Swan Group Crystal Vision Award: Renee Nelson, Downer
With more than 20 years in engineering and infrastructure, Renee is not only a strategist driving major growth initiatives across WA and SA, she is also a courageous leader and advocate for cultural reform, inclusion, and gender equity in construction.
Her leadership is grounded in lived experience.
Often the only woman in the room, Renee has faced bias, exclusions and discrimination, but has used those experiences to fuel meaningful change.
She has built mentoring programs, supported women facing bullying and domestic violence, and influenced industry-wide behavioural standards.
Renee’s openness and advocacy have removed stigma around domestic violence and created trusted pathways of support, including the “First Responder” program for employees navigating sensitive issues.
Beyond her organisation, she now represents the industry of the WA Transport Portfolio’s Culture Working Group, helping to shape the state’s first charter on respectful workplace standards.
Through her mentoring, advocacy, and strategic influence, Renee is breaking barriers, lifting others, and creating lasting cultural change across Australia’s construction industry.
Stantec Diversity & Inclusion Award: IPS Track to Success, IPS Management Consultants
IPS Management Consultants, a proudly majority Aboriginal and female-owned business, are today being recognised for their pioneering ‘Track to Success’ program.
Developed in partnership with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the WA Department of Justice, this initiative is transforming lives by creating employment pathways for pre-release women prisoners into Western Australia’s construction and rail sectors.
In an industry facing critical skills shortages, Track to Success recognises an overlooked labour pool and provides participants with targeted training, life skills development, mentoring, and tailored post-release support.
What makes this initiative remarkable is its deliberate focus on women from a maximum-security facility - a first of its kind in Western Australia.
By breaking down systemic barriers, IPS has ensured women can access opportunities historically reserved for men. The first female cohort graduated earlier this year, with participants already securing jobs in rail infrastructure upon their release.
The program doesn’t just prepare participants, it prepares industry too. Employers receive supervisor training to build inclusive, culturally safe workplaces, ensuring long-term success for both employee and employer.
Track to Success demonstrates the power of collaboration between government, industry and community, and is setting a new standard for inclusive workforce development in WA’s construction sector.
Hassell Emerging Talent Award: Brianna Fretwell, Laing O'Rourke
Starting her journey as a trainee, Brianna stood out for her passion, professionalism, and ability to turn complex safety concepts into practical, everyday actions.
This has quickly progressed Brianna to the role of WHS Advisor, contributing to major projects like the Morley-Ellenbrook rail line and the Byford Rail Extension.
Brianna has already led initiatives that are changing the way the industry works.
She designed and developed a Respirable Crystalline Silica awareness training package that saw supply chain partners adopt stronger controls to protect worker health.
She also spearheaded a Project Governance Audit that achieved an outstanding 93% score, and worked with emergency services to improve on-site preparedness and response times.
But Brianna’s contribution doesn’t stop at technical excellence.
As a Master Trainer for Laing O’Rourke’s Inclusion and Wellbeing program, she has empowered over 470 construction workers, coaching them on psycho-social safety strategies to foster a culture of inclusion and wellbeing.
With her energy, leadership, and ability to inspire those around her, Brianna is not just an emerging talent, she’s a future leader who is already shaping the future of the industry.
ADCO Trainee, Apprentive or Student of the Year: Elizabeth Joy Leov, North Metropolitan TAFE
Elizabeth Joy Leov, widely known as Liz, is being recognised tonight as the Trainee, Apprentice or Student of the Year for her remarkable achievements and leadership as an apprentice plumber.
After a distinguished decade-long career as a paramedic, Liz made a courageous career change in 2023, bringing her dedication, resilience and passion for helping others into the plumbing industry.
Just two years into her new path, Liz has not only excelled in her own apprenticeship but has become a tireless advocate for women in trades.
She has been recognised with a scholarship at North Metropolitan TAFE, a Rheem Australia Apprentice Plumber Grant, and as a finalist in the NextGen Plumbing Apprentice of the Year Competition.
Liz’s impact goes beyond personal achievement.
She mentors and supports fellow apprentices, especially young women, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
She has launched platforms such as Female Plumbers Australia on Facebook and Perth/WA Plumbing Chicks on WhatsApp, providing safe spaces for networking, advice and role modelling.
Through school visits, workshops, industry events, and one-on-one guidance, Liz champions plumbing as a rewarding career, breaking down barriers and inspiring the next generation of women in trades.
Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to diversity make her an exceptional role model and deserving winner of this award.
CPB Contractors Business and Leadership Awad: Sidonie Cox,R ichmond (WA)
Sidonie is being recognised today with the Business and Leadership Award for her extraordinary role in driving cultural and operational transformation at Richmond’s construction division.
Since joining two and a half years ago, Sidonie has led a strategic vision to strengthen workplace culture, develop structured career pathways, and expand training opportunities for employees.
She established The Hub, a purpose built collaborative space that supports compliance, planning, training, and day-to-day operations, and has become the heart of Richmond’s construction division.
Through her leadership, apprentices and team members now have access to tailored development programs, cross-trade learning, and clearer career pathways.
Staff also benefit from structured pay increases, enhanced working conditions, and a stronger culture of engagement and inclusion.
Sidonie’s focus on people-first leadership has empowered employees to step up, speak up, and thrive.
Importantly, Sidonie also became Richmond’s first female C.O.O - setting a benchmark for diversity in leadership and inspiring future generations of women in the industry.
Her impact is profound; creating systems, opportunities, and a workplace culture that not only supports high performance - but fosters pride, connection and long-term growth for the entire team.
SHAPE Tradeswoman of the Year Award: Libby O'Brien, Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance
Libby O’Brien has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in traffic management on the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance Project.
Since joining in August 2023, Libby has overseen al traffic operations across a 7.5 kilometre inner-city site, managing complex closures, pedestrian access, and multiple subcontractors across day and night shifts.
Her calm, structured approach ensure safety, efficiency, and minimal disruption in one of Perth’s busiest and most high-pressure work environments.
Libby’s journey is inspired by her mother, a trailblazer in a male-dominated transport industry - and Libby has carried that legacy forward by challenging stereotypes and leading with confidence.
Beyond operational excellence, she mentors emerging leaders, including three team members who have progressed into Leading Hand roles.
She fosters a strong, values-driven culture through initiatives like the “Traffic Controller of the Month” program.
With over 2,000 road closure bookings, 185 pedestrian setups, and 597 days of on-site traffic controller deployment under her leadership, Libby has demonstrated not just technical skill but the ability to guide and inspire her team.
Her influence ensures public safety, supports cohesive teams, and drives the successful delivery of a complex, high-impact infrastructure project.
Libby exemplifies the power of leadership, expertise and mentorship, making her a standout tradeswoman and role model in the construction industry.
Built Creating the Best Projct Award: Angie Moore, South 32
Angie Moore has demonstrated exceptional leadership on the South32 Perth Workplace Project, known was P25.
As Workplace Transformation Lead, Angie drove a visionary approach that balanced people, purpose, and performance, embedding human, environmental, and operational priorities into every aspect of the 6,100 square metre office fit-out.
Angie led multi-channel engagement with stakeholders across all levels, translating their input into seven guiding project principles that shaped the workplace from concept to completion.
She designed the Operational Readiness process, involving the Facilities Management team early to ensure systems would perform seamlessly post-occupancy.
Her leadership extended to procurement, sustainability, wellness, and the workplace art program, creating a space that honours community, country, and connection to purpose.
Under Angie’s guidance - the project achieved outstanding outcomes:
90% of construction waste was diverted from landfill, over 200 tonnes of materials were repurposed, and more than 12,000 hours of apprentice and trainee learning were delivered on site.
The design features over 1,600 plants, biophilic strategies, and adaptable, low-toxicity systems - fostering wellbeing, comfort, and flexibility for the future.
Post-occupancy feedback highlights increased staff pride, engagement, and adaptability.
Through her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment, Angie has delivered a project that sets a new benchmark for innovation, sustainability, and people-focused design in the industry.
TBH Outstanding Achievement In Construction Cathriona Haverty, Tradie Pass
Cathriona “Katrina” is the Founder of Tradie Pass, a compliance and workforce platform built specifically for the construction industry.
With over 12 years of experience, starting FIFO as a cleaner before moving into safety, HR and mobilisation roles on major WA projects, Cathriona saw first-hand the challenges which tradies and companies faced – lost paperwork, expired licences, and manual systems that slowed people down and put safety at risk.
Determined to make change, Cathriona created Tradie Pass from the ground up, guiding every stage from conception to launch. Today, the platform supports more than 800 tradies and companies, giving workers a simple, one-click way to store and share licences, stay compliant, and connect with training providers.
Beyond compliance, Cathriona has built real values into the business.
Tradie Pass includes direct in-app access to free mental health counselling through TIACS – because, as she says, safety isn’t just physical.
Her leadership has delivered real impact, empowering tradies with control over their credentials, helping companies streamline recruitment and compliance, and creating a more connected, inclusive, and worker-first construction industry.
Lendlease Achievement in Health, Safety + Social Responsibility : Mairead Breen, FSC Civils
Mairead Breen is being recognised today with the Achievement in Health, Safety and Social Responsibility Award for her outstanding leadership at FSC Civils and on the Fremantle Bridge Alliance project.
As General Manager, Mairead spearheaded the Stronger Together program and Safe Assign system, transforming how psycho-social safety, wellbeing, and workforce allocation are approached in civil construction.
Mairead’s vision ensured that every employee’s voice is heard and valued.
She championed initiatives including peer-led forums, digital reporting platforms, structured training partnerships, and a video campaign featuring real employee experiences.
Through Safe Assign, she innovatively matched workers to tasks aligned with their capabilities, reducing stress and boosting confidence. Her leadership fostered a culture of inclusion, authenticity, and early support, empowering employees at all levels to take ownership of safety and wellbeing.
The results speak volumes: over 100 employees trained in mental health awareness, a 97% workforce satisfaction score, and a 68% reduction in Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate, with zero Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate recorded over 12 months.
Mairead also established storytelling campaigns, highlighting employee achievements and building pride across the business.
Through her strategic, human-centred approach, Mairead has created a scalable model for psycho-social safety that sets a new benchmark in the industry, embedding psychological safety as a core leadership value and leaving a lasting positive impact on her team, FSC Civils, and the wider construction sector.
Curtin University Excellence in Sustainability Award: Melissa Arias, Georgiou Group
Melissa is a Sustainability Manager at Georgiou Group, working on the Mandurah Estuary Bridge Duplication Project - where she oversees all sustainability aspects of the$148.8 million project.
With over a decade of experience, Melissa has played a key role in major infrastructure works across Western Australia and is now driving Georgious’s sustainability agenda to deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes.
On the Mandurah Bridge Project, Melissa has led the delivery of an Infrastructure Sustainability Council V2.1 Silver rating – no easy feat under a complex design and construct model.
Her work has involved managing more than 50 detailed sustainability deliverables, upskilling her project team, and embedding long-term practices - that will strengthen Georgiou’s reputation as an industry leader in sustainability.
Her impact extends far beyond compliance.
Under her leadership, the project has achieved a 15% reduction in carbon emissions through smarter use of materials; sourced more than 95% if its water from recycled supplies; and introduced lighting design to protect local dolphins.
Melissa has also championed community legacy initiatives, from interpretive signage and environmental education, to building a yarning circle with the Bindjareb Aboriginal community, and partnering with local researchers to protect marine life.
Through her passion, leadership, and innovation, Melissa is creating outcomes that will benefit people, place, and environment for decades to come.
Congratulations to winners, finalists and nominees.