Congratulations to CPB Contractors Project Manager Isolde Piet, for taking out the coveted Excellence in Construction category at the 2025 Women in Industry Awards!
Held in Melbourne on June 19, the Women in Industry Awards acknowledge the exceptional women who have achieved success through their invaluable leadership, innovation and commitment to their sector.
Isolde Piet has been breaking new ground for women in the construction industry ever since she became the first female tunnel boring machine (TBM) pilot in the world more than 20 years ago. She began her career in the civil construction industry more than 20 years ago and has worked across the globe, including in the Netherlands, Turkey and more recently in Australia.
From her first postgraduate role, working on the Groene Hart Tunnel in the Netherlands, Isolde demonstrated her exceptional technical skills and determination. By challenging pervasive gender stereotypes through her professionalism and persistence, Isolde went on to become the world’s first female tunnel boring machine pilot.
As a champion for women already in the construction industry and an advocate for encouraging more to the sector, Isolde is leading the construction of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, and all of Suburban Connect’s eight tunnelling crews – including the world’s first all-women TBM crew.
After an expression of interest was launched last year, the all-women TBM crew attracted almost 900 applicants, including more than 100 without any previous construction experience.
Isolde has acted as a technical adviser throughout recruitment and leads efforts to help the project support women without construction experience to embark on construction careers. She will oversee a comprehensive training program for the all-women TBM crew, ensuring they’re ready to start tunnelling together in 2027.
Her astute leadership, motivation and advocacy effectively shifted dated cultural attitudes, paving the way for meaningful improvements for women on site, building their capabilities and nurturing their careers, and ensuring more inclusive environments with essential workplace amenities for women. Her early career accomplishments pushed boundaries to open more opportunities for women to help build major projects, while demonstrating the significant benefits of greater diversity.