Give to Gain: Building a stronger, more inclusive construction industry

This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to stand behind the 2026 theme, Give To Gain. 

At Symal, we see every day that when we give our time, leadership and action to equity, we all gain a stronger, safer and more inclusive industry. At the heart of this progress is our Women in Construction Working Group (WICWG) – a collective of passionate people from across the Symal Group who have given their time, energy and advocacy to drive meaningful change. Led by committed contributors including Dan McKay and Rebecca Sommerville, alongside the broader working group, this team continues to turn intention into action – because lasting change isn’t created by policy alone, but by people willing to lead it. 

Over the past two years, the WICWG has played a pivotal role in shaping initiatives that support women across our sites and offices, strengthening equitable standards and consistent behaviours. From practical on-site improvements to policy reform, this work reflects a shared belief that when women thrive, our entire business and industry benefit. 

We’ve given to strengthening sexual harassment and anti-bullying training to equip our leaders and teams with the tools to prevent and address unacceptable behaviour, alongside improving reporting pathways through accessible on-site QR codes. We’ve introduced Pixii boxes to ensure practical and respectful access to essential hygiene products on site. Together, these actions reinforce our commitment to gaining safer, more inclusive workplaces.  

We regularly host Women in Symal networking events, bringing women and male allies from across the Group together for interactive workshops and guest speaker sessions. These events create space for connection, capability-building and open dialogue – strengthening peer networks and fostering a greater sense of belonging across our business. 

The review and updating of our parental leave policy over the past year reflects our ongoing commitment to providing equitable support for families and carers at every stage of their journey. This includes increased leave entitlements and the introduction of support vouchers to assist with expenses during the arrival of a new child, recognising both the time and financial pressures new parents may face. By recognising that careers and caregiving can coexist, we’re helping to create sustainable, long-term opportunities for women in construction. 

Beyond our own business, we recognise that progress requires industry-wide collaboration. As a national member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), our people gain opportunities to engage in industry events, mentoring and professional networks that strengthen capability and connection.  

Through our sponsorship of NAWIC awards across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, we also help champion and elevate the achievements of women across the sector - while proudly nominating women from the Symal Group to ensure their contributions are recognised more broadly. By recognising and celebrating the achievements of women both within our business and across the industry, we’re helping to elevate role models, share success stories and reinforce what’s possible for the next generation. 

None of these initiatives exist in isolation. They’re the result of people across Symal choosing to give their ideas, advocacy and leadership to build something better. In doing so, we gain more than progress. We gain trust. We gain stronger teams. We gain a culture where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed. 

We also recognise that being a woman in construction can still come with challenges. While we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, we know there is more work to do. Barriers to representation, visibility and inclusion don’t disappear overnight, and meaningful change requires sustained effort across the entire industry. Acknowledging this reality is important. It keeps us accountable and committed to listening and continuing to improve. 

This International Women’s Day, we reaffirm that when we give to equity, we gain a stronger industry for all. We will continue to build better, together.