Gender diversity in the construction sector being studied

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has awarded PhD student Natalie Galea two lucrative scholarships in recognition of her research on gender diversity in the construction sector.

Galea was awarded the 2016 NAWIC International Women’s Day Scholarship, worth $23,000, for research into gender diversity and equity in the construction industry. 

She was also awarded the 2016 NAWIC NSW CBRE University Scholarship, worth $3000, which recognises outstanding female students who have the potential to significantly contribute to the future of the construction industry.

Galea, from UNSW Built Environment, is researching an industry she is intimately acquainted with. For close to two decades she worked in Australia, the Middle East and North Africa as a construction project manager after completing a Building Construction Management degree at UNSW.

Female participation in professional construction roles is only 14 percent, and women leave those positions at a 40 percent higher rate than their male counterparts.

“My PhD aims to understand why females struggle to be appointed, promoted and retained in the Australian construction sector.”

"Female participation in professional construction roles is only 14 percent, and women leave those positions at a 40 percent higher rate than their male counterparts."

Its current status is as ‘the most male dominated sector’ in Australia,” she said.