Sydney 2026 Agenda

• The real data: where the industry is improving and where it isn't
• Driving cultural change to eliminate harassment and uplift respect
• Empowering women through stronger safety and inclusivity practices
• Shaping better environments and opportunities through government and industry reform 

• Consistently showcasing your strengths, values and achievements
• Proactively expressing goals and interests that align with your desired career path 
• Confidently negotiating and setting your own boundaries  
• Capitalising on successes and bouncing back from setback 

• What concrete steps can turn your day-to-day work into recognised leadership potential?
• How can you identify and pursue roles, projects and responsibilities that position you for promotion? 
• How do you set and negotiate for the promotion and salary outcomes you deserve?
• What alternative career pathways beyond traditional leadership (technical specialist, project expert, client-facing roles, etc.) can women build, and how do you get there? 

• Learning to navigate and connect across project, design, engineering, and safety teams
• Strengthening clarity and influence to keep teams coordinated and on track
• Contributing to accountable, safe, and inclusive project outcomes
• Using structured collaboration and on-site problem-solving to improve results 

• How should we challenge and upend traditional career narratives? 
• How can we set personal goals that prioritise impact, growth and authenticity over conformity to established norms? 
• What approaches can overcome gender disparity and a “masculinity culture” so we can drive true diversity, equity & inclusion?  

• Which specific diversity and progression efforts have worked in panellists’ careers, and which ones failed?
• Where have things gone wrong, from bias, to backlash, to stalled initiatives, and what do panellists wish they’d known earlier?
• How have changes in role, employer or sector helped women find better support, culture and opportunity? 
• What practical lessons from these lived experiences can attendees adapt to their own journeys? 

• How to influence site culture, even without formal authority
• Using assertive language & frameworks to call out issues & shut down disrespect
• Shifting norms through small daily behaviours that reinforce what “good” looks like
• Creating informal support systems by finding allies & building peer networks
• Setting your own boundaries while avoiding isolation and advocating for your needs 

• How can you secure and use structured mentorship and sponsorship to open doors and accelerate your career?
• What practical steps can you take to seek out and leverage real training, certifications and upskilling opportunities?
• What tactics and training actually work to educate teams and supervisors to challenge outdated norms and behaviours?
• What strategies can help you prepare for tough conversations, manage bias and navigate challenging workplace dynamics with more confidence? 

Get ready for a lively session where you’ll team up with fellow attendees to tackle the real challenges facing women in construction. Each table will receive a different issue to unpack, discuss, and solve together. Once the group discussions wrap up, tables will share their ideas, and the facilitator will spark a room-wide conversation to take them further. 

This is a practical, supportive, and collaborative space designed to surface real solutions you can take back to your workplace. You'll learn from the lived experience, creativity, and wisdom of the women around you. 

No theory. No generic recommendations. No platitudes or wishful thinking. Just real-world solutions from peers who've faced down challenges and came out on top. 

Issues to explore include: 

1. How do you push for fair work allocation, project opportunities and “stretch” roles instead of being stuck with low-visibility or admin-heavy tasks?
2. How do you deal with a difficult, hostile, or challenging colleague, and how does the situation change if it's a peer or a superior?
3. How can you secure flexible work, parental leave, or a unique working arrangement without it being a setback for your career?
4. What do you do if you feel unsafe, isolated or excluded at work, what challenges can arise from taking action to fix the issue, and how do you overcome those challenges?

• Exploring how new materials, renewable energy systems and circular design are becoming core to every major project
• Understanding how sustainability mandates create new roles in carbon accounting, green design and environmental management  
• Examining why sustainability isn’t just about compliance, it's about driving cultural change, influencing project values and redefining what success looks like on-site 

• How predictive analytics, wearables, and smart sensors are preventing accidents before they happen
• Using digital design tools (like BIM and digital twins) to ensure site layouts, amenities, and workflows support all workers — not just the “default male” workforce
• How machine learning is transforming scheduling, materials management, and risk forecasting to boost productivity 

• How can you show confidence and authority without feeling like you have to change who you are?
• What practical strategies help you handle high-pressure environments, long hours and unpredictable site challenges?
• How do you quickly build credibility when joining a new team, site or project?
• What everyday habits help you protect your wellbeing, prevent burnout and stay respected and visible on fast-moving projects?