DRIVING CHANGE THROUGH CULTURAL LEADERSHIP — two leaders paving the way by Carolyn Whyte Freelance Writer, Carolyn Whyte Research & Writing
NAWIC’s 25th Anniversary provides a significant opportunity to reflect on the progress of women in construction and to consider how we accelerate momentum. There is no single way to be a woman in construction and no single innovation that will advance gender equality in our industry. Instead, we will get there through multiple interventions that encourage sustained cultural change. I NEED TO SEE YOU Marian Wright Edelman, African American educator and President of the Children’s Defence Fund, coined the phrase “It’s hard to be what you can’t see” concerning children’s books and the interconnected impacts of representation. It feels like a piece of logic you’ve innately always known, but Edelman only wrote it in 2015. One woman’s words of profound logic have quickly become accepted wisdom. In this example we see that social innovations occur through the creation of access to unconsidered ideas that have the power to topple prevailing norms and biases. This cannot happen alone, you need a sponsor and confidant to motivate and challenge you. The work being undertaken at Built Victoria by two key construction industry leaders and allies: Jennifer Marks, Director - Victoria, and Monica Fontaine, Construction Manager and Health Sector Lead, provides an example for young women in construction. The pair have established a self-initiated
partnership that could not have previously existed for either woman during their combined experience of over 45 years. They are unified in the objective of improving gender equality in the construction industry and supporting women who love the challenges of construction, as much as they do, to progress unhindered and surpass their own achievements. Jen and Mon are digging through decades of industry experience to learn from the many moments that make a career, transforming what they have learned into actions and advice towards the retention, recruitment and improved parity for women in construction. They share a passion and rare expertise in the technical and operational aspects of their profession. As business leaders their visibility includes promoting values that focus on ‘authenticity’, ‘effort’ and ‘innovation’, rather than just results, to encourage a more inclusive working environment. Jen and Mon have been driving forces behind their organisation doubling the industry average of women across all levels of the business. Spurred on by the 2021 International Women’s Day theme #choosetochallenge Jen is pushing targets higher, setting bold goals of minimum 25% women across all levels of decision making by 2024. Considering that less than 10% of people entering construction are women and that women leave the industry at a rate 39% faster than men, Jen understands the challenges but with the support of her organisation she is ready to overcome them.
25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
81
