CPBJH JV

WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT

— advancing women in the construction industry

by Elizabeth De Castro Diaz & Patricia Tahitahi

Design Manager & Materials Coordinator, CPB Contractors for CPBJH JV & NAWIC Members

As part of the $6.7B West Gate Tunnel Project, CPB Contractors and John Holland have committed to reach a 20% participation target of women in the project. To reach this goal, the joint venture established the West Gate Women in Construction Committee (WGWIC) to provide a platform to drive change and support the advancement of women in construction. The aim of the Committee is to reach and maintain this target in blue and white-collar roles, as well as provide support and recognise the achievements of women on the project. The Committee is dedicated to educating and advising the project team on issues regarding gender equality. It also rewards positive behaviour to allow women to grow and develop their careers and profile, making way for more women in the industry.

REACHING THE TARGET

With support from project leadership, the West Gate Tunnel Project has exceeded the set target with up to 27.7% of women on the project at the highest peak. Although this percentage has fluctuated throughout the life of the project (one reason for this was the impact of COVID-19) the Committee has been instrumental in ensuring the targets are met and women are retained.

RECOGNISING AND CREATING AWARENESS

Since its creation in 2017, the Committee has regularly organised events and developed initiatives to provide networking opportunities, recognition and support to women on the project. Internal newsletters and the intranet are a continuous platform to promote our women and to raise their profiles on the project. One of the yearly events that is now part of the life of the project is the International Women’s Day commemoration. This year we had Michelle Garrity, a labourer on the project, share her journey in construction, how she has faced the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and how the project provides a safe work environment for her to develop her skills. We also had Sarah Hosking, an AFLW player with the Richmond Tigers, who spoke about her experience in sports and the various ways she has experienced gender bias and how she has overcome them. Another big event for the Committee is the October Breast Cancer Campaign. Every year we have seen participation grow. In 2020 we organised a partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia and we presented them with a significant donation from the project team members. This was a particularly special year for the event, given one of our women had been diagnosed and was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time. Big Pockets and Big Hearts, our Fundraising Committee, coordinated events year-round including BBQs, and collected an incredible $9,420. The end of year WGWIC Awards have also become a highlight of the Committee’s initiatives. The awards recognise the achievements of women who are making a difference in the way the project operates. With four categories, the awards are a special platform to reward women, at different stages of their careers, and for their individual contributions. The Committee is always encouraging women working on the project to network through organised events, such as the popular Christmas in July. We

Jess Holmes, Gina Stapp, Patricia Tahitahi, Sarah Hosking, Jo Bradshaw and Kirby Bentley at the International Women’s Day 2021 event

also facilitate the participation of women in external networking events organised by other associations, such as the NAWIC Awards for Excellence, as well as various other industry events.

OUR CURRENT MEMBERS

The Committee is integrated for a diverse group of professionals that bring different perspectives and skills from industry to the table. Some of our current members are: Amy Dowel, a Construction Leader on the project who continues to support and lead the way for those around her. Amy was nominated for a NAWIC Award for Excellence in 2019 and is a hands-on leader for the CPBJH Joint Venture. Amy leads by example with a diverse construction team and encourages young female engineers to be their best. Nominated in 2020 for a NAWIC Award for

Excellence, Elizabeth De Castro provides leadership and support within the Committee, demonstrating a continuous commitment to the development of Committee initiatives. She is always looking for ways to support and recognise women within her team. As an experienced Design Manager and mum of two, Elizabeth provides mentorship and guidance to younger engineers who are thinking of starting a family while developing their careers. Patricia Tahitahi is a Materials Coordinator for the project with over 15 years’ experience in the construction industry. She provides support to the blue-collar women and plays a key role as a conduit to the project and the Committee. Patricia received a Senior Leadership Recognition Award as one of the Top Ten Women in Thiess nationally as part of the female leadership group and is enthusiastic with regard to encouraging women to share their stories and support each other. Chloe Lewis is a Graduate Engineer, played a lead role in the NAWIC Awards for Excellence nominations in 2020 and has been an active Committee member. She recently challenged herself to interview Construction Director, Anthony Vavallo and Supervisor Henry Lui in an online event. Chloe didn’t shy away from the challenge, openly asking difficult questions to gain a better understanding of how we can all promote women in construction.

CREATING A LEGACY

The impact of the Committee has been far reaching with women that have left the project continuing to carry the flame and support and encourage women of all ages to strive to be their very best. Jane Ogilvie, one of the founding members of the Committee has now moved to the North Western Program Alliance, where they too have set up a Women’s Committee and have reached 26% female participation. The Committee is evidence that when targets are set and a platform is provided and supported by senior management, women are given a chance to thrive and reach their potential. There is still much to do in the construction industry to achieve gender equality, but initiatives like this are great steps in the right direction to improve access to the industry and to support the economic recovery of the nation.

The 2019 WGWIC Awards

we care + connect

Olivia Roy, Plant Operator & Leigh Turner, Senior Project Engineer, Symal Group