Good evening.
It is an absolute pleasure to be here celebrating our NSW Awards for Excellence in our 30th Anniversary Year.
How fortunate are we to be gathering on Gadigal land – land so full of rich culture – specifically First Nations culture – the oldest living culture on the planet.
In this milestone year, we have been reflecting on how NAWIC started, where we’ve been and where we are going. And I encourage you to view our 30th Anniversary Video which gives insights into the past and the future of women in construction.
And the future is both bright, and challenging.
The reason NAWIC is focused on driving culture change is we know culture is integral to achieving Gender Equity. We need an equitable construction industry for all. One that is fair, inclusive and respectful, where everyone can thrive.
And creating that vision is not a role for women alone.
In fact, the challenges women face are not women’s issues at all. They are sector issues. Societal issues. Structural and systemic issues. And we all own both the responsibility and the potential to solve them.
What really excites me is the potential to continue to build on NAWIC’s legacy, and to work more closely with men across the sector as a driving force for further change.
In that vein, this year we kicked off our Allyship in Action Project – Transforming culture to attract and retain women. Federally funded, and developed in collaboration with industry partners, ADCO, CPB Contractors, AWU and Holmesglen Institute, Allyship in Action features 4 key programs:
- Male Allyship – working with men around the role they can play in shifting the dial.
- Site-based Allyship – developing a globally leading, site-first program, to meet the specific needs of men in site-based environments.
- Sponsorship – upskilling men on the next step to male allyship, and pairing them with 4-6 women to actively serve as sponsors of women’s career success.
- Cultural Ambassadorship – working with men, women and non-binary people to create a collaboration of upstanders – who are confident and competent to drive positive change, on the ground, every day.
There is something in this project for everyone. In every role, workplace and market segment. We are developing it and rolling it out nationally. So, there is lots to come!
I’d like to touch on the importance of the Male Allyship and Sponsorship.
- Men make up 96.6% of trades and almost 88% of the sector overall. On numbers alone, we can’t achieve all the sector can be without men joining us to tackle poor behaviours.
- But its more than that – True progress requires engaging men not just as supporters but as stakeholders who benefit from, and are essential to, creating more equitable workplaces.
The need for male allyship is clear:
- Men in allyship programs are 3 x more likely to advance GE.
- Almost 70% of women want men more involved in GE initiatives.
- GE initiatives are most effective when men are actively involved as allies and champions.
- Women with male allies are 70% more likely to advance in their careers.
- AU Construction: Women with male sponsors are more likely to be promoted/advance career.
It is imperative that we call men in – and work together to embed positive change so it sticks.
So, I’m delighted to be celebrating the ADCO Male Champion of Change Award tonight, recognising the considerable allyship and sponsorship happening across the sector. The more we highlight and celebrate those stepping up in this space, the greater the wave of change.
Getting culture right doesn’t just make a difference for women, and all genders; it is essential to unlocking the potential of our sector.
I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.
Thank you