Lendlease Crystal Vision Award Winner: Natalie Haydon
Affectionately known as ‘Hard Hat Nat,’ Natalie Haydon developed the Jump Start Juniors – Multiplex | LEGO Australia Learn to Build program, inspiring primary school students to explore careers in construction while promoting female leadership through LEGO© and role modelling. During her 13 years with Multiplex, Natalie has balanced site-based roles and parenting. As Design Manager on the $1.9 billion Western Sydney International Airport project, Natalie is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for women to thrive.
Richard Crookes Business Woman of the Year Award Winner: Sianne Bennett
As Head of Human Resources at Gamuda Australia, Sianne Bennett has expanded the team from 10 to over 750 employees, achieving a remarkable $1.2 billion in revenue within five years. Her dedication to diversity and inclusion has resulted in a 30% female workforce and a 65% female graduate participation rate. Sianne played a key role in acquiring DT Infrastructure, diversifying the business and enhancing the company’s renewable energy capabilities.
MPA Award for Achievement in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout Winner: Brie Ranchhod
Design Manager with Kane Constructions, Brie Ranchhod led refurbishment works at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. By managing multiple design teams and concurrent milestones, Brie accelerated the program and minimised disruptions. Her meticulous safety and design management ensured timely issue resolution and seamless project execution within a live hospital environment. As a leader of NSW Kane’s Women in Construction team, Brie actively mentors female colleagues and champions diversity within the construction industry.
CPB Contractors Award for Contribution to Sustainability Winner: Robyn Simpson
As the National Manager – Environment and Sustainability at Coates, Robyn Simpson is spearheading strategies that minimise emissions and embodied carbon. Among Robyn’s achievements, she led the implementation of data visibility systems across 145 Coates branches, enabling trend analysis to pinpoint sustainability priorities. With this insight, solar panels were installed across 26 branches, and Coates uses almost 70% of the solar energy generated. Robyn’s hands-on leadership has inspired a movement towards sustainable practices at Coates.
Scentre Group Award for Team Innovation Winner: Lendlease Workforce Participation Team
The Lendlease Female Apprentice Development and Peer Networking Program was developed to increase engagement and trade completion rates, and to build a robust network for future female tradespeople. Designed by apprentices for apprentices, the program offers coaching and professional development typically reserved leaders, alongside access to a growing peer network. Lendlease has expanded the initiative to industry partners, and will soon include male apprentices, fostering allies and creating a more inclusive site culture.
Hassell Award for Innovation in Design Winner: Afrida Salma
To minimise disruption during construction of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade, CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors Design Engineer Afrida Salma developed an innovative slotted drain system that improved drainage while reducing excavation and construction time. Collaborating with principal designers, the construction team and Transport for New South Wales, Afrida created a solution that lowered the project’s carbon footprint, improved performance and enhanced air quality, benefitting both workers and nearby residents.
Ferrovial Project Manager of the Year Award Winner: Melanie Bowden
As Project Director of the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre project in Dubbo, CPB Contractors’ Melanie Bowden has fostered a welcoming workplace for women, surpassing the national average for female representation in construction and exceeding NSW Aboriginal Procurement Policy targets. Through effective communication and team restructuring, Melanie reduced turnover and significantly improved morale. Under her guidance, the project achieved a ‘Leading’ Design rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, demonstrating the real-world impact of Melanie’s leadership.
Roberts Co Award for Contribution to a Project’s Development Winner: Carinne Watson
Leveraging her clinical background, CPB Contractors’ Health Facility Planner Carinne Watson proposed an alternative staging strategy for the Royal Prince Alfred hospital redevelopment. Carinne’s approach reduced clinical decants – where patients are temporarily moved during construction activities – from eight to one, saving 12 months on the program and $10 million in costs, while ensuring uninterrupted patient care. Carinne’s innovative approach also minimised concurrent work sites, enhancing safety and reducing staff fatigue.
Laing O’Rourke Future Leader Scholarship Winner: Lufeng Zhang
A chartered civil and environmental engineer, Lufeng Zhang has demonstrated ingenuity and technical acumen in her work for Laing O’Rourke on Sydney Metro projects. Lufeng also helped to redesign procurement processes to enable greater local supplier participation in bushfire recovery construction. A mentor and role model for young women in construction, particularly from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Lufeng has delivered engaging sessions on digital innovation and STEM to high school students.
Transport for NSW Tradesperson Scholarship Winners: Jordyn Allan
Her family’s construction business and a love of tools led her to a carpentry apprenticeship, but Jordyn Allan's career took a turn when she discovered Gamuda’s Tunnelling Pre-Employment Program. Relocating from Goulburn to Sydney, Jordyn was the youngest in her cohort. Inspired by the program’s personalised support, Jordyn is now pursuing a Certificate III in Electrotechnology, confidently paving her way in the electrical trade and inspiring other women to follow.
John Holland University Scholarship Winner: Imandee Jayawardena
Exemplifying determination and tenacity, Imandee Jayawardena overcame cultural and gender barriers in Sri Lanka and Australia to forge a rewarding construction career. After 45 unsuccessful job applications to Australian construction companies, Imandee boldly visited a potential employer’s head office to showcase her commitment. Her perseverance paid off, and Imandee is now an Assistant Quantity Surveyor with MBM while pursuing a Bachelor of Construction Management at Western Sydney University.
ADCO Champion of Change Winner: Greg Anderson
As Alliance Manager on the Mulgoa Road Upgrade Alliance, Greg Anderson achieved 31% female representation by embracing a holistic and authentic approach to diversity and inclusion. Greg piloted the Construction Industry Cultural Standard, prioritising flexibility, wellbeing and diversity, and created the ‘My Time’ flexible work program, now being embedded into all Seymour Whyte projects. Greg mentors women and actively engages high school students to inspire the next generation of female leaders and create lasting change.
Regional Woman of the Year Award Winner: Eliza Blight
As ADCO’s Project Engineer on the Griffith Base Hospital, Eliza Blight led the successful delivery of the façade package. Eliza expertly managed design clashes and material delays, ensuring the building was sealed and watertight so other trades could progress swiftly and recover lost time. Eliza’s expertise contributed to the building’s aesthetic appeal and long-term functionality. With an enduring commitment to her industry, Eliza also actively mentors other rising stars and inspires schoolgirls to embrace construction careers.
Congratulations to winners, finalists and nominees.