TrailblazHer Awards

"It was a real pleasure for WICI to help organise and host a panel discussion at Dundalk Institute of Technology exploring the crossover between women in sport and women in construction, held on Thursday 26th March 2026. We were joined by Jodie Duffy (Construction Manager with Ganson . ), Rebecca Lambe Fagan Lamb Fagan (Mechatronic Engineer with ControlSoft Automation Systems Ltd ), and Lucy Kindlon (Plumber with Mullagh Heating and Plumbing), three impressive young women who are truly blazing a trail in their respective fields. We had an open and honest conversation about the realities of being a woman in both spaces — from working in construction to playing sport — and how our experiences can still differ significantly from those of men. While both areas offer great opportunities and strong communities, the consensus was clear: there is progress, but more needs to be done to ensure young women feel equally supported, respected, and able to continue participating and progressing in both. Important conversations, and an encouraging step forward. A massive thank you to Rachel Dorovatas, Chartered FCIPD and CITB NI for helping to put the event together and providing us with some refreshments! Here's to more events like this in the future!"

"Happy International Women's Day 2026! At WICI, we believe in supporting and empowering women in the industry every day of the year. That said, after attending the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) International Women’s Day event on Friday, we left with a real pep in our step and feeling fully motivated to take WICI to the next level. The panels were incredibly insightful, and we could have listened to the keynote speakers all day. Niamh McNulty summed it up perfectly in four words: “We can do better.” And she’s right, as an industry we absolutely can. The challenge now is to take the positivity from Friday, and from all the IWD events happening across the industry, and carry that momentum forward for the rest of the year. As our Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, said: “We need to do more.” At WICI, we hope to help the industry do exactly that and ensure we retain the incredible women already working within it. The informal networking during the breaks on Friday was invaluable. That’s why we put such a strong focus on networking opportunities throughout the year. Our mentoring initiative, kicking off in just a few weeks, will help bridge the mentorship gap for many women who don’t currently have access to that support. And our webinars, already a big hit with members, are starting conversations that simply weren’t happening before. So our takeaway from IWD is the same as the speakers at the CIF event: we can do better. And together, we will."

On Wednesday 11th January, Joanne had an inspiring day attending two fantastic events in Dublin — a brilliant chance to step away from the office and connect with incredible people. The day began at the Professional Women’s Network breakfast event at CPL headquarters, where we had the pleasure of meeting Maria Eugênia Souza, Chair of the network, and listening to Barry Winkless deliver a thought-provoking talk on “Inclusive Design & The Future of Work.” The excitement didn’t stop there! Joanne then headed to the podcast studio, where she met with Josephine Kane from Dornan and took part in their Women at Dornan podcast series. It was an amazing experience, and we’re so excited to hear the final episode when it’s released!"

It was wonderful to attend the High Performance Building Alliance Symposium Wednesday 23rd Jan in a rainy and windy Wexford! I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak on such a strong panel discussing the skills shortage in Ireland and what we can do to combat it. I personally learned so much about sustainability within our industry and some of the speakers really opened my eyes to what we need to do collectively to meet future targets. I was delighted to share how Women in Construction in Ireland (WICI) is working to support our female workforce, with the aim of retaining women in the industry and helping to bridge the skills gap. Similarly, I spoke about my role as a lecturer in DKIT, where I’m focused on increasing female participation and supporting our female students. Thank you again, Amanda Stewart, for the invitation. I’m really looking forward to hearing more about the initiatives planned through HPBA for the year ahead.

"A Warm Welcome to Our New and Returning Women in Construction Members! We’re excited to officially welcome everyone joining us for another year of empowering and supporting women across the construction industry! Our members received an update last week with exciting details about our 2026 mentoring program, networking opportunities, and upcoming webinars. We’re looking forward to seeing these initiatives help even more women build connections and access valuable support. Our 2026 calendar, packed with impactful events and new opportunities—will be ready to share very soon. Stay tuned! A huge thank you to all our members for taking meaningful action to support the women in your organisations and across the wider construction sector. Together, we can create real, lasting change."

Recognition for WICI at the CIOB Ireland Awards. We’re proud to share that WICI’s work was recognised last night at the The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Ireland Awards, with Joanne White receiving the CIOB Open Recognition Award for her leadership and dedication. This award highlights the importance of raising awareness and providing meaningful support for women in construction, support that can often be the difference between staying in our industry or leaving it. We’re incredibly grateful to the CIOB for this recognition, and even more inspired after connecting with so many passionate individuals last night, both women and men, who are committed to driving positive change. A heartfelt thank you to Quigg Golden for sponsoring the award, and to Minister James Lawless and Ola Obadara for presenting it. Their powerful speeches highlighted just how amazing and vital our construction industry is and why continued progress and inclusion matter more than ever. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to build an industry where women are supported, celebrated, and empowered."

“We’re excited to welcome both our new and existing members of Women in Construction Ireland!

“On Thursday 21st August we were delighted to host a networking event in Dundalk, bringing together female professionals from across the industry and from both sides of the border. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success.

Women in Construction Ireland attend the 2025 Women in Construction Awards