International Women's Day: Building the Future of Infrastructure
- Tahnia Miller
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Civil infrastructure shapes the way Australians move, work and live, but the industry building that future is still heavily male-dominated.
In Australia, women make up around 14% of the engineering workforce, according to Engineers Australia, and just 16% of qualified engineers overall. Progress is happening, but slowly, and representation on projects still doesn’t reflect the diversity of the communities these projects serve.
That said, talk to women working across infrastructure today and you’ll hear a consistent message: the industry is changing.
Trust, knowledge and relationships on site
Several experienced female contractors we’ve worked with emphasised the importance of practical knowledge and credibility on projects.
In a sector where site environments have traditionally been male-dominated, understanding how projects run day-to-day helps build trust with crews and stakeholders.
Having strong “on-the-ground” knowledge of site operations, combined with commitment to their role, helps establish respect and confidence within teams.
As one contributor explained:
“A willingness to learn, being positive and building strong relationships on site is key to building an inclusive environment.”
Encouragingly, many say workplace culture has shifted significantly in recent years. Projects are becoming more collaborative, and women are increasingly visible across engineering, commercial and leadership roles.
The human side of infrastructure
For Ritchelle Divino, Senior Contract Administrator at Brisbane Airport Corporation, one of the biggest surprises has been how people-focused the work really is.
“I’ve been surprised by how people-focused the work is. There’s so much coordination, communication and behind-the-scenes effort that the public never sees.”
Even relatively small projects involve complex moving parts, contractors, engineers, planners and stakeholders all working together.
“It’s rewarding to know the work becomes something the community will use for years.”
Ritchelle has also seen meaningful progress for women in the sector.
“I’ve seen more women stepping into leadership, commercial and technical roles. The industry feels more intentional about supporting us, with stronger networks that make it easier for women to grow and be heard.”
For her, International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a reminder.
“It highlights why representation matters and why creating supportive, respectful workplaces for women is so important.”
Shifting roles and stronger representation
Recruitment teams working closely with the industry are seeing similar changes.
Paulina O’Hagan, Senior Advisor at 4020 Consult, says more women are stepping into senior operational roles than ever before.
“We’re seeing women move into Project Director, Construction Manager and commercial leadership roles — positions that were heavily male-dominated previously.”
Organisations are also becoming more deliberate about diversity, while many women are increasingly backing themselves to pursue leadership opportunities.
For Paulina, one of the most rewarding parts of infrastructure recruitment is seeing those careers take shape.
“Being able to say we helped resource that project, or that one of my engineers was part of building it — that’s incredibly rewarding.”
Building inclusive workplaces
Ultimately, culture plays a major role in retaining and growing female talent.
Sarah Martin, Director at 4020 Consult, believes inclusion starts with a simple principle:
“Hiring based on merit and creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, respected and valued.”
Infrastructure is still evolving when it comes to gender balance. But with stronger networks, more visible role models and workplaces actively supporting diversity, the direction is clear.
And as more women step into leadership, commercial and technical roles, the industry building Australia’s future is gradually becoming more representative of the communities it serves.
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