A shopfitter with rare precision and maturity, Joshua Muckert has become one of Barrett Group’s most trusted young leaders, delivering major retail projects and shaping the next generation of trades.

At just 23 years old, most tradespeople are still finding their feet. Joshua Muckert, however, is already running sites, mentoring apprentices, delivering national-brand retail fitouts, and proving project after project that age has nothing to do with capability.

When Joshua entered the shopfitting industry straight out of school, he was unsure of where he would fit. What he did have was a deep respect for the industry which was shaped early by his father’s experience in the industry and a willingness to work harder than anyone else in the room. That foundation led Joshua to Barrett Group – a Brisbane based interior fitout and bespoke joinery manufacturer – in 2019, where his apprenticeship would become the first chapter of an already extraordinary career.

One of the defining influences of Joshua’s development came from working alongside long-serving Barrett Group team member Steve Elliker, who retired in 2023 after 32 years with the company. Joshua was one of the last apprentices Steve mentored, a responsibility Steve didn’t take lightly. “Everything Steve had learned over three decades – every mistake, every lesson, every shortcut and long way around – he shared with me,” Joshua recalls. “His dedication and the way he pushed through long days really stuck with me.”

Six months after completing his apprenticeship, Joshua received the Phil Boron Memorial Award for Excellence in training in the shopfitting sector. Achieving this milestone so early in his career was a powerful moment, one that validated not just his skill but the way he had learned to work under pressure. “It gave me confidence that I was on the right path. Being thrown in the deep end, having the company trust me, and the opportunities I’ve had along the way have all helped me get to where I am.”

Now a skilled shopfitter trusted with growing site-management responsibilities, Joshua helps deliver projects for Optus, Prouds Jewellers, Angus & Coote, Boori and David Jones. He approaches leadership the way his mentor Steve taught him – in a calm and methodical way.

“I tell apprentices the same thing Steve told me: do one thing at a time and tick it off your list. Big jobs look overwhelming until you break them down.”

Joshua’s journey hasn’t been without challenges – he lives with Cystic Fibrosis, a lifelong genetic condition that affects his lungs. Some days, the physical strain of shopfitting is harder than others but he has never allowed it to slow him down. “There are tougher days, but as long as I stay on top of my medication and routine, I can manage it.”

One of his proudest and most demanding jobs was the Optus retail flagship store in Werribee, one of the largest Optus retail spaces in the country and one of the top ranking in Australia when it comes to customer volume. “It was a big challenge, but finishing it felt incredible,” Joshua says.

Another defining moment came in his third year as an apprentice, when he was sent to Mildura to complete his first full store build – just Joshua and one other apprentice. “As a third year, I still felt inexperienced, even though I had some knowledge behind me. We were thrown in the deep end with tight deadlines, and it was definitely my most challenging job so far. But once we finished, it gave me real confidence and proved I could handle the pressure. That experience helped me step up, run more jobs, and ultimately get to where I am now.”

The before-and-after transformations, the client reactions, the moment a store opens its doors to families, is what keeps Joshua motivated. “Most people never see what these spaces look like before, so watching them come to life and people enjoy the spaces is the best part.”

Despite his youth, Joshua is already thinking about longevity and balance. He currently travels all over Australia for work, often for weeks at a time, and is learning how to juggle life on the road with life at home. “There is no magic trick. It’s about communication, planning, and making the most of the time I have when I’m back.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to reduce the amount of travel in the next five years while continuing to grow within Barrett Group and explore new types of fitouts including restaurants, hospitality, anything that pushes him creatively and technically.

And there’s one milestone he’s particularly excited for which is the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Joshua sees it as a massive opportunity for the fitout industry, and he hopes to play a part in the wave of development the Games will bring. “There’s going to be so much work happening across Brisbane city and surrounds. It’s exciting to think about what’s ahead for the industry.”

Joshua is a reminder that potential becomes powerful when matched with hard work and heart.