Building bridges not barriers: Top women in building firms win big at first Women in Construction Awards

Women working in the male-dominated world of construction cemented their position as industry leaders at the first Women in Construction Awards in June. More than 350 guests attended the inaugural awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, in an evening hosted by TV and radio presenter Ruth Scott. There were 15 deserved winners from across the construction sector, showing women are building a growing reputation in a once macho market.

The most recent Irish Government report on the construction industry in 2022, called Project Ireland 2040, suggested the sector employed nearly 160,000 people, but just 8 per cent were women. The new awards aim to smash glass ceilings.

The awards are the latest from events specialist Business River and shine a spotlight on the growing number of women building great careers in large and small firms across a range of sectors and skills. The awards covered architecture and design, engineering, sustainability, and project management. Winners included ones to watch – women on the first rung of the management ladder – as well as those running large departments or their own businesses.

The overall leader award went to Bronagh Carty, associate director at John Paul Construction. Carty is a quantity surveyor by training, with a postgraduate diploma in property development from the University of Ulster, and has completed a leadership programme for senior managers at the Irish Management Institute. She joined John Paul Construction in 2016, expanding its business in the western region. She is involved in all aspects of regional work across all sectors.

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The judges said: “Bronagh Carty of John Paul Construction has exemplified outstanding leadership in the construction industry, particularly in her role as associate director. Her extensive experience and dedication to delivering complex projects have earned her this prestigious recognition.”

Individual judges praised the calibre of all the entries. Carol Andrews, associate director at Arup, said: “The standard of entries was high, but there were some standout submissions.” Another judge, Juliana Calabria-Holley, lecturer in the department of architecture and civil engineering at the University of Bath, said: “The event was a huge success. The range of the award winners was well represented from an equality, diversity, and inclusion perspective, with young seniors and a great representation of race diversity.

“There was a wide range of submissions, with young professionals on a journey to becoming fantastic future leaders in their own field and senior women who have amassed incredible contributions to the construction industry, being an inspiration as role models to their juniors. I was extremely impressed with the quality of the entries, which very often made judging quite difficult.”

Mechanical and electrical consultancy Ethos Engineering clocked up two awards, with bid manager Rosie Maclot winning the award for excellence in bids and tenders, while head of people Alison Heffernan took home the best female-led team award for her work on people and talent.

The judges’ citation said: “Our judges commended Alison and her team at Ethos Engineering for their outcome-led initiatives and continuous drive for innovation. Alison’s inspirational leadership and commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and proactive team were evident, making this submission a standout example.” As for Rosie Maclot, they said she had “won over our judges with her excellence in bids and tendering, evident in the clear and concise submission detailing each aspect of the brief. Rosie’s impressive increase in bid win rate from 48 per cent to 86 per cent, and her comprehensive approach to nurturing the Ethos talent pool further highlight her outstanding leadership in bid management”.

Ethos Engineering chief executive Greg Hayden was ecstatic. “Ethos is deeply proud to have had some of our amazing women partake in the Women in Construction Awards. Winning excellence in bids and tenders and best female-led team is an achievement that all of Ethos will celebrate.”

Marketing agency Pennypop was the gold sponsor of the awards. Owner Iris Kavanagh said: “Bringing people together to celebrate hard work and give recognition is always great. We’re proud to sponsor this event as a female-led, new Irish business, supporting an event focused on championing women in construction.”

Project management firm PM Group walked away with the award for diversity and inclusion champion. The judging panel commended PM Group’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, highlighting its targeted initiatives that promote a people-oriented and inclusive work environment. Its holistic approach and impactful diversity practices serve as a benchmark in the construction industry, fostering sustained positive change.

PM Group said in a statement: “Winning the diversity and inclusion champion award is a testament to the hard work of everybody involved in turning the dial on diversity and inclusion in our industry. It’s a journey that requires commitment and we are delighted to be on it with our employees, our clients, and all our stakeholders.”

Another gold sponsor was family-run construction firm Elliott Group, founded in the 1920s by husband-and-wife team Patrick and Alice Elliott. Gary O’Sullivan, construction director of Elliott Group, said: “These awards highlight industry contributions, promote recognition and acknowledge women’s roles in construction. We were incredibly proud to sponsor and attend the inaugural Women in Construction Awards and hope that in doing so, we will inspire future generations to pursue careers in construction.”

The business owner of the year award went to Brenda Sorensen and her firm Aspect Interior Design. The award citation said: “Our judges praised Brenda Sorensen for her exemplary leadership and development of Aspect Interior Design. Brenda’s dedication, resilience, and commitment to her company, employees, and clients have significantly contributed to the success and growth of her business.”

Sorensen said of her award: “This is massive. I did my master’s on leadership and construction for women and this, to me, is the icing on the cake.”

Kevin O’Driscoll, director of partnership programmes at award organiser Business River, said: “Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors. We are thankful to our 2024 sponsors and professional partners, which include Bretland, Ardmac, Walls, Elliott Group, SIG Workplace, Steelcase, Pennypop, Falcon Green, BWDI Ltd, Lighthouse Club – The Construction Industry Charity, Circle Club and iPropertyRadio. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.

Full list of judges

Carol Andrews – associate director, Arup
Juliana Calabria-Holley – lecturer, University of Bath
Joanne Cunningham – company director, Cunningham Contracts Group
Amy Kruse – head of sector collaboration and leadership, Considerate Constructor Scheme
Audrey Martin PhD – senior lecturer and chair BSc, TU Dublin school of surveying and construction management
James McNamara – lecturer, TUS Midlands/Midwest
Dr Róisín Murphy – senior lecturer, TU Dublin
John Spillane – associate professor, University of Limerick
Katie Tallon – producer, Property District