Our winning women

The annual awards of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) recognise inspirational women who play a crucial role in influencing our traditionally male-dominated industry.

Laing O’Rourke's Australia Hub has been a long-term supporter of NAWIC, and the business is immensely proud of this year’s unprecedented number of winners and finalists.

The awards are a rare opportunity to celebrate the women of our industry who work tirelessly to challenge and change the construction sector, something that has always resonated with Laing O’Rourke’s own longstanding mission.

In the Northern Territory, Laing O’Rourke took out three of the possible six NAWIC awards at this year's ceremony held at Darwin’s Parliament House.

Hayley Gilmore (pictured above) took out the premiere Crystal Vision Award (NT). Hayley is a well-respected senior leader in the commercial team in our Northern Region and has dedicated herself to the promotion and advancement of female colleagues, acting as a mentor for other women in the business. 

Julie Memis was the winner of the award for Achievement as a Business Woman, while Hema Thachnamurthy was also a finalist in this category. 

Diane Frey was named winner of the award for Achievement in the Construction Industry by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Woman, and Kristina Saunders was a finalist in the Achievement in Safety, Health and Environment category.

At the NSW awards, Emma Gibson (below) was awarded the Global Integrated Solutions Tradespersons Scholarship. 19-year old Emma is an apprentice fitter machinist who spends her days maintaining some of our most significant pieces of specialist rail plant.

Laing O’Rourke’s all-female, Sydney-based Proposals Team and Hub Sustainability Leader Hollie Mapson were also vying for top awards at the NSW Event.

In Queensland, Digital Engineer Sofia Castillo took home the award for Achievement in Design, recognising her delivery of engineering innovation, and responding effectively to the client brief.

In Western Australia, Elaine Parker won the Social Responsibility in Construction Award for her ongoing contribution to the morale of her remote project team and to the wider Pilbara community. Elaine leads regular charity and volunteering events that have made a significant impact on regional communities.

Also in WA, Jackie Aggett – our Head of Procurement for the Australia Hub – was in the running for the Crystal Vision Award while Wheatstone Project Trainee Safety Advisor Tieralee Johns was nominated for the Young Achiever Award.

Our NAWIC award winners, finalists and nominees this year span across the business from our senior management ranks to some outstanding trainees and graduates – and we congratulate them all.

We can only truly build the strongest team, if we have the strongest mix of people in it. Our industry has been slow to act on diversity, but for a sustainable future we must all commit to changing the landscape.