An exclusive look at what’s making waves in the construction, architecture and infrastructure industries.

The face of construction is constantly evolving, and the surge of women to the sector is now reflected in events like Women in Construction at this year’s Sydney Build Expo. We explore what the event is all about, and speak to a leader in the space about what’s next for women in the construction industry.

Back for its fourth consecutive year in 2021, Women in Construction (24 November) is a chance for professionals and students to come together and share their interests in construction, architecture, engineering and more.

The panel event is free to attend (register for your free tickets here) and will explore the challenges currently facing women in the industry, what untapped opportunities are on the horizon, and the changes that need to occur for greater gender equity.

An ambassador for this year’s event – Elinor Moshe, founder of The Construction Coach – spoke to inSITE about the upcoming event, how women are being empowered in the construction sector, and the effect the past 12 months has had on women in the industry.

“After the pandemic struck, we saw that some companies were able to respond to the externalities of the situation really quickly,” she says. “They were able to take extreme ownership over the situation and pivot.”

Others, however, weren’t so well-equipped to handle the challenges that the industry threw at them. Whether they didn’t possess the right mindset or the right skill set, Moshe says they weren’t able to identify and capitalise on the opportunities.

“COVID-19 didn’t cause any of the issues that businesses and professionals found themselves in – it just exposed them. It was the trigger.

“So the question now is: who will adapt and be in a better place to deal with these challenges the next time they come around, and who will find themselves at the behest of the industry because they were complacent about their career or their business?”

For Moshe, whether an individual or a company can ride out severe storms like COVID-19 ultimately comes down to who’s in charge.

“Genuinely I find that the industry has a leadership crisis. It all starts and ends with leadership,” she says.

“Most people don’t want to stand out because they fear criticism, they fear not being liked by everyone. But that’s not leadership. Leadership can be polarising, and sometimes it has to be in order to construct massive change and really shift how the industry is operating and working.”

Elinor Moshe, founder of The Construction Coach

Recently, Moshe says she’s seen a number of women in construction who are willing to disrupt – to stand out from the traditional leadership style. Empowering women like Alison Mirams (CEO, Roberts Pizzarotti), Sarah Slattery (Managing Director, Slattery), Davina Rooney (CEO, Green Building Council Australia), and Mel Gholami (Founder & Managing Director, Plantix Projects) are not only “exemplary in what they’re doing for the industry, but also leading companies that are the way of the future,” Moshe says.

This year’s Women in Construction event is only one part of the two-day Sydney Build Expo 2021 (23–24 November). Bringing together Australia’s top built-environment experts, industry businesses and vendors, the event will showcase the latest in equipment, innovations and developments across Australia’s construction, architecture and infrastructure industries.

Find out more about what’s on at Sydney Build Expo 2021 here.