Lendlease Crystal Vision Award Winner: Coates
In just two years, Coates has transformed its hiring practices, introduced flexible working, revised parental leave, undertaken extensive training and created programs to support emerging female leaders. Consequently, Coates has increased its female representation and 22% of the team are women. This systematic and holistic approach has been led by CEO Murray Vitlich, who brings his personal passion to gender diversity initiatives, but the judges chose Coates because its entire executive team are vocal advocates and champions of change.
Richard Crookes Business Woman of the Year Award Winner: Cate Cowlishaw, HDR
Regional Managing Principal and Vice President of design practice HDR, Cate Cowlishaw is a passionate and proactive advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. Under Cate's leadership, HDR has increased its parental leave provisions and achieved 50/50 gender balance across its leadership teams, while delivering strong financial results and strengthening client relationships. Cate’s influence extends beyond HDR, and she chairs the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Gender Equity Taskforce.
MPA Award for Achievement in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout Winner: Lilian Ghan, Johnstaff
A skilled construction professional with more than 15 years’ experience in complex projects, Lilian Ghan was the project director for the upgrades of two public schools in Sydney’s Chatswood. Engaged from business case inception to final handover, Lilian worked carefully with a range of stakeholders to ensure more than 3,200 students could continue to learn onsite during the construction program.
CPB Contractors Award for Contribution to Sustainability Winner: Emma Kline, CPB Contractors
Emma Kline manages a team of 13 professionals and is responsibility for sustainability on the $1.8 billion Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport station boxes and tunnelling project. Emma developed a technical, first-of-its-kind process to eliminate the risk of workers coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater during tunnel boring and construction. The process elevated safety and eliminated large volumes of personal protective equipment ending in landfill.
Scentre Group Award for Team Innovation Winner: John Holland NSW Submissions Team
The largest in-house construction contractor submission team in the state, John Holland’s NSW Submissions Team is 80% female. Challenging construction industry standards by adopting flexible work hours, locations and roles, the highly skilled team has eliminated long hours and bid burnout. The commitment to building a modern workplace that prioritises wellbeing has resulted in a near 100% retention rate and a 100% shortlisting rate on bids in 2022.
Hassell Award for Innovation in Design Winner: Jane Joubert, Aurecon
A fixed budget and a hard deadline for delivery were big challenges for the Allianz Stadium project team. As a lead structural engineer, Jane Joubert developed digital workflows that fast-tracked the construction program and resulted in a lighter, more efficient stadium. The implementation of her design tools, among other key initiatives from the design team, meant Allianz Stadium was designed to achieve a LEED-certified Gold rating from the US Green Building Council.
Ferrovial Project Manager of the Year Award Winner: Kylie Bryan, Essence Project Management
As the project manager on Sydney’s six-star Capella Hotel, Kylie Bryan led the preservation and revitalisation of a landmark heritage building. Navigating complex statutory, stakeholder and cost constraints – including 20 state design review panels – with an internationally-based client during COVID, Kylie demonstrated exceptional stakeholder management. The result is a reimagining of a golden sandstone icon that has been named among the best hotels in the world.
Roberts Co Award for Contribution to a Project’s Development Winner: Asuncion Ivorra, PRO Consultant
When Asuncion Ivorra joined the Sydney Metro team as Utilities Project Manager in 2021, the project's design was already approved. After reviewing the bollards design, Asuncion identified around 200 potential clashes. Asuncion skilfully chaired 48 weekly clash analysis workshops over a year. With patience, persistence, a commitment to collaboration and out-of-the-box solutions, Asuncion successfully managed the clash resolution process without causing delays to the construction program.
Laing O’Rourke Future Leader Scholarship Winner: Kate Leone, UGL
A mechanical and mechatronics engineer, Kate Leone has already been recognised for her work on the M6 Motorway Stage 1 project. Passionate about improving the world through engineering, Kate contributes to several not-for-profits, including Engineers without Borders, Unbound Australia and RedR, and mentors engineering students. Her voluntary work and STEM advocacy has delivered innovative solutions to real-world engineering challenges, demonstrating her ability to effect change ‘beyond the day job’.
Transport for NSW Tradesperson Scholarship Winners: Samantha Decolongon, Fredon
An electrical apprentice with engineering firm Fredon, Samantha Decolongon met with skepticism when she made her unconventional career choice. But Samantha’s genuine passion for construction has, in her own words, built her “confidence and courage”. Samantha is now an ambassador for women in trades, and her involvement in the Girls in Trade Program is inspiring other young women to pursue rewarding careers.
Transport for NSW Tradesperson Scholarship Winners: Stacey Swetnam, Harrison’s Landscaping
After finishing her professional sporting career as a show jumping rider, Stacey Swetnam set up a successful garden maintenance business and then, with a desire to create landscapes rather than maintain them, signed on as a mature age apprentice in landscape construction. She is now inspired to “be the best tradeswoman I can be” and to empower other women to choose trades.
John Holland University Scholarship Winner: Hayley Sansom, Daracon Group
Hayley is a current Trainee Engineer at Daracon Group and Bachelor of Construction Management student at the University of Newcastle, on track to graduate with first class honours – something only achieved by the top 5% of students. Before getting her start in construction as a Traffic Controller, Hayley worked in a fly-in-fly-out Machine Operator role, which is what led her to further education, to try and bridge the gap between Operators and Site Engineers. Now working full-time with Daracon Group’s Property Division, she balances full-time work and study commitments to the highest level. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Hayley hopes to pursue a PhD in sustainable development to help future proof the Civil Construction industry.
ADCO Champion of Change Winner: David Madden, MBM
Since founding MBM in 2002, David Madden has grown the quantity surveying and advisory firm to its current 150-strong team, 40% of those women. David has a deep and abiding personal commitment to gender equality, which he has embedded into company priorities. He role models respectful behaviour, promotes an inclusive culture, and celebrates all diversity. The judges chose David from a close field for demonstrating that small organisations can achieve impressive diversity outcomes, despite their smaller budgets, when hands-on leaders champion change.
Acoustic Logic Regional Woman of the Year Award Winner: Ashley Barnes, Richard Crookes Construction
A true trailblazer in the Hunter and New England region, Ashley Barnes is known for delivering projects that combine technical brilliance with innovation, as seen in the delivery of the $109 million East End Stage 1 and heritage-listed QT Hotel in Newcastle. Ashley is also a strong advocate for gender equity and has volunteered as a mentor to female high school students considering careers in property and construction.