Inspiring Women Working in Construction

While the recent boom and incredible projects worldwide on the horizon are cause for celebration, the construction industry has a long way to go towards promoting a fairer workspace for men and women alike. To this day, it’s an industry that remains male dominated. The gender imbalance becomes all the more obvious when you compare it to other industries: on average women make up 54% of the workforce, however women only comprise 12% of the construction industry.

The truth is there are so many talented individuals out there. Today we wanted to highlight a few of the women who are doing incredible work within the industry. Though there are countless more to celebrate, these are just a few stories to inspire your day:

Notable women in construction

Rana Abboud
Sydney based architect Rana Abboud boasts over a decade of experience working as project architect in a number of Australian firms. In addition to her research into the use of mobile augmented reality within architectural practice, Abboud is also known for winning the 2012 CSR Cemintel 9 Dots Award, in which she designed an innovative house using off-the-shelf products. She describes great design as “timeless. It moves people, it is aesthetically appealing, fulfills its function irreducibly, and subtly improves people’s lives”.

Laila Mehrpour
Product Development Manager at Lend Lease, Laila Mehrpour has worked in construction for several years. Through winning a $10,000 research grant in 2012, Mehrpour has undertaken extensive research into Sydney’s housing crisis in an attempt to both critique current government initiatives and suggest alternative urban planning measures. Her goal is to ensure the future of Sydney has a higher quality of living and a lower environmental footprint, all with high density living solutions at affordable prices.

Natalie Myatt
In her years of work within the construction industry, Natalie Myatt has achieved many incredible things. She’s the youngest regional asset manager within the company, worked with engineering consultancy firm Sinclair Knight Merz in Britain, and won both the National Association of Women in Construction Scholarship Grant and the Property Council of Australia Future Leader Award. Through extensive research and hard work, Myatt aims to provide solutions for building and sustaining better communities. One social responsibility program she has developed involves “hiring unemployed youths to work with contractors and builders at a retail centre development”.

Envisioning a brighter future

Though times are not trouble free, hope for a brighter future remains. CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWiC), Laurice Temple identifies a few areas where change is needed: when “discussing flexible workplaces, tackling the gender pay gap issues, [and] working on the entrenched biases (conscious and unconscious) that exist that are keeping people who will be part of our future workforce from envisioning”.

With incredible organisations such as the NAWiC at work promoting women in construction, opportunities are awaiting on the horizon. Whether you’re a woman looking to make your break or an established professional within the industry, we’d love to hear what has inspired you along the way! Who are your role model and sources of inspiration?