MELONAE THOMAS PROJECT MANAGER, LENDLEASE
BEST WOMAN PROJECT MANAGER 2016 WINNER
T
he first thing I did after hearing the news that I had been selected as a finalist was to burst into smiles and then shared the great news with those in my team and the colleagues who had supported my nomination. It is an amazing achievement to have won Best Female Project Manager and I feel incredibly proud and honoured given the high calibre of all the other nominees. The award is a fantastic recognition of my excellence, determination and passion whilst working with the best site teams and Clients in
92
the industry. I hope my winning this award will help to inspire women across my company as well as the young women I mentor to have a “can do” attitude and to make the most of their opportunities. I intend to use the profile generated by this award to encourage more people to become Construction Ambassadors and intend to raise the bar in advocating the importance of investing in the future of the junior female colleagues within my business. It’s been an absolutely enjoyable experience being part of the WICE event. I have made a few friends
The European Women In Construction & Engineering Awards | MAY 2016
and the experience was a strong reminder of the many fiercely strong, talented and inspirational women successfully delivering across the industry. I am sure Lendlease will be celebrating the top female talent we have across our business with nominations again next year. Women are hugely underrepresented on construction sites and hopefully balance may be gained by elevating and showcasing the exemplar talent of women in the industry. Advice for companies considering nominations in 2017? Just do it!