, Cecily later joined QSS and identified the need for significant modernisation. She led large‑scale operational, cultural, and technological transformation, investing heavily in digital systems, enterprise resource planning, and process efficiency while preserving the company’s strong family values. Her leadership style is defined by emotional intelligence, transparency, and a strong people‑first philosophy, which she credits as central to building trust, performance, and long‑term sustainability within the organisation.

Cecily’s impact has been recognised through numerous accolades, including being named CEO of the Year at LeadershipHQ’s Outstanding Leadership Awards (2020) and being shortlisted as a finalist in The CEO Magazine’s 2025 Executive of the Year Awards. Beyond business performance, she is a passionate advocate for diversity, women in leadership, and community impact, using her platform to challenge industry norms and mentor future leaders. Through her work, Cecily McGuckin continues to reshape perceptions of leadership in Australian manufacturing while setting a benchmark for inclusive, values‑driven executive leadership.