National Awards for Excellence winners Diana Quiceno (top left), Laing O’Rourke, Jack Batty and The GO Company.
Congratulations to the winners of the National Association of Women in Construction’s National Awards for Excellence announced online on 13 April from an outstanding field of 55 nominees and 24 finalists.
The national awards celebrate the excellence and innovation of women, organisations and male allies in construction across four categories – the Crystal Vision Award, the Business Award, the Presidents’ Choice Award and the Male Ally Award.
Crystal Vision Award winners from chapter awards are finalists in the national category, chapter presidents select a standout individual from their respective awards to be entered into the National Presidents’ Choice Award category, and winners in the remaining two categories are selected from public nominations. The award winners are:
- National Crystal Vision Award — The GO Company (Tasmania - Jasmyn Smith and Logan Barnett). This award recognises advocacy, empowerment and championing of women in the construction industry. Co-founded by electricians Jasmyn and Logan, The GO Company is dedicated to supporting women in underserved industries by providing essential sanitary solutions. Throughout their careers, Jasmyn and Logan have experienced firsthand the barriers women face on worksites, from lack of representation and mentorship to practical challenges such as access to appropriate facilities and hygiene products. Rather than accepting these issues as “part of the job”, they chose to turn lived experience into meaningful action. They are also advocates for stronger regulation and enforcement around access to toilets on worksites and promote the concept that women’s hygiene facilities should be treated as essential safety infrastructure. They are driving real change to unblock barriers for women in the construction industry.
- National Presidents’ Choice Award — Diana Quiceno (BLD Engineers Victoria). This award recognises overall outstanding achievement in the construction industry. As Founder and Director of BLD Engineers, Diana has built a commercially sustainable consultancy delivering project management and engineering services across energy, rail, transport, road, and airport infrastructure. She leads by example, creating a workplace culture based on respect, capability, and opportunity where she actively mentors women and migrant engineers, providing guidance, confidence-building, and practical support to help them succeed. Her inclusive leadership and long-term vision are driving lasting industry impact through structured workforce pathways, mentoring and training, and a strong commitment to embedding gender equity and capability building.
- National Business Award — Laing O’Rourke (NSW). This award recognises businesses driving positive change to foster and support greater gender balance and equity in the construction industry. Laing O’Rourke is committed to accelerating gender equality through targeted, measurable and industry‑leading initiatives that directly address the persistent gender imbalance faced by the construction sector. Over the past six years, this transformation has been supported by robust data, transparent reporting, and a shift from isolated initiatives to systemic reform embedded within business strategy - increased female representation, promotions, and senior leadership participation, supported by industry-leading policies such as gender-neutral parental leave and investment in early talent through the Inspiring STEM+ program. In 2019, only 25.6% of the workforce was female, 25% of promotions went to females, and females represented just 11% of senior managers. Today, 34.65% of employees are female (up 9.05%), 43.2% of promotions in 2025 were awarded to females (up 18.2%), and females now comprise 26% of senior managers (up 15%).
- National Male Ally Award — Jack Batty (ACT). This award recognises men in the construction industry who actively champion gender equity and diversity by taking meaningful actions that foster inclusivity. Jack is a proactive ally and mentor. He champions inclusivity not as an aspiration but as a daily practice in his role with John Holland and with NAWIC. For Jack, being a male ally means using his position and influence to actively support, advocate for, and create opportunities for women in construction. He also recognises that diversity extends beyond gender and is a vocal advocate for intersectionality, championing initiatives that support First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ colleagues, and other underrepresented groups in construction. Since receiving the ACT NAWIC Male Ally of the Year award in 2025, Jack has actively pursued opportunities to further develop his skills and understanding as an ally. He is an active mentor through NAWIC and within his own team, reinforcing that policies and practices must reflect genuine inclusivity, not just compliance.
NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville said the awards honour the outstanding achievements of the visionaries, the collaborators, and the trailblazers who continue to shape a positive and inclusive future for the construction industry.
“Congratulations to our winners and finalists, your exceptional work and commitment is helping to drive the culture change needed to achieve gender equity across the construction sector,” she said.
“Our Awards for Excellence recognise the people and organisations who are building and living that culture change across the country.
“The achievements of our winners demonstrate the amazing results that come from prioritising a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect to create environments where everyone feels valued and able to succeed.”
For more information about the national awards visit https://www.nawic.com.au/Site/Awards/National _Awards.aspx