Women in construction ambassadors called to unite for Sydney Build Expo 2020

Female ambassadors and industry professionals are poised to gather at Australia's leading construction, design and infrastructure expo.

Australia's leading construction, design and infrastructure expo, Sydney Build, is set to host its largest Women in Construction Summit, with an impressive line-up of female ambassadors and industry professionals poised to gather at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney's Darling Harbour this March.

Over 1,000 women are expected at the free-to-attend summit on March 20, with presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities taking place on the Sydney Build 2020 main stage.

Now in its fourth year, the annual Women in Construction Summit is designed to connect and inspire a traditionally under-represented demographic in the built environment industry, by presenting opportunities for female professionals and students interested in construction, architecture, engineering and design, to progress in their chosen field.

Notable panellists, including Jo Withford (Project/Contract Manager for Transport NSW), Debora Silva (Assistant Project Manager at Currie & Brown, Australia) and Emrana Skider (Architect and Associate at Architectus) will address pertinent subjects such as 'Empowering Women in Construction', 'Building WOMEN, not just HOUSES' and 'Breaking through the glass celiling', as well as the topical issue of the gender pay gap.

Afterwards, the Women in Construction networking event will give professionals and students across all industry sectors, including architecture and urban design, project management, property development, marketing, engineering and construction, the opportunity to connect and grow their industry networks in a supportive environment. 

Dominique Gill, Managing Director at Urban Fitouts, mother of three and Sydney Build 2020 speaker, is excited to be involved in the WIC Summit this year.

"In 2016, I took the leap from my role as Project Manager at a major construction firm to make it on my own with Urban Fitouts – challenging the notion that the construction industry is a man's world – and I'm proud to say that we now boast a team of 12 full-time staff," said Mrs Gill.

"What I love about the Women in Construction Summit at Sydney Build is the sense of camaraderie and motivation you get from being surrounded by extremely successful, professional women who wear many hats.

"We're in this together, challenging each other to take our careers to the next level – it's definitely a support network I could've used when first starting out – so I'd encourage any woman in the industry to get involved."

Becoming a Women in Construction Ambassador is free, and applications can be completed via the Sydney Build 2020 website.

To register for free tickets and to find out more, visit www.sydneybuildexpo.com/wic