It’s 2021 and women are quite literally smashing down walls & laying the foundation of our society. Despite the construction industry being typically male-dominated, female workers are slowly gaining ground through their knowledge, grit & determination. As a national design and construction team, we are proud to be part of the movement with a 40/60 ratio of female staff members to males. By 2022 we look forward to becoming a 50/50 workplace with women taking charge across all sectors of Unita.

In celebration of National Women’s History Month, we’ll be sitting down with a few incredible UNITA women & chat with them about their experiences in construction.

Penny Fraser – National Business Manager

What are your role responsibilities? 

My role is to manage client relationships on behalf of the Unita Group, particularly in the healthcare sector & during the Design & Construct (D&C) process. I’m also responsible for sourcing new channels of business through research, identifying potential opportunities and then pursuing them to secure tender prospects for planning, design, construction.

What led you to the construction industry?

I initially gained my experience from the ground up, first by building my own homes whilst being a stay at home mum and later by being employed by a Fit-Out company who specialises in Healthcare design and construction.  

What is your favourite part of your job? 

I really enjoy problem solving and making things work for my clients.  Visualising something designed on paper and then coming to life is exciting but moreover it’s seeing my clients delighted when they move into their new reimagined space.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far? 

I re-entered the work force as a part-time receptionist and moved up the ranks working in different divisions.  This equipped me with an appreciation of different departments roles and a broader understanding and insight in to the D&C process. 

What are the barriers of being a woman working in construction? 

It’s not uncommon for male colleagues to doubt your creditability; especially when the ratio of male to females in this sector greatly differs.    Overall the industry is becoming more diverse and more welcoming to women in construction and I have seen a significant jump in recent years of this ratio narrowing.  I encourage fellow construction business owners to seek out women for recruitment possibilities as they will not be disappointed. 

What do you think is the solution to attracting more women to the construction industry?

Professional organizations and vocational training programs all have vital roles to play in bringing more women into the construction industry. There are more organisations today that offer mentorship programs and help women better understand their options. Having a culture that supports employee development, open communication and fairness also helps contribute to women’s success in the industry. 

If there was one piece of advice that you could pass onto a woman following in a similar career path, what would it be?  

Stick it out, no matter the obstacle. Understand that you may have to interact with some individuals who still aren’t used to seeing or working with women in the industry – be prepared to prove yourself. Don’t be afraid to show them that you know what you’re talking about. In time, you’ll begin to change their perspective and garner a different respect from them. 

How do you juggle being a mother and a working professional in construction?

Being good at multitasking and highly organized has aided me juggle being a mother and working in the construction industry. Also having employer support with flexible working options has helped me retain my parental responsibilities whilst giving something back to the company.