International Women's Day 2026
Happy International Women’s Day! 💜
Today is an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the remarkable women who are actively shaping and advancing our industry. At the same time, it serves as an important reminder that gender equality is not just a topic for today, it needs to stay part of the conversation all year round.
To us, gender equality is more than hitting targets, it’s about creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. We know that companies with gender diverse teams deliver better results: more innovation, improved outcomes for clients, and stronger communities. That’s why we’re committed to pushing the industry forward.
Over the past week, we have shared a range of interviews, project highlights, and personal journeys that reflect the talent, resilience, and dedication of some of the women in our organisation. These stories not only showcase our exciting industry and the diverse opportunities available but also highlight the achievements of some of the women breaking barriers on site and leading innovation behind the scenes. Their experiences serve as a powerful reminder of the impact women have on our sector every day.
Let’s continue to champion equality - today, and every day!
To celebrate Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, we brought together our People Directors from opposite sides of the globe for an honest, energising, and truly human conversation about gender equity in construction.
To help other women rise alongside us in the workplace, we should create spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported; act as allies and safe spaces while role modelling positive behaviours; foster genuine conversations by listening and asking thoughtful questions; and participate in women’s networks, making ourselves available to support, mentor, and advocate for colleagues.
This is Abby, she is a Civil Site Engineer working on the Monklands Replacement Project in Airdrie, Scotland. 20 years ago, she was in her living room pretending to be a doctor. Today, she is helping to deliver world-class facilities where bones will be mended, babies will be born, and the best possible care will be provided to thousands of patients every year.
"I've always encouraged other women to consider a career in construction. Whether it's sharing stories about the inspirational women we have at Laing O'Rourke or offering support from one woman to another." Hear from Shabnam Patel.
We’re proud to highlight the inspiring career journey of Jessica Crow and the impact she continues to make across our business.
We listened in to a conversation between Hannah Duke and Tracy Chatterton as they learned more about each other and talked through the different career paths that led them to their current roles.
For so many people, construction isn’t what they expected and that’s what makes it exciting. Construction offers careers far beyond the stereotype, it’s an industry where you can build a career that evolves with you.
As a Senior Design Coordinator in the Middle East. Chaitra Suvarna is proud to be a part of the changing landscape of United Arab Emirates. "It feels really good to know that I am making a difference in the place I live. I can walk past the projects I helped deliver and point them out to my family."
This is Catherine. She leads the quality and assurance team on a multi-billion dollar major infrastructure project. Catherine also is a welding inspector who visits heavy steel fabrication sites across Australia and Asia as part of her role.”
Demi Brown, a commercial leader whose 18-year global career spans major construction and infrastructure projects across the UK, Australia and the UAE. From hospitals and residential programmes to rail and now cutting edge data centres, Demi brings exceptional commercial insight, strong governance and a practical, solutions focused approach to every project she leads.
This is Michelle Valeza, Senior HSE Training Advisor. When she was younger, her dreams shifted often - from becoming a teacher, to pursuing the arts, then accountancy, and eventually psychology, which she once believed would never be part of my journey. Today, she is proud to say that her role at Laing O’Rourke has allowed her to experience elements of everything she once dreamed of. She genuinely feels grateful and lucky.
My teacher instilled a love of learning, my line manager trusted me with responsibility before I fully trusted myself, my parents encouraged me to have a voice and believe in equality, a project leader became an informal mentor, and my director advocated for me in rooms I didn’t have access to, all helping me rise in my profession.
Nicole is a highly respected senior design and engineering leader with more than 20 years’ experience delivering complex, multidisciplinary transport and infrastructure projects across Australia and internationally.
Women’s networks play a vital role in advancing gender equality, providing spaces where women can connect, and support each other’s growth. These networks foster a culture of collaboration, ensuring women have access to mentorship, advocacy, and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. We have women’s networks across both our hubs, empowering members to rise together, help break down barriers and create more inclusive environments.
Laura Leung, Senior Project Manager working on the Single Living Accommodation project for the Ministry of Justice. Inspired by a school event aimed at encouraging girls into construction, Laura switched career ambitions from teaching to construction after visiting a site and engaging with industry professionals.