The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) Awards for Excellence have recognised over 40 infrastructure industry leaders and their projects and policy achievements in innovation, diversity and inclusion, with winners and finalists celebrated at the awards ceremony in Sydney.
The NAWIC Awards for Excellence is Australia’s largest awards program for women in construction and is hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction NSW Chapter.
More than 1,100 guests gathered at the ICC Ballroom in Sydney for the second time in 2022 – following a hiatus in 2021 – to celebrate 40 finalists in 13 categories.
NAWIC NSW President, Georgia Coulston, said the awards “applaud the hard work of women, men and organisations to make our industry more diverse and inclusive”.
Construction giant Laing O’Rourke was presented with the night’s most prestigious prize, the Lendlease Crystal Vision Award, for an equal parenting policy that provides six months’ leave on full pay regardless of gender.
“Laing O’Rourke is committed to a 50/50 balance between men and women by 2033,” Ms Coulston said.
“Achieving this ambition demands a suite of innovative policies, and this industry-first approach will help Laing O’Rourke to improve gender balance while attracting and retaining the top talent.”
Transport for New South Wales picked up three awards, with Deanne Forrest, Ashma Husna and Vivien Murnane applauded for their work on nation-building infrastructure projects.
“The New South Wales Government is delivering the largest transport infrastructure program in Australia’s history and is using this opportunity to not only shape our cities, but to also create a stronger and more diverse workforce,” Ms Coulston said.
“The collaboration between client, contractor and subcontractor is essential to see true change and ensure a sustainable future for our industry.
Global Head of Design at Hassell, Liz Westgarth, was named Richard Crookes Business Woman of the Year.
Ms Coulston said Ms Westgarth is “passionate about the contributions that women make to design and is championing diversity to deliver creative design solutions that best reflect communities and drive systematic change”.
Full list of infrastructure award winners:
Ferrovial Project Manager of the Year Award
Winner: Ashma Husna, Transport for NSW
As Senior Project Manager on the $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway, Ashma Husna is expertly navigating the complexities of a challenging, high-traffic construction site. Her investment in relationships and proactive communication has accelerated construction timelines, while her commitment to team building has fostered a collaborative culture so one of Australia’s most complex projects is delivered on time and budget.
Roberts Co Award for Contribution to a Project’s Development
Winner: Deanne Forrest, Transport for NSW
As the Project Director on the $2 billion M12 motorway, Deanne Forrest is passionate about delivering infrastructure projects that are sympathetic to the local environment, heritage and community. Balancing commerciality with big picture thinking, Deanne embraced innovative project management approaches, elevated engagement with Indigenous people and prioritised community needs by relocating, rather than closing, a popular bike trail.
John Holland Award for Team Innovation
Winner: Roberts Co, Health Infrastructure NSW and University of NSW
When Roberts Co bid for the Concord Hospital Redevelopment Project it challenged the status quo with a five-day work week. Health Infrastructure NSW was on board and a partnership with University of New South Wales was formed to study the impact. ‘Project 5: A Weekend for Every Worker’ identified improvements to work-life balance, work hours and job security, and its evidence-based approach makes a strong case for change.
ADCO Champion of Change
Winner: Steve Kiddle, John Holland
Described as a “force of nature” by his colleagues, Steve Kiddle is Construction Director on the $4.9 billion Rozelle Interchange Project. Steve’s commitment to diversity is multi-faceted. Among his 51 Women in Construction ‘pledges’, Steve has collaborated with subcontractors to create employment opportunities for female tradespeople, championed flexibility, mentored female engineers, developed a school STEM outreach program and introduced unconscious bias training.
Ms Coulston said Mr Kiddie faced complex engineering challenges every day, and worked with his team to innovate and push boundaries to overcome them.
“He has applied the same approach to diversity with a genuine commitment to create an inclusive environment for all,” Ms Coulston said.
Acoustic Logic Regional Woman of the Year
Winner: Vivien Murnane, Transport for NSW
Wollongong-based Vivien Murnane balances strong technical skills with innovative thinking to deliver infrastructure that enhances connectivity, builds community and respects local heritage. The $258 million Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project, for instance, involved complex deconstruction in a sensitive marine park. Vivien developed new technical requirements for projects over navigable waters that are now being used across New South Wales.
“We applaud the leaders and innovators who have stepped up their efforts over the last year to enhance inclusion, flexibility and wellbeing across countless companies and to demonstrate why a diverse construction industry is in the best interests of our entire nation,” Ms Coulston said.
Feature image: NAWIC NSW Awards for Excellence 2022 – 24 November 2022 – celebrations. Image: NAWIC
