Women achievers from the Australian construction industry were honoured at the 20th anniversary of the annual NAWIC Awards for Excellence held recently at The Star in Sydney.

Hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) NSW Chapter, the 2016 awards attracted a record number of entries across 11 categories with inspiring women and innovative companies from the construction industry recognised by their peers for their achievements.

NAWIC’s NSW Chapter President, Sarah Hogan explains that the NAWIC Awards for Excellence celebrate both rising female stars and recognised leaders from across the industry, as well as companies supporting and guiding female talent. Winners were selected by a panel of industry experts based on strict award criteria.

Laura Durkan, Head of Human Resources at construction, refurbishment and fitout specialist at Richard Crookes, was presented with the WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Business Woman of the Year Award.

According to Hogan, Durkan faced significant challenges as Richard Crookes evolved from a small family business into a competitive, established name. The judges were impressed with Durkan’s ability to create a successful learning and development function within her company, and with the positive impact she has made on the entire business.

Hilti Australia, a manufacturer of specialised tools for the construction industry, won the Lendlease Crystal Vision Award for Advancing the Interests of Women in the Construction Industry. Hilti won the award for unique strategies implemented by the firm to ensure a dedicated diversity and inclusion team focused on four key areas: flexible work arrangements; developing women for leadership roles; recruitment practices; and establishing external partnerships to raise awareness.

These strategies have driven an increase in female applications for employment with Hilti from 10 to 15 per cent in the last 12 months alone.Hogan adds that 30 per cent of Hilti’s executive management team is female.

PROBUILD TRADESPERSON SCHOLARSHIP

WINNER

Bonnie Marcus, Ferris Building

MERIT

  • Sonia Morgenweck, Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION & CLINTON RECRUITMENT AWARD FOR TEAM INNOVATION

WINNER

Jacobs, for consistent team work on multiple health infrastructure projects

MERIT 

  • Telstra Property, Davenport Campbell & Partners and Lendlease, for the 400 George Street project

BROOKFIELD SCHOLARSHIP FOR FUTURE LEADERS

WINNER

Rodanthe-Marie Butler, Brookfield Multiplex

MERIT 

  • Jane Moran, Aurecon
  • Penny Campbell, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff

STOCKLAND AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN DESIGN

WINNER

Emma Favretto, Probuild Constructions

CBRE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

WINNER

Natalie Galea, a PhD student at the University of New South Wales

MERIT

  • Vanessa Yee Lu, a Bachelor of Civil Engineering student at the University of New South Wales

HASSELL AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO A PROJECT’S DEVELOPMENT

WINNER

Kimberley Jackson, Lendlease, for Tower Three at Barangaroo South

ACOUSTIC LOGIC AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABILITY

WINNER

Davina Rooney, National Sustainability Manager, Stockland

MERIT

  • Lucy Sharman, Eco-concierge at Barangaroo South, Lendlease

MPA AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION, REFURBISHMENT AND FIT OUT

WINNER 

Joanna Lees, Lendlease, for her work on Lendlease’s new workplace at Barangaroo

BUILT PROJECT MANAGER AWARD

WINNER

Samantha McWilliam, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, for Sydney Metro City and Southwest

MERIT

  • Shivani Naidoo, APP, for the Westpac national retail rollout