As we honour the role of women in construction on International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, CPB Contractors is continuing its commitment to encouraging more women to enter the construction pipeline and build meaningful careers.
CPB Contractors Site Engineer Anushka Barman has already taken some big steps in her career and was recently promoted from graduate to a site engineer. Anushka says that being an engineer, whether female or male, is about innovation and adaption. “As engineers, we need to be able to adapt and devise new, innovative strategies every day.”
Encouraging more women like Anushka to thrive in a male-dominated industry is a key focus for CPB Contractors. Part of our efforts to address gender inequality and foster a more inclusive workplace has been to develop an organisation-wide and project-based Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) summarizing our diversity initiatives.
Kirsten Evans, Chair of CPB Contractors’ Women in Construction Committee, said these initiatives include developing women for leadership roles, with structured training, career plans and sponsorship from senior leaders for our top talent. She adds that a new mentoring program for the next level down has also been created.
“We’re also getting site facilities and PPE for women right; providing opportunities for women to connect; and building a STEM talent pipeline. We know we can’t rest on our laurels – we want to back our commitment up with concrete action,” she adds.
CPB Contractors’ efforts were recently recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for our commitment to gender equality across seven key focus areas: including mainstreaming flexible work, preventing harassment and discrimination, ensuring gender pay equity, and developing a gender balanced workforce.
“We’re committed to providing safe, inclusive and diverse workplaces with equal career opportunities and to creating a culture that recognises the unique value women bring to our business,” said Evans.